The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on J Russell Elementary School
J Russell Elementary sits on North Adams Street in Moscow, Idaho, serving grades three through five as part of Moscow District. It is a regular public school, small for its grade band, with enrollment concentrated across just three grades. The student body is predominantly white, with small representations of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not have reported IEP or English-learner rates in the data provided, so families wanting detail on special education or language services would need to ask the district directly.
Moscow is a college town anchored by the University of Idaho, the state's flagship land-grant institution, which is the city's dominant employer. The campus sits in the Palouse hills adjacent to a compact downtown core where Main Street and First Street cross, a farmer's market operates, and Paradise Creek flows through from Moscow Mountain to the northeast. The city serves as an agricultural and commercial hub for the surrounding Palouse region. Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport sits a short drive west. The blend of university life and small-town character defines the setting, and families living near the school are within a community shaped by the academic calendar and a steady influx of students, faculty, and staff.
State testing data from the most recent ISAT administration is available for math and English language arts across all three grades. In ELA, proficiency was fairly steady from third through fifth grade, landing in a solid range that held consistent across the grades. Math showed more variation. Fourth-grade math proficiency stood out as a clear strength, well above the other two grades. Third and fifth grade math were more moderate. Science was tested only in fifth grade, and the proficiency result was suppressed into a wide range that limits what can be said about science outcomes. Participation rates were high across all tested grades and subjects. Because the school serves only grades three through five, there is no graduation rate, no AP coursework, and no career or dual-credit pathway to evaluate.
Several pieces families often look for were not available. No trend data from prior years was provided, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. The data sections did not include staffing, discipline, attendance, course access, or Title I status for this school. Program offerings were not listed. The district brief for Moscow District contained no parent-relevant changes or strategic priorities, so we left that out rather than guess. Civil rights data was also absent.
The housing market in the school's zip code shows home values slightly above the Idaho state benchmark and well above the national figure. Rents remain comparatively modest, with the gap between monthly rent and monthly mortgage costs substantial, which may matter for families deciding between renting and buying. Home values have risen only slightly year over year, while rents have increased at a somewhat faster pace.
For a parent weighing fit, J Russell is a small intermediate elementary where students spend three years before moving on to middle school. The academic results in English language arts are consistent across grades, and fourth-grade math is a particular bright spot. The dip in fifth-grade math and the suppressed science result are areas a parent may want to look into further with the school. The Moscow setting offers the cultural and economic stability of a university town, with a walkable downtown and a community oriented around the academic calendar. The school's small size means a contained peer environment, which some families will see as an advantage and others may find limiting. The missing data on special populations, staffing, and programs means the picture here is partial, and filling in those gaps would require direct contact with the school or district.
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