The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 74% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ordway Elementary
Ordway Elementary is one of the elementary schools serving Bainbridge Island, a K‑4 regular public school in the Bainbridge Island School District. It draws from a community that is known as an affluent bedroom suburb of Seattle, connected to the city by a Washington State Ferries ride from the Winslow dock. The school sits on a campus along Madison Avenue, south of the island’s walkable town center, and serves the youngest grades in the district before students move on to a middle school and then Bainbridge High School.
Academically, the school posts very strong results on the state’s Smarter Balanced assessments, the only tested grades being third and fourth. Proficiency rates in both math and English language arts are well above typical levels, landing Ordway in the top quartile among districts in Kitsap County when measured by an overall proficiency index that combines all tested subjects and grades. Because the school covers only kindergarten through fourth grade, outcomes such as a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism figures do not apply, so those measures are absent from the data rather than a reflection of performance. No multi‑year trend lines are available either, as only one year of state test data is reported, but the single snapshot shows a school where a large majority of students meet or exceed grade‑level standards.
The student body is relatively small for a school of this grade band. The demographic profile is predominantly white, with notable shares of students who are Hispanic and of two or more races; Asian and Black students each make up a very small portion. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, a marker that aligns with the broader affluence of the island. Information on the percentage of students receiving special education services or who are English learners was not reported in the data, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the range of support available.
Bainbridge Island itself shapes the experience for families. It is a largely residential and rural island with a compact town center in Winslow near the ferry terminal. Outside of that core, neighborhoods are car‑dependent, served by winding roads and limited bus transit. Housing costs are extremely high, even by regional standards, and rent is similarly elevated, which means that living within the attendance zone requires a substantial household income. The island has grown steadily since its incorporation and annexation, but development has been managed with an emphasis on preserving green spaces, agricultural land, and shoreline access. Many residents commute to Seattle for work.
The school district has made two notable changes in recent years that a parent might weigh. In 2021 the school board adopted a Race, Equity, and Identity Board Policy, committing the district to anti‑racist and inclusive practices. In 2023 one of the district’s other elementary schools was renamed to reflect a local Indigenous petroglyph, a decision that signals a broader cultural awareness effort. These actions may matter to families considering how the district approaches curriculum and school climate.
Ordway Elementary offers a straightforward academic pathway for early elementary years in a high‑performing district. The combination of very strong test scores, a small student population, and an affluent, nature‑oriented island setting is likely to appeal to families who can afford to live on Bainbridge Island and who are looking for a solid launch into the district’s upper grades. The school’s strengths are clear on the academic side, while its peer environment and community context are what they are—a largely homogeneous student body set in a high‑cost, commuter‑oriented island town.
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