The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Orin C Smith Elementary School
Orin C Smith Elementary School serves third through fifth graders in the Chehalis School District and sits at the base of forested hills on the east side of Interstate 5 in Chehalis, the county seat of Lewis County. Chehalis began as a railroad and logging town and later shifted toward farming; in the 21st century it has focused on manufacturing and warehousing, particularly around the Port of Chehalis, which is a significant local employer along with the school district, Lewis County government, and Providence Centralia Hospital. The city is car-dependent outside its historic downtown core, and the school itself is on a campus separated from downtown, like other district schools. The Chehalis School District launched the Cornerstone Program in 2023, a pre-kindergarten readiness initiative that provides resources and connects families to school staff and community support as children enter school. The district also set a long-term strategic goal called "75 by 35," which aims for a targeted portion of high school graduates to earn credentials needed for responsible citizenship, shaping curriculum and career-pathway investments from middle school through high school and alternative programs.
Orin C Smith is a regular public school. Enrollment is moderate for an upper-elementary school serving three grade levels. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which indicates a significant proportion of families with lower household incomes. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence and small numbers of students who are Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or of two or more races. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners were not available in the profile, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the special education and multilingual support structures in place.
State assessment results from the most recent school year give a mixed picture. In math, proficiency declined across the grades, with the third-grade rate the strongest and fifth grade notably weaker. In English language arts, the pattern was similar: third graders posted a rate that was the highest in the school, while fourth and fifth graders each had lower rates, with fifth grade the lowest. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, roughly half of students met the proficiency standard. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among districts in Lewis County, meaning it performs better than most schools in the county but below the very top. The comparison is to other districts, not to schools statewide. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was also absent from the record.
The housing market in the area shows that home values fall well below the state benchmark, making this a relatively affordable community by Washington standards. Rents are lower than the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home, which is typical for the region and reflects a rental market that is more accessible than homeownership for many families. The typical rent as a share of median household income is moderate, though the national median household income figure used for context is a broad measure and may not precisely match local income levels.
For a parent considering this school, the academic picture is one of a serviceable elementary school that generally performs in a range similar to or above many of its county peers, with the strongest results in third-grade English language arts and math and a noticeable drop-off by fifth grade. The community is a small, car-dependent city with a working-class and blue-collar economic base, a historic downtown, and moderate growth focused on infill and industrial development. The district's investments in early childhood readiness and a long-term high school credential goal are publicly stated priorities, though how those translate into day-to-day experience at the elementary level would be worth exploring in a conversation with the school.
See more original research from School Decision →