The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on M. Lynn Bennion School
M. Lynn Bennion School, a public elementary school in Salt Lake City, serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Salt Lake District. The school is a neighborhood school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body is small for its grade range. Every child enrolled qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a community with widespread economic need. The student population is diverse: the largest group is Hispanic, followed by White, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and smaller shares of multiracial and American Indian or Alaska Native students. Data on the number of students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support programs.
State testing results are available for the 2023-24 school year through Utah’s RISE assessments, which are given to students in grades three through six. In math, roughly one in nine students scored at the proficient level. In English language arts, about one in six students met the proficiency bar. Science results were higher, with about three in ten students proficient. Compared with other elementary and middle schools across Salt Lake County, the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects falls in the bottom quarter of the county. This is a soft spot in the school’s academic profile. A family considering the school may want to learn more about the specific instructional supports, intervention programs, or recent initiatives the school is using to raise student achievement.
The school’s housing market reflects Salt Lake City’s central neighborhoods, particularly the 84102 ZIP code. Home values in this area are roughly in line with the statewide median, though the local market has seen a modest softening recently. Rents are moderate relative to local incomes, and the estimated cost of renting is lower than a monthly mortgage payment, which makes renting more attainable for many families. The broader Salt Lake City economy has been stable, with an unemployment rate near the national average. The city is home to major employers such as the University of Utah and the LDS Church, and it has a walkable downtown with TRAX light rail, parks, and civic anchors.
For families in the Salt Lake District, two recent developments are important. In November 2024, voters approved a large bond to fund six major construction projects over several years. These include full replacements of West High School and Highland High School, additions at two middle schools, and major renovations at two more middle schools. The bond will increase property taxes modestly per year on a median-value home. Then in March 2025, the Board of Education approved new high school boundaries to better align elementary and middle school feeder patterns. For a parent with a child at Bennion, those boundary changes may affect which high school their child will eventually attend, so it is worth understanding the current feeder pattern.
The school itself is missing some contextual data that would help a parent evaluate peer environment and student support. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access was not available. The state testing participation rate also was not reported, although the results were given as reported. Because the school serves prekindergarten through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider.
Overall, M. Lynn Bennion School is a small, high-poverty elementary school in central Salt Lake City with a diverse student body. Its state assessment results are well below county averages, a meaningful consideration for families focused on academic outcomes. The district is in the middle of a significant facilities upgrade and boundary reorganization, which will shape the school experience for years to come. A parent may wish to visit the school, talk to staff about academic supports, and ask how the recent district changes will affect Bennion’s students directly.
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