The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 70% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Vale Elementary School
Vale Elementary School serves the early grades of Cashmere, Washington, from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, within the Cashmere School District. The school is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet institution. For a family looking at this school, the most immediate picture is one of a small-town elementary school with a clear majority of students demonstrating proficiency in state assessments, housed in a community that is compact, growing, and anchored in both agricultural heritage and outdoor recreation.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic or Latino population. Roughly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a notable share of households with lower income. This economic diversity is a fact of the school’s makeup, not a judgment on the quality of instruction or community. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or those who are English learners was not available in the source material, so a parent who wants the full picture on special education and language support services would need to ask the school directly.
Academically, Vale Elementary shows a strength in the most recently reported state testing. In both third and fourth grade, a strong majority of students met the proficiency bar in English language arts, and a similar majority did so in math. When the school’s overall performance across tested subjects and grades is compared to other schools within the same district system in Chelan County, it lands in the top quarter. This is a solid academic starting point; a parent can reasonably expect that the typical student at Vale is performing at or above the standard set by the state, and that the school’s aggregate results are stronger than many of its county peers. Because the data represents only a single year, there is no trend line to show whether this level of performance is stable, rising, or falling.
Cashmere itself is a small city set along the Wenatchee River. It is primarily residential, with a large share of workers commuting to other towns, but it retains an agricultural and light-industrial base. Liberty Orchards, the maker of the candy Aplets & Cotlets, is headquartered here, along with Cashmere Valley Bank and a pre-cast concrete operation. The town is compact, with a historic district of Craftsman homes, a 9/11 memorial downtown, and a seasonal city pool. The surrounding area offers river rafting, mountain biking at Devil’s Gulch, and climbing at Peshastin Pinnacles. Housing in the area carries a value that is above the national median but slightly below the state's typical figure, and it has been appreciating at a modest annual rate by recent measures.
The district has been through a cycle of ballot measures that are relevant to any family planning to stay through multiple school levels. In 2022, voters passed a replacement educational programs and operations levy, which funds day-to-day programs beyond what the state provides. After three failed attempts, voters in late 2024 approved a capital projects bond to fund construction, renovation, and equipping of school facilities. This means that tax rates for property owners in the district reflect both the ongoing levy and the new capital bond, and that the physical school buildings, including the elementary campus, are on a path toward significant investment. The prior failed bond attempts suggest that the community has had real debate about school funding, but the passage of the most recent measure indicates a current mandate to improve infrastructure.
For a parent, Vale Elementary offers a reliable academic profile in a small-town setting with a mix of economic backgrounds. The school does not serve grades five through twelve, so a family will eventually need to consider the district’s middle and high schools. The lack of special-population data is a gap worth investigating if a child needs those services. The broader community is stable, slowly growing, and oriented toward both local industry and commuter life, with a housing market that is expensive relative to the national norm but somewhat less so than the state average. The district’s recent bond passage signals that the community is investing in its school buildings, which is a practical consideration for families looking at the long haul.
See more original research from School Decision →