James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary

Set in Sacramento, California, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is a moderately sized K-5 school, run under San Juan Unified. It caters to 406 students across grades K through 6.

San Juan Unified runs 67 schools in total, collectively educating 39,171 students. James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is one of those campuses.

For racial and ethnic makeup, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary shows that the most-represented group is White (49%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Other groups include 22% Hispanic, 11% multiracial, 10% Asian, 6% Black.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 16 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 25.4:1 students per teacher. That figure is higher than the state norm's 22.3:1 average. An estimated 48% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Sacramento County (around 63%), the school's rate is somewhat below typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 50.7%; this one delivers 47.6%.

Across the wider county, Sacramento County reports that median household earnings sit near $92,175, about 34% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is one of 387 public schools in Sacramento County (combined enrollment of about 259,342 students).

Whitney Avenue Elementary is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.4 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 34.6%.

Geographically, the school is in a suburban area.

Five-year trend. James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary's enrollment has contracted 17% since 2018, when it stood at 488 (now 406). Over the same period, the White share edged down from 72% to 49%. Class-load math has pulled in: from 29.6:1 in 2018 to 25.4:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Members of the school community can share what they know.