Original Research by School Decision on Damman School District
Damman School District is a small elementary district in Kittitas County, Washington, serving kindergarten through fifth grade within a single school, Damman Elementary. The district enrolls a very small student body, with class sizes that would be considered intimate even by rural standards. The student population is almost entirely White, with a small Hispanic share. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as the proportion of students with disabilities or English learner status, was not available.
Because the district serves only through fifth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. State testing results for the most recent year were suppressed for individual grade levels, a common practice when the number of test-takers is very small. However, the district does have an aggregated proficiency figure reported for its students as a whole across grades three through five. That figure shows that in English language arts, a solid majority of students met the state’s proficiency bar, placing the district at a level that would be considered strong for an elementary-only district in Washington. In math, the majority was more modest but still showed a majority achieving proficiency. These results represent a single year of data, so there is no trend to assess.
On measures beyond academics, the district stands out in one area among its county peers. Its chronic absenteeism rate is the lowest among Kittitas County’s districts, suggesting that students are consistently in class. This is a meaningful strength for a small school, where attendance patterns directly affect classroom continuity. On the financial side, the district’s per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range when compared with other districts in the county. That figure reflects the realities of a very small district: fixed costs are spread over few students, but the spending level is still below most neighbors. A parent may want to ask the school about how that funding shapes class resources and support services.
The district’s housing market is tied to the Ellensburg area, which is the only zip code contributing to the district’s market data. Home values there sit somewhat below the statewide median, and rents are moderate relative to incomes. The broader economic context shows a national unemployment rate in the low single digits and a moderate mortgage rate climate. None of this is specific to the district’s boundaries, but it gives a general sense of affordability in the region.
The district operates one school, Damman Elementary, and no other buildings. The school’s website and public materials were not available in the data, and a search for recent district-level changes such as property tax measures, curriculum overhauls, or boundary shifts turned up nothing. The district appears to operate without major recent disruption.
For a family considering this district, the key facts are its size and grade span. Students attend kindergarten through fifth grade in a very small, homogeneous setting with strong attendance and a single-year snapshot showing solid ELA proficiency and a majority achieving in math. Because the district does not continue beyond fifth grade, families will need to plan for middle and high school elsewhere, likely within neighboring districts in Kittitas County. The absence of data on student support programs, special education, and English learner services means that families with children who have additional needs should contact the school directly to understand what is available. The district’s financial position, with lower per-pupil spending, may also be a point to explore in conversation with staff.
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