The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Math. The lowest is 18% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Riley School
Riley School is an elementary school in the Salt Lake District, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet, and the student body is notably small for its grade band. The school is located on the west side of Salt Lake City, and a parent considering it should look closely at what the academic data shows.
On the most recent state assessments, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above in math was in the lower range of the district's elementary schools. English language arts proficiency and science proficiency were also on the lower side. When compared across all tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among Salt Lake County districts. These results represent a single point in time from one academic year, and a parent may want to discuss current instructional improvement efforts with the school directly.
The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of students who are white, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Asian. A nearly universal share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a high-poverty community. This economic context is a central characteristic of Riley School, and families considering the school should know that federal Title I resources and targeted support programs are typically available at schools with this level of need. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status was not reported in the available information, which is a gap a prospective family may wish to fill by asking the school directly.
The school itself has no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate or college-readiness metric to report. There is no chronic absenteeism data or discipline data in the public record for this school. The school does not appear to have publicly reported information on its course offerings, staff-to-student ratios, or special programs such as gifted education or arts focus. A parent may want to contact the school or visit its website to learn about extracurriculars and support services.
Housing context in the surrounding area is mixed. Home values saw a very slight year-over-year decline, and rental prices also dipped slightly in the same period. The area is more affordable than the state benchmark for home values. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home is higher than the local average rent, which may matter for families weighing renting versus buying in this part of the city. The national unemployment rate has been stable and moderate, so local economic conditions are not in a period of unusual disruption.
Publicly reported information about Salt Lake District indicates that voters approved a significant bond in late 2024 to fund six major construction projects over several years, including full replacements of two high schools and additions at two middle schools. This will reshape school facilities across the district, though Riley School itself is not directly named among those projects. The board also approved new high school boundaries in early 2025, which realigned feeder patterns across the district and will affect which high school students attend in future years. Since Riley School feeds into higher grades, families should be aware of these boundary changes and how they may affect their child’s eventual middle and high school assignments.
This is a small elementary school in a high-poverty setting with academic proficiency numbers that are below the county median. For a family whose priority is a neighborhood school in the west side of the city with a diverse student body and a supportive environment typical of high-need schools, Riley School may be a reasonable fit. A family seeking stronger academic results, broader enrichment programs, or detailed outcome data may want to explore other options in the district.
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