Mckinnon, Salinas CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Mckinnon

McKinnon is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Salinas, California, as part of the Santa Rita Union Elementary School District. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized cohort across six grades. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, and a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of families in the area.

Academically, McKinnon's performance on California state assessments shows students are struggling across both mathematics and English language arts. In mathematics, proficiency rates range from very low in grades four and five to somewhat higher in grade three. In English language arts, results are similarly modest across grades three, four, and five, with the highest rates in grade five. Science proficiency in grade five, the only grade tested, is also low. Across all tested grades and subjects, McKinnon's overall proficiency index places the school below the midpoint compared to other districts in Monterey County. The school data covers only the 2024-25 school year, so trends over time are not yet available.

A parent may want to look into further detail with the school regarding the factors affecting these performance levels—whether the school is implementing particular interventions, what support systems exist for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards, and what resources are available for English learners and students with disabilities, as data on those populations was not available. Understanding the school's plans for improvement and the specific academic structures in place would help clarify the pathway forward for a student entering or attending the school.

Salinas itself is the county seat and largest city in Monterey County, centered on agriculture and known nationally as the Salad Bowl of the World. Downtown Salinas has undergone significant urban revitalization in recent years, with pedestrian-friendly redesigns along Main Street, the National Steinbeck Center, and restored historic architecture that draws foot traffic. Newer residential growth is expanding in North and East Salinas through planned subdivisions and in the North of Boronda Future Growth Area, where multiple new elementary schools are designated. Housing in the Salinas area is moderately priced for the region, though property values are higher than the state median and considerably higher than the national benchmark. Families in the district will also want to be aware that Measure R, a school facilities bond approved in 2022, funds modernization and repairs across district schools and adds a dedicated property-tax payment that directly affects homeowners in the district.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 22% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 18% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 19% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 18% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 23% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 35% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 521%

School 21% · District 17% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

This schoolSanta Rita Union Elementary, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.