The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dower Elementary School
Dower Elementary School is a regular public school in Lakewood, Washington, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Clover Park School District. It sits within a suburban community that is deeply shaped by its proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, one of the largest military installations in the country, and by a notably diverse population—the city hosts an International District with Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Latino influences, and the Tillicum neighborhood includes many non-English-speaking households. Lakewood is car-oriented, with commercial activity spread across shopping centers and major corridors rather than a traditional downtown. The school itself is on Dower Road West in a residential area.
The student body is diverse. Families from a wide range of backgrounds attend, with no single racial or ethnic group forming a majority. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of a community where the median home value and rent are below the state benchmark, and where the housing stