Is McPherson Elementary a good school?

McPherson Elementary ranks in the bottom 3.2% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend McPherson Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 355 students attended McPherson Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of McPherson Elementary?

Students at McPherson Elementary are 94% Hispanic, 5% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of McPherson Elementary attend?

Students who attend McPherson Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Silverado Middle High : Vintage High

McPherson Elementary

Summary:

McPherson Elementary is a public elementary school in Napa, California, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Napa Valley Unified school district.

Despite being part of the Napa Valley Unified district, McPherson Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 5% of California elementary schools over the past several years, with a 0 or 1 star rating from SchoolDigger. The school struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, significantly below-average academic performance in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, and challenges in supporting its diverse student subgroups, particularly English Learners and low-income students. In contrast, nearby schools like Vichy Elementary and Northwood Elementary are performing significantly better, suggesting that factors beyond just district-level resources may be contributing to McPherson's underperformance.

The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at McPherson Elementary, ranging from 81% to 91%, indicate that the school likely serves a population of students facing significant socioeconomic challenges. These factors are known to be strongly correlated with lower academic achievement, and the school may need to implement targeted interventions and support systems to address the unique needs of its student population. While the data paints a concerning picture, it also suggests that there are opportunities for improvement if the school can identify and address the root causes of its challenges, whether they be related to resources, teaching practices, or community engagement.

Detail:

Public K-5

2670 Yajome St.
Napa, CA 94558-5039

(707) 253-3488

District: Napa Valley Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
5675^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,589

Students who attend McPherson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Silverado Middle
High:	Vintage High

Student/teacher ratio: 25.3

Number of students: 355

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

93.5%

White:

4.8%

Two or more races:

1.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 93%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare McPherson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details McPherson Elementary ranks worse than 96.8% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks last among 16 ranked elementary schools in the Napa Valley Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.13. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (93.5%), White (4.8%), two or more races (1.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 93% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Napa Valley Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McPherson Elementary is 25.3. 11 elementary schools in the Napa Valley Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare McPherson Elementary employs 14 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at McPherson Elementary is $6,589, which is the 8^th highest among 16 elementary schools in the Napa Valley Unified School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McPherson Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks McPherson Elementary 5675^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See McPherson Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Napa Valley Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Napa Valley Unified 882^nd of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for McPherson Elementary.

What do you think?

Your rating for McPherson Elementary?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for McPherson Elementary

Compare

Rank History for all students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	18.78	4040^th	4809	16.0%
2005	21.71	3846^th	4822	20.2%
2006	24.35	3700^th	4818	23.2%
2007	28.11	3701^st	5113	27.6%
2008	19.66	4365^th	5113	14.6%
2009	28.69	3796^th	5193	26.9%
2010	29.18	3910^th	5314	26.4%
2011	24.79	4346^th	5377	19.2%
2012	38.84	3336^th	5390	38.1%
2013	25.77	4355^th	5530	21.2%
2015	13.23	5261^st	5611	6.2%
2016	12.59	5256^th	5614	6.4%
2017	19.01	4787^th	5692	15.9%
2018	18.53	4807^th	5662	15.1%
2019	13.10	5373^rd	5789	7.2%
2022	15.01	5360^th	5883	8.9%
2023	14.71	5347^th	5874	9.0%
2024	10.13	5675^th	5862	3.2%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	25.00	2727^th	3246	16.0%
2019	32.71	2296^th	3275	29.9%
2022	30.23	2588^th	3311	21.8%
2023	26.37	2789^th	3250	14.2%
2024	24.14	2887^th	3160	8.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	21.86	2300^th	2634	12.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	21.81	4346^th	5084	14.5%
2019	17.01	4739^th	5173	8.4%
2022	21.61	4526^th	5264	14.0%
2023	18.70	4800^th	5374	10.7%
2024	12.02	5316^th	5511	3.5%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	18.64	4640^th	5413	14.3%
2019	15.80	4962^nd	5492	9.7%
2022	20.53	4677^th	5635	17.0%
2023	18.23	4871^st	5617	13.3%
2024	10.34	5453^rd	5605	2.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	25.94	1644^th	2128	22.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	19.09	4662^nd	5431	14.2%
2019	12.53	5213^th	5510	5.4%
2022	11.70	5463^rd	5663	3.5%
2023	13.04	5315^th	5650	5.9%
2024	11.14	5420^th	5636	3.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at McPherson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	25.71	3850^th	4830	20.3%
2019	17.97	4507^th	4963	9.2%
2022	20.92	4448^th	5084	12.5%
2023	19.75	4519^th	5098	11.4%
2024	10.90	4969^th	5102	2.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Friday, August 18, 2023

I am a graduate student that attended this elementary. The teacher that taught me were incredibly patient and good teachers to me. They taught me stuff, that students from other elementary schools had to barely learn in 6th grade. Close Quote

