The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 58% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ferron School
Ferron School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, rural town of Ferron, located in western Emery County. It is a traditional public elementary school and part of Emery District, which operates a handful of elementary, middle, and high schools across the county. Because the school covers only the early grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the academic results discussed here come from the state’s RISE assessments administered to third through fifth graders.
On those assessments, Ferron School posted results that vary by subject. In mathematics, a substantial majority of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark, a level that places the school in a comfortable position for its grade band. Science results were similarly strong, with a large share of students reaching proficiency. English language arts proved to be a comparatively weaker area: while still a majority of students scored proficient, the rate was notably lower than in math and science. A parent may want to inquire further with the school about how literacy instruction is structured and whether any targeted support is available for students who are not yet meeting the benchmark. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these numbers are improving or declining.
The student body is small and demographically homogeneous. The overwhelming majority of children are white, with only a small number of Hispanic students and a handful of students who are American Indian or Alaska Native or identify as two or more races. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of many families in the area. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available data, so it is unclear what share of the school receives special education or language support services.
Ferron itself is a rural agricultural town that experienced a boom during the 1970s when the nearby Hunter Power Plant and coal mining operations drove rapid population growth, but the population has since declined. The town’s character remains deeply rooted in farming and ranching, with a quiet, community-oriented feel. The school is integrated into the town’s history; early schools in Ferron were held in shared community buildings, and later a high school operated in town until countywide consolidation. Today, Ferron School is one of only a few remaining schools in the area serving the town’s youngest children. Housing values in the surrounding area are well below the state average, which may be a factor for families considering a move to town, and the local economy is dominated by the power plant, mining, and agriculture. The town’s population has been roughly flat to declining in recent decades, and no major new housing developments were identified in publicly available sources.
At the district level, Emery District has maintained steady operations in recent years, with no major bond issues, tax hikes, or curriculum overhauls reported. The district has focused on technology and facility improvements within existing budgets, so families can expect stable programming without sudden shifts. Because there is only one school district in Emery County, the neighbor comparison tool could not produce a meaningful relative ranking; Ferron School cannot be compared against other county districts.
For a family evaluating Ferron School, the picture is one of a small, rural elementary school with solid math and science achievement and a somewhat softer reading profile. The student population is nearly all white and economically mixed, with a significant share of families qualifying for income-based meal assistance. The setting is quiet and agricultural, with a declining population and limited housing growth. This is a school that would likely fit a family seeking a close-knit, low-key environment with strong foundational instruction in math and science, and where questions about literacy support are worth asking directly of the school.
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