The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mcdermoth Elementary
McDermoth Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Aberdeen School District, located in the city of Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County. The school sits on the city's north side, near the Chehalis River. Aberdeen itself is the most populous city in the county and has long been tied to timber, fishing, and the Port of Grays Harbor, though the local economy is shifting toward a mix of retail, industry, and tourism. The city's population has been stable for roughly the last two decades, and the housing stock is notably more affordable than the Washington state median, a factor that matters for families considering a move. The school district, which families also pay into through a replacement levy approved by voters in early 2022, funds programs, staffing, and extracurriculars; that levy passed with a clear majority and replaced an expiring one.
The student body at McDermoth is diverse, with a majority of students identifying as white and a substantial share identifying as Hispanic. There is also a visible population of students who identify with two or more races. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic context families navigate. The combination of a high-needs student population and a community whose industrial base has contracted means the school operates within a set of real economic pressures.
On state assessments, McDermoth's results are mixed. In English language arts, performance rises across the grades, with a meaningful share of fifth graders meeting proficiency, while fourth and third graders trail behind that level. In math, the pattern is different: proficiency declines as students move up, with a solid share of third graders meeting the bar but a much smaller share of fifth graders doing so. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a stronger result, with a majority of students meeting proficiency. Across all subjects and grades combined, McDermoth's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among the districts in Grays Harbor County. That is a relative position, not an absolute one, and it lands the school in the middle of the pack in a county where many schools face similar challenges. A single year of data is available, so there is no trend line yet to say whether performance is improving or declining.
The school serves about that many students. The building is a regular elementary school, not a magnet or charter, and no Title I status was reported in the available data. Discipline data, staffing details, chronic absenteeism rates, and the share of students with disabilities or identified as English learners were not part of the information provided. For a parent trying to get a full picture of a child's daily experience, those are meaningful gaps. The school's environment, the day-to-day feel of hallways and classrooms, the kind of academic supports available for students who are behind, none of that is captured here. A family considering McDermoth would want to ask the school directly about class sizes, reading and math intervention programs, and how the building supports students who come from lower-income households.
The fit for McDermoth is specific. For a family that values affordability and is comfortable with a midsized town undergoing an economic transition, the school offers a community that looks like the region. The academic picture is one where some students are finding their footing, especially in older elementary years and in math, and the school sits in the middle tier of its county on overall proficiency. A parent whose child is already strong in reading and science may find the school a solid fit. A parent whose child needs extra support in math or literacy would want to dig into what specific resources the school and district offer before deciding.
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