The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Captain Strong
Captain Strong is a regular public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the Battle Ground School District, located in the north Clark County city of Battle Ground. As a primary-level school, it does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data available; those measures simply do not apply here. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly White, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that economic diversity is present in the building.
The school posts state assessment results in math and English language arts for grades three and four. Across these grades, the share of students meeting proficiency is in the range of roughly two in five to just under half of students. In both subjects, the fourth-grade results are somewhat stronger than the third-grade ones. These are the first year of data available for the school, so there is no trend to compare against. When placed alongside other districts in Clark County, Captain Strong’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile. That comparison is based on a county-wide set of districts, so families considering the school may want to ask the school or district about the specific supports in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
Battle Ground itself is a growing suburban city that serves as the commercial and social hub for north Clark County. It has a downtown core where two state routes intersect, and it offers civic amenities such as a community center, a public library, and a network of parks and open space. C-Tran bus service connects the city to Vancouver and other destinations, which may be relevant for families commuting within the region. The city saw rapid population growth over recent decades and continues to expand, though specific major new housing developments were not detailed in the available information. Housing values in the area sit near the state average, and rental costs are moderate relative to incomes, suggesting a market that is somewhat stretched but not out of reach for many families. The typical monthly mortgage payment here is higher than average rent, which points to a market where renting is more accessible than buying for many households.
The district context matters for Captain Strong families. In 2025, voters rejected the district’s attempt to replace an expiring Educational Programs and Operations levy, resulting in significant budget cuts for the following school year. As of early 2026, Battle Ground Public Schools was the only district in southwest Washington without an EP&O levy in place. That means families should expect reduced program and staffing levels compared to neighboring districts, and the school’s ability to offer enrichment or intervention supports may be affected. A parent considering Captain Strong would want to ask directly about current class sizes, specialist offerings, and any tutoring or intervention programs available, given the district’s tighter financial situation.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is one of a mid-sized primary school in a growing suburban city, with test results that are below the middle of the county pack. The student body is economically mixed and largely White. The absence of a district levy creates a real constraint on what the school can offer, especially relative to nearby districts. Families who value a tight-knit neighborhood school and are comfortable engaging with the school about how its resources are being deployed may find it a perfectly good fit. Those seeking a school with a stronger academic track record or broader program offerings may want to look across district lines or investigate what the school is doing specifically to lift proficiency. The data available does not speak to school culture, teacher quality, or parent involvement; those are questions best answered by visiting and talking to current families.
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