The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Prairie Elementary
Prairie Elementary serves kindergarten through third grade in Anderson, a small city about a short drive south of Redding in Shasta County's northern Sacramento Valley. The school draws roughly a third of its students from families at or below the federal poverty line, with about half the school qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students of two or more races, and small numbers of Asian, American Indian, and Black students. Enrollment is modest for the grade band, with kindergarten as the largest cohort and third grade the smallest.
Anderson itself is a tight-knit bedroom community built on former agricultural land, with a mixed economy anchored by Sierra Pacific Industries and local manufacturers. Housing is relatively affordable compared to the state and national median; most families own rather than rent. The city center clusters schools, parks, and local shops within walkable distance, though residents generally rely on cars for broader travel. Public life centers on Anderson River Park along the Sacramento River, the public library, and local eateries. Most working families commute to Redding or work in local healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and service roles.
In the most recent school year tested, Prairie Elementary's proficiency results on California's CAASPP assessment show about half of third-grade students meeting state standards in English language arts and roughly half in mathematics. These results place the school above the midpoint among districts across Shasta County in overall proficiency. The data available covers only grade three and only one school year, so trend analysis and a broader picture across all four grade levels are not yet available; a parent may want to look into how lower grades are progressing and what supports the school has in place for students who are not yet proficient.
No data on special education enrollment, English learner status, chronic absenteeism, or discipline were provided. The school's website was not located, so information on classroom pedagogy, enrichment programs, or specific support structures could not be drawn from this summary. Pacheco Union Elementary District, of which Prairie Elementary is part, appears to have no publicly reported recent changes of lasting parent impact available at this time.
For families in Anderson seeking early elementary instruction in a small, locally rooted setting with moderate socioeconomic diversity and roots in the community's quiet residential core, Prairie Elementary is the regular public school for the area, situated on Dersch Road within the compact city footprint.
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