The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Science. The lowest is 14% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on North Star School
North Star School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Salt Lake City, as part of the Salt Lake District. It is a neighborhood elementary school, not a charter or magnet school. The school’s enrollment is small for its grade band, and the student body is diverse. A large majority of students are Hispanic, with smaller shares of students who are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, and White. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need.
State testing data is available for math, English language arts, and science, and the results show that proficiency rates are low across all three subjects. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Salt Lake County. This is a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school, particularly to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place. The school serves grades pre-K through six, so there is no graduation rate to report.
The school is located in Salt Lake City, a large urban center that is the state’s capital and economic hub. Major employers include the University of Utah and the LDS Church, and the city has a walkable downtown with TRAX light rail service. Parks, libraries, and civic anchors such as the Jordan River are part of the local landscape. The city has seen growth and new housing development in recent years, though the specific impact on the neighborhood around North Star School is not detailed in the available data.
Housing in the school’s ZIP code is moderately priced relative to the state, with home values slightly below the Utah median. Rents are also below the state average, and the area is more affordable than many parts of the Salt Lake Valley. The national economic context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate that has been fluctuating in the mid-six percent range, and the national unemployment rate has held steady. These conditions matter for families considering a move to the area, but the school’s own data does not include a breakdown of the local housing market at the neighborhood level.
The Salt Lake District, which oversees North Star School, has recently approved a large bond measure for major construction projects, including full replacements of West High School and Highland High School, additions at two middle schools, and renovations at two others. The bond represents a significant property-tax increase and will reshape school facilities across the district over the coming years. The district also approved new high school boundaries in early 2025, which will affect which high school students attend based on their feeder pattern. These district-level changes are relevant for families with children who will eventually move into middle and high school, though North Star School itself serves only through sixth grade.
The school’s student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a notable share of students who are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, and White. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is high, which is a marker of the economic context families in this attendance area navigate. The school does not report data on English learner or special education populations, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the availability of English language development services and special education supports.
North Star School is a small elementary school in a large urban district that is in the midst of a major facilities overhaul. The academic proficiency numbers are low, and the school serves a high-poverty student body. Families considering this school will want to learn more about the specific instructional programs, class sizes, and support services available, as well as how the district’s boundary changes and construction plans may affect the feeder pattern for students who move on to middle and high school.
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