The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Westside Elementary School
Westside Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Hood River, Oregon, as part of the Hood River County School District. It is a regular public elementary school with a moderate enrollment for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence and a smaller share of students from other racial backgrounds. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that while many families are economically comfortable, a significant portion of the school’s population comes from lower-income households.
On Oregon’s state assessments, which are administered starting in third grade, Westside’s results paint a picture of solid academic performance with some variation by subject and grade level. In English language arts, proficiency rates are strong across the tested grades. The highest mark comes in fifth grade, where a clear majority of students met expectations, while third and fourth grades also show a majority proficient. Math proficiency is somewhat lower but still sees a majority of students scoring at or above the standard in each grade. Science is tested only in fifth grade, and here proficiency is moderate, with a majority of students meeting expectations. These results come from a single year of data, so no multi-year trend is available to assess whether performance is improving or declining. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, and staffing were not reported for this school, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.
The school’s location in Hood River matters for families considering it. Hood River is a small city that has grown significantly in recent decades, driven by its outdoor recreation economy, tourism, and a sprinkling of high-tech and telecommunications employers. The Columbia River Gorge draws visitors for windsurfing, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits, and the downtown has a lively, walkable core with breweries, galleries, and restaurants. Housing costs have risen sharply; median home values and rents are high relative to national benchmarks, and the rental market has been particularly expensive. The broader county has seen population growth, though the city itself has plateaued in recent years. The community’s economy blends agriculture—apples, pears, cherries—with a robust tourism and hospitality sector and employers like Hood Technologies and the local hospital. For families, that means a small-town feel with a relatively strong job base for the size of the place, but the housing market is tight and competitive.
The Hood River County School District, which operates Westside and the county’s other schools, is in the midst of planning a facilities investment for its high school. In mid-2025, the school board discussed placing a bond on the November ballot to fund a new athletic complex at Hood River Valley High School. The project would include artificial turf, a new track, and additional seating, and it would not increase the district’s tax rate because older bond debt is expiring. For parents with elementary-age children, this is a long-term sign that the district is investing in its upper-grade facilities, though it does not directly affect the elementary experience in the near term.
Overall, Westside Elementary presents a solid academic foundation for a broad range of families. Its test scores are strongest in reading and writing, with math somewhat behind but still adequate. The school’s student composition reflects the broader Hood River community: predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic minority, and a moderate level of economic diversity. Families drawn to the area for its outdoor lifestyle, employment opportunities, or small-city atmosphere will find an elementary school that performs reliably and is part of a district attentive to long-term capital needs. The main considerations for a prospective parent are likely to be the high cost of local housing and the fact that some student-support data is not publicly available at this time—points that could be explored directly with the school or district office.
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