McKinley Elementary School

110 Ellis Street

School District

Petaluma City Elementary
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Petaluma City Elementary School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 19, 2018

Overall Amazing! Love the diversity and the great communication amongst all staff and teachers! The kids are so kind to each other. The principal really has done an outstanding job with this school.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2015

McKinley school offers students a well rounded academic experience while supporting development of character skills & high potential. A diverse campus that utilizes modern technology & project based learning, it is also the site of Petaluma's GATE Program. Principal Matthew Harris has valuable experience in education, is multi-lingual & genuine in his dedication to the school & all students who attend while successfully steering McKinley School towards high academic success. 5th Grade GATE teacher Mr. D.Z. (recently selected as Petaluma City Schools' 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year) is a brilliant & innovative educator, who cares deeply for scholars as well as other educators he stands for. His ability to teach in ways that are engaging, fun and exciting pushes students to positively reach their highest potential. The NEW Petaluma Accelerated Charter School (Middle School) will no doubt flourish on this campus while under such superb leadership. McKinley School is a great choice for a quality education in Petaluma. The future of learning looks bright and exciting at McKinley School!
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2015

I am the parent of a 5th grade student at McKinley Elementary. This is a school to watch over the next several years! A diverse, warm, and caring community. Enthusiastic and innovative Principal, teachers, and staff. My daughter now jumps out of bed and is excited about what she is learning, and how she is learning. Spanish twice weekly. Super cool Aviation Club, lunch-time organized sports, and music program are some of the highlights. Spend some time in a classroom and you will see what I'm talking about. A true gem in Petaluma!
Submitted by other on April 03, 2014

McKinley school has had impressive growth in the 2 years we have been there.It has a very small school feel with all the staff caring about the whole child. My son has grown academically as well as personally as the school really gives the kids a chance to find their voice and place in the community. The small class sizes, excellent teachers/administrators who encourage students to be their best self and the school diversity make this a special place in Petaluma.McKinely was a great choice for the Petaluma School District to put their GATE program.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2014

I can't describe how fortunate we are to have our daughter in the 4th grade GATE program at McKinley this year. Leaving her local public school (and friends and community) for McKinley was a big risk for her, and she is so happy to have made the switch. Rather than coming home tired and over-stimulated from having spent a day in a crowded classroom with a tired teacher, she comes home calm and ready to do homework, cheerful that she has been challenged and validated, and, most importantly, still showing a love of learning because her classroom time has not been wasted doing busywork, easy work, or waiting for other kids to get with the program. I have spent time with all her classmates: they are bright, polite, enthusiastic kids. We love it that she is learning Spanish and music during the school day, and playing with kids from outside the GATE class whom she met through the Boys and Girls Club after school. McKinley School is growing its sense of community and its parent involvement through holiday events, fiestas, its nascent talent show and fund-raising. The principal is the most engaging, accessible, enthusiastic and wholly committed head of a school I have ever met.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2014

Soy madre, de ni o de 5th grado, esta escuela es fabulosa, los maestros, se envuelven mucho en que los ni os aprendan, y est n a su nivel, cuando tengo preguntas los maestros siempre est n disponibles para escucharme y ayudar ami ni o en lo que requiere. me encanta la tecnolog a que tienen, pues con el uso de los Ipad, los ni os se entusiasmas y aprenden mas, el Director, es el mejor que yo he conocido, como madre de 4 hijos, el siempre es muy amable con los ni os y los padres, y esta dispuesto a escuchar a cualquier pregunta y solucionar lo que este a su alcance, las secretarias y todo el personal est n capacitados para que los ni os balan felices y aprendan lo mejor de cada d a!! la verdad estoy muy feliz de que mi hijo este en esta escuela, y la recomiendo plenamente. todav a le queda un anuo mas, y se que cuando termine, bamos a estranar mucho esta escuela.
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2014

