James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary

387 Students

Elementary School K - 6th

School Overview

James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary, located in the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento, is a distinctive school within the San Juan Unified School District known for its "fundamental" educational philosophy. This approach emphasizes a structured, back-to-basics academic environment that prioritizes core subjects, clear behavioral expectations, and high levels of parental involvement. By fostering a traditional learning atmosphere, the school aims to create a consistent and disciplined setting that encourages students to focus on academic achievement and personal responsibility.

The school is well-regarded for its strong sense of community and the active participation of its families, which is a hallmark of the fundamental school model. Beyond the rigorous academic curriculum, Cowan Fundamental provides a supportive culture where faculty and parents work in tandem to reinforce school values and support student success. Its location on Becerra Way serves the local Sacramento community by offering a structured alternative to traditional public schooling, consistently maintaining a reputation for stability and focused instruction.

387

Total Students

15.0

Full-Time Teachers

25.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

50.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	216
Hispanic	74
Black	37
Asian	26
Two or More	28
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	4

White
216 (55.8 %)
Hispanic
74 (19.1 %)
Black
37 (9.6 %)
Two or More
28 (7.2 %)
Asian
26 (6.7 %)
Pacific Islander
4 (1.0 %)
American Indian
2 (0.5 %)

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:	San Juan Unified
Phone:	(916)575-2312
Grade Range:	K - 6th
Total Students:	387
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	25.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	180
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	16

* 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 53

Grade 1 52

Grade 2 53

Grade 3 53

Grade 4 75

Grade 5 54

Grade 6 47