The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Helen M. Knight School
Helen M. Knight School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Moab, the county seat of Grand County and a small town that anchors a tourism economy built around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, mountain biking, and river recreation. The school is part of Grand District, which covers the county. There are only two districts in Grand County, so a direct comparative placement against neighboring districts is not possible; the cohort is too small for that kind of analysis.
On state assessments, the school’s results present a mixed picture. In math, roughly one in four students scored at or above the proficient level in the most recent testing year. In English language arts, about one in three students met that benchmark in the prior testing year. In science, about two in five students reached proficiency. These proficiency rates are below statewide averages, though the state made adjustments to its ELA cut scores in a recent cycle, which can affect year-to-year comparability. A parent considering the school would want to discuss these results directly with the school to understand how instruction and support are being developed.
The student body numbers around that typical for a K-6 school in a town of Moab’s size. The largest share of students are white, with a notable Hispanic population and a smaller but present Native American population. Just over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that sits in the middle range nationally. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available records.
Moab itself shapes the context families will recognize. The downtown is compact and walkable in the tourism season, with outfitters, restaurants, and civic buildings along Main Street. Residential neighborhoods spread outward from the center. The economy is heavily oriented toward outdoor recreation and hospitality, with the National Park Service and Utah State University’s regional campus among the institutional employers. Housing costs are high relative to local incomes; home values in the area are above the national median, and rents are also elevated. This creates an affordability challenge for many residents, especially those working in the service sector. Population growth has been modest in recent decades, but short-term rental pressure is a live issue.
Civic and educational infrastructure is embedded in town life. Grand County High School and a middle school serve older students, while the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, the Grand County Library, and the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center are downtown or nearby. The Utah State University Moab campus offers postsecondary options locally.
The district has no recent, publicly reported changes in boundaries, curriculum, bonds, or tax policy that would be widely relevant to families making school choices. Staffing ratios, discipline data, chronic absenteeism, and course access details were not available in the data supplied, so those dimensions of school environment cannot be characterized here. The school’s grade band means there is no graduation rate to report.
Helen M. Knight School sits in a small, tourism-driven community where housing is expensive and the economy is seasonal. Its academic proficiency rates are lower than state averages, which is a point a family would want to explore with the school. The student population reflects the town’s demographics, and the school’s K-6 structure means families will need to plan for transitions to middle and high school within the same district.
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