Enrollment information for McPherson Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	346	4	5	134	5	n/a	n/a	0	494
1989	343	3	10	159	6	n/a	n/a	0	521
1990	363	4	6	176	3	n/a	n/a	0	552
1991	330	5	13	209	1	n/a	n/a	0	558
1992	320	4	9	258	6	n/a	n/a	0	597
1993	297	6	10	289	8	n/a	n/a	0	610
1994	257	3	5	291	8	n/a	n/a	0	564
1995	232	5	4	343	5	n/a	n/a	0	589
1996	232	5	4	343	5	n/a	n/a	0	589
1997	244	6	5	360	6	n/a	n/a	0	621
1998	243	3	5	394	11	n/a	n/a	0	656
1999	203	2	3	447	12	n/a	n/a	0	667
2000	224	3	2	435	14	n/a	n/a	0	678
2001	177	4	4	509	7	n/a	n/a	2	703
2002	129	4	9	565	9	n/a	n/a	3	719
2003	129	4	9	565	9	n/a	n/a	3	719
2004	82	2	3	453	2	n/a	n/a	70	612
2005	65	0	4	484	2	n/a	n/a	45	600
2006	58	1	2	472	2	n/a	n/a	42	577
2007	48	0	4	480	1	n/a	n/a	34	567
2008	44	n/a	3	515	1	n/a	n/a	0	563
2009	44	0	4	547	0	0	32	0	627
2010	47	0	5	564	1	1	5	0	623
2011	39	3	2	570	3	1	4	0	622
2012	43	2	4	553	1	1	2	0	606
2013	47	3	5	548	1	1	1	0	606
2014	40	3	5	521	1	1	3	0	574
2015	28	5	3	493	0	0	4	0	533
2016	20	3	5	487	0	0	6	0	521
2017	21	1	6	454	0	0	5	0	487
2018	20	2	5	433	0	0	3	0	463
2019	16	2	5	402	1	0	2	0	428
2020	10	0	5	392	1	0	4	0	412
2021	10	0	6	360	0	0	6	0	382
2022	9	1	3	336	0	0	2	1	352
2023	13	1	1	329	0	0	5	0	349
2024	17	0	2	332	0	0	4	0	355

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at McPherson Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	494	20.0	24.7	n/a
1989	521	22.0	23.6	n/a
1990	552	23.0	24.0	n/a
1991	558	24.7	22.5	n/a
1992	597	25.1	23.7	58
1993	610	27.6	22.1	15.2
1994	564	25.0	22.6	63.5
1995	589	24.0	24.5	72.7
1996	589	24.0	24.5	72.7
1997	621	27.0	23.0	67.6
1998	656	33.6	19.5	73
1999	667	36.0	18.5	74.2
2000	678	38.6	17.6	71.5
2001	703	36.9	19.1	71.8
2002	719	34.9	20.6	74.9
2003	719	34.9	20.6	74.9
2004	612	31.3	19.6	89.7
2005	600	30.7	19.5	87
2006	577	29.5	19.6	88.2
2007	567	32.0	17.7	89.3
2008	563	32.9	17.1	90.1
2009	627	32.9	17.5	80.4
2010	623	30.4	20.4	81.7
2011	622	n/a	n/a	82
2012	606	22.8	26.5	n/a
2013	606	21.0	28.8	85.5
2014	574	21.0	27.3	81.4
2015	533	23.0	23.1	84.6
2016	521	22.0	23.6	85.2
2017	487	19.4	25.1	85.6
2018	463	18.4	25.1	85.5
2019	428	17.0	25.1	87.1
2020	412	n/a	n/a	92.5
2021	382	16.0	23.8	90.3
2022	352	14.4	24.4	81.3
2023	349	13.0	26.8	90.8
2024	355	14.0	25.3	93

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio McPherson Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	494	20.0	24.7	n/a
1989	521	22.0	23.6	n/a
1990	552	23.0	24.0	n/a
1991	558	24.7	22.5	n/a
1992	597	25.1	23.7	58
1993	610	27.6	22.1	15.2
1994	564	25.0	22.6	63.5
1995	589	24.0	24.5	72.7
1996	589	24.0	24.5	72.7
1997	621	27.0	23.0	67.6
1998	656	33.6	19.5	73
1999	667	36.0	18.5	74.2
2000	678	38.6	17.6	71.5
2001	703	36.9	19.1	71.8
2002	719	34.9	20.6	74.9
2003	719	34.9	20.6	74.9
2004	612	31.3	19.6	89.7
2005	600	30.7	19.5	87
2006	577	29.5	19.6	88.2
2007	567	32.0	17.7	89.3
2008	563	32.9	17.1	90.1
2009	627	32.9	17.5	80.4
2010	623	30.4	20.4	81.7
2011	622	n/a	n/a	82
2012	606	22.8	26.5	n/a
2013	606	21.0	28.8	85.5
2014	574	21.0	27.3	81.4
2015	533	23.0	23.1	84.6
2016	521	22.0	23.6	85.2
2017	487	19.4	25.1	85.6
2018	463	18.4	25.1	85.5
2019	428	17.0	25.1	87.1
2020	412	n/a	n/a	92.5
2021	382	16.0	23.8	90.3
2022	352	14.4	24.4	81.3
2023	349	13.0	26.8	90.8
2024	355	14.0	25.3	93

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates