The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Hills S.t.e.m. Academy
West Hills S.T.E.M. Academy is a regular public elementary school serving preschool through fifth grade as part of the Bremerton School District. The school’s name signals an early focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, though the available data provides no detail on what specific programs, curriculum, or partnerships bring that focus to life in the classroom. A parent considering the academy would want to reach out to the school directly to understand what S.T.E.M. means in practice for elementary students here.
The school sits in Bremerton, a city where the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Naval Base Kitsap dominate the local economy. The downtown harborside area, a short distance from the school’s location on South National Avenue, has seen substantial reinvestment in recent years, with new apartments, restored buildings, breweries, and cultural venues. The city spans multiple neighborhoods and is connected by bridges across the Port Washington Narrows. Much of Bremerton outside the downtown core is car-dependent, and the school itself is in a residential area that reflects that pattern. Housing values in the school’s zip area are roughly in line with state benchmarks, and rents are moderate relative to national income measures, making the area a feasible option for many families, though specific affordability depends on individual circumstances.
State testing data is available for the 2024-25 school year, and the results give a direct picture of academic performance. Across grades three through five, proficiency rates in math are below what a parent might hope for in an elementary school. English language arts results show a wider range, with fifth-grade reading performance landing at a notably higher level than the lower grades. Science testing, which occurs only in fifth grade, shows that about a third of students met the standard. When compared to other school districts across Kitsap County, the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot a family would want to discuss with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place.
The student body is economically diverse, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially and ethnically, the school’s population is roughly evenly split between white students and Hispanic students, each making up about a third of enrollment, with a significant presence of students who identify as two or more races. Smaller shares of Black, Asian, Native American, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students round out the composition. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records.
The Bremerton School District passed a capital bond in early 2024, which is funding major facility projects including rebuilt schools and a new sports complex. That investment does not directly affect West Hills S.T.E.M. Academy’s classrooms, but it signals a district-level commitment to modernizing its physical plant. The district also offers Spanish dual language immersion classes for kindergarten through fifth grade, a program a family would want to check on if bilingual education is a priority, as it may be housed at specific schools rather than every elementary building.
This is an elementary school in a city with a working waterfront economy and a district that has made recent infrastructure investments. The academic numbers point to an area where many students are still developing foundational skills, particularly in math, and the school’s S.T.E.M. focus is a named emphasis without a documented curriculum in the available data. A family considering West Hills would benefit from a visit and a conversation with the principal about how the school supports students who are not yet at grade-level benchmarks and what the S.T.E.M. designation actually delivers for children in the elementary years.
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