The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Welch Es
Welch ES serves the students of the Welch community in Craig County, from prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits in a small, rural agricultural town that has been a railroad shipping point for hay and grain since its founding. The town has modest commercial services, including grocery stores, cafés, a bank, and a medical office. The population has been relatively stable over recent decades, with no evidence of rapid growth or decline. The school and town functions are integrated into a single, compact area, and the district is the sole provider of public education in the community.
The student body is small. The racial and ethnic composition of the school shows a roughly even split between two groups: white students and American Indian or Alaska Native students, each making up a substantial share of the enrollment. A much smaller number of students identify as two or more races, as Hispanic, or as Asian. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available.
State testing results are reported for the 2024-25 school year for grades three through five in math and English language arts, and for grade five in science. Because the school serves only early grades, no graduation rate exists here. The data show a mixed picture of academic performance. In third grade, results for both math and English language arts are suppressed due to small numbers, so no reliable proficiency rate is available for that grade. In fourth grade, just over a third of students scored at proficiency or above in math, and just over a quarter did so in English language arts. In fifth grade, fewer than a fifth of students were proficient in math. English language arts results for fifth graders were slightly higher, with just over a quarter scoring proficient. In fifth-grade science, slightly more than a fifth of students met the proficiency bar. When compared across all tested grades and subjects to other districts in Craig County, Welch ES places in the top quartile for overall proficiency. This is a meaningful position given that the county contains a small number of districts, so a top-quartile designation reflects a strong relative standing among those few peers. Still, the absolute proficiency levels across grades and subjects are modest. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how instruction supports students who are not yet proficient and what interventions are available.
No discipline, attendance, staffing, or course-access data were available for this school. The district itself has no publicly reported recent changes such as bond elections, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes that would affect families directly. Housing in the area is priced somewhat above the state median, and mortgage rates in the broader economy have fluctuated within a narrow range. The local unemployment rate has held steady near a level consistent with the national picture.
Welch ES is the elementary school for a small, stable rural community. The student population is diverse in an uncommonly balanced way, split primarily between white and American Indian backgrounds. Academic proficiency rates are relatively strong for the county but leave room for improvement across the board, especially in upper-elementary math. Families considering this school should expect a small, community-integrated setting with limited nearby retail and services and should plan to engage directly with the school about academic support for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks.
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