The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Whittier School
Whittier School serves students from preschool through sixth grade in Salt Lake City, part of the Salt Lake District. It is a neighborhood elementary school, not a charter or magnet, and sits on the city’s south-central side near 1600 South and 300 East. The area is a mix of older homes and newer infill, with access to public transit and downtown a short distance away.
The student body is diverse. White students form the largest single group, followed by a substantial share of Hispanic students, and smaller but noticeable populations of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a school where economic need is common. This is a school a family might choose to be part of a city school community that reflects a broad cross-section of Salt Lake City families. Grade enrollment is fairly even across grades, with a slightly larger sixth-grade cohort, and a preschool program adds to the early childhood offerings.
On state assessments, which are given in grades three through six, proficiency rates vary by subject. Math and English language arts are close to one another, with about half of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark. Science results are higher, approaching three-fifths of students reaching that bar. When compared with other schools across Salt Lake County, Whittier’s overall proficiency across subjects lands in the top quarter of elementary schools. That is a strong signal for a school with a high share of students from lower-income households, though a parent may want to ask how those results break down by student group and what supports the school provides for struggling learners. The data do not include special education or English learner counts, so it is worth asking the school about those programs directly.
The school’s building and facilities are part of a district-wide conversation. In late 2024, voters in the Salt Lake District approved a bond for a series of major construction projects, including full replacements of two high schools, additions at two middle schools, and renovations at two others. While Whittier is not named in that bond list, the district’s investment in infrastructure signals ongoing attention to school buildings. Also in early 2025, the board approved new high school boundaries tied to feeder patterns. Since Whittier serves only through sixth grade, a family living in this zone will want to know which middle and high school their child would eventually attend, as those assignments may now be different.
Housing in the area is in line with Salt Lake City’s broader market. Home values and rents have been rising moderately, and the area offers a range of older single-family homes, duplexes, and some new construction. Rents are a meaningful share of local household income, which is consistent with a city experiencing growth pressures. For families weighing a move, the school’s neighborhood is walkable and close to the city’s amenities, including parks and the Jordan River trail system.
What is missing from the available data might matter to some parents. There is no information on class sizes, teacher experience, disciplinary climate, or after-school programming. The civil rights section is empty, so details on special education services, English learner supports, and discipline disparities are not included here. A parent considering Whittier would be wise to tour the school, talk to the principal, and ask about these areas directly. The school’s academic profile is solid for its peer set, its student body is genuinely diverse, and it sits in a district that is actively investing in facilities and adjusting boundaries. It fits a family that values an urban elementary experience with above-average outcomes for its demographic mix and wants to be in a district that is making capital improvements, even if the specific building may be older.
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