Dow's Prairie Elementary

3940 Dows Prairie Rd.
McKinleyville, CA 95519

276 Students

Elementary School K - 2nd

School Overview

Dow’s Prairie Elementary is a public school located in McKinleyville, California, serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade. As part of the McKinleyville Union School District, the school is situated in a quiet, semi-rural setting that reflects the community-oriented atmosphere of Humboldt County. The school focuses on building a strong academic foundation while fostering a supportive environment that emphasizes social-emotional growth, character development, and student engagement.

Beyond its core curriculum, Dow’s Prairie is known for its emphasis on creating a welcoming campus culture that encourages parent involvement and active community participation. The school utilizes its website to keep families informed about district resources, classroom activities, and school-wide events. By prioritizing a balance of traditional instruction and enrichment opportunities, Dow’s Prairie aims to prepare its students for success as they transition to middle school and beyond.

276

Total Students

15.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

65.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Dow's Prairie Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	147
Hispanic	49
Black	2
Asian	3
Two or More	50
American Indian	23
Pacific Islander	2

White
147 (53.3 %)
Two or More
50 (18.1 %)
Hispanic
49 (17.8 %)
American Indian
23 (8.3 %)
Asian
3 (1.1 %)
Black
2 (0.7 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	McKinleyville Union Elementary
Phone:	(707)839-1558
Website:	http://mckusd.org
Grade Range:	K - 2nd
Total Students:	276
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	177
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	4

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 100

Grade 1 87

Grade 2 89