The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Manila School
Manila School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small, remote town of Manila, Utah, the county seat of Daggett County. The town sits in the Lucerne Valley and has shifted from its agricultural and ranching roots toward a recreation-based economy centered on the nearby Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The school is the only elementary within Daggett District, which also includes the town of Dutch John. Because the district contains just this one school for the early grades, there is no nearby public comparison for families to consider within the county.
The student body is very small and overwhelmingly white, reflecting the demographics of the area. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is lower than what is common in many rural Utah schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported. The school enrolls children from pre-K through sixth grade, and because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
State testing results on Utah’s RISE assessments give a mixed picture. In math, roughly half of students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was below half. Science results fell in a range centered around half. The test data comes from recent school years, and the state made a cut-score change in ELA that may affect year-to-year comparability. Without trend data or a neighboring district to measure against, it is difficult to say whether these numbers reflect improvement or decline. A parent may want to discuss classroom-level progress with the school.
Manila itself is a tiny town with a sparse grid of streets and a handful of civic anchors: the county courthouse, a town office, a volunteer fire department, and a small airport. The high housing vacancy rate suggests many properties are seasonal or second homes, which is common in recreation-oriented communities. Home values in the area are roughly in line with national medians and notably lower than Utah’s statewide average, making it a relatively affordable place to buy a home by state standards. Rental market data was not available. The town has invested in infrastructure such as repaved roads, a new sewer lagoon, and a unified water system, and it projects slow population growth. Employment is largely tied to recreation, local government, and small businesses; no major employers are publicly named.
The district brief turned up no recent parent-relevant changes such as boundary adjustments or program overhauls, and no school-level programs—such as gifted offerings, arts specials, or after-school care—were listed in the available data. For a family considering this school, the essential picture is of a very small, rural elementary that serves a tight-knit community. The academic results are uneven, with math and science hovering around the halfway mark and English lagging a bit behind. The school does not have the breadth of course options or extracurriculars that a larger district could offer, but for a family looking for a small-town setting where the school is woven into the fabric of a recreation-oriented community, Manila School fits that profile. A parent may want to visit and inquire about class sizes, enrichment opportunities, and how the school addresses the subjects where proficiency is lower.
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