As a recipient of a grant capping class sizes at 17, the student teacher ratio is fabulous. A new principle is working hard to engage parents, etc. but there is work to be done. Progress is happening fast so we plan on doing what we can to keep things moving in the right direction.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2013

We moved our 5th grader from our neighborhood school last year to McKinley's GATE magnet program, which was a major change for our family, but one we have never regretted. We are very happy with not only the program itself, but the entire school. A unique feature for a Petaluma City School is that all students receive a couple hours of Spanish-language instruction weekly, which we feel is a valuable life-skill for anyone living and working in most states in this country. (Our other children won't get this until junior high, and already our 5th grader knows as much vocab as our 8th grader). Principal Matthew Harris and his staff are first rate and are well-loved by the students. McKinley mainly serves children from families where both parents work, which is why we rated parent involvement at 3 stars. We ourselves wish we could help out more, but our jobs prevent it. The McKinley community has been very welcoming to our family and we are proud of our child being a Mustang.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2013

I am the mother of a 9 year-old 4th grader in the GATE class. We left a school we all really liked for the opportunity to participate in this special experience and it has been a wonderful decision. The teacher is excellent and I love the level of work my son comes home with. I volunteer for the art program in town so I've gotten to know the other kids in his class and they are a terrific, very bright group of kids. The principal has also done wonderful things for the school, including bringing in the GATE pilot program as well as a bi-lingual education pilot program, so the 4th-6th graders take Spanish twice a week. He is fully bi-lingual himself, has shown himself to be an energetic leader, is hardworking, warm, focused, smart and always available. We are very happy with McKinley. The GATE class size (16, in this case) makes it feel like a privileged private school but with the benefits of being part of a larger multi-cultural community.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2013

Our 9 yr old son started McKinley this year. He is in the GATE program and is being challenged on a daily basis. The subject matter is covered thoroughly. The emphasis is placed on thinking and creating strategies and not just memorization and getting the answers. His teacher, Ms. Crandall, emphasizes creativity and continuing development. Our son also receives 2 hours of Spanish instruction a work. In addition, Mr. Harris, the principal is a standout. He is innovative, extremely intelligent and willing to listen to any and all suggestions from the community.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2013

We have been very happy with McKinley School. Our son is in fourth grade and is constantly challenged by the rigorous academic curriculum and expectations. Not only is he learning to master basic skills, but he is really being pushed to think critically on a regular basis. We also feel very lucky that he is able to benefit from the extremely small class sizes offered at McKinley. The McKinley staff has been wonderful. All of the teachers at this school show incredible professionalism and dedication to their students. The principal is insightful and clearly cares about creating a wonderful learning environment. Even the secretary was incredibly helpful and made us feel so welcome at this new school. Our son has been very happy and motivated doing his assignments on his ipad (from the school) this year. It's been wonderful watching him learn use imovie, google drive and keynote at a 4th grader! He also enjoys learning in the school garden and attending the practically free ($10 a year) on campus childcare via the Boys and Girls Club after school every day.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2013

I am a parent of a 5th grade student at McKinley and I am thrilled with our experience at the school. The teachers are passionate about teaching and care about each student's progress. The school has focused on bringing technology into the classroom and my child has had access to a personal iPad for use at home and school for both years (McKinley is only 4th-6th grade). Couldn't ask more from the principal either. He is kind, but firm. He is easily approachable, bilingual, and is typically on the playground or in front of the school almost every day, welcoming students and addresses parents by name. He also takes educating the kids seriously. Another benefit of the McKinley curriculum is Spanish class. All students, receive Spanish education multiple times a week in addition to regular classwork. Plus, the Spanish they are learning is related to class curriculum! I am thrilled with our choice to attend this school (so much so, we transfer here -it's not our local school). Parent involvement is low, but is improving. It is not from a lack of encouragement from teachers/staff/principal -I have never been so welcomed or appreciated as a parent by a school.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2012

This has been a very bad school for my kids. They change the school without telling the parents. The principal does not like many of the families and should not work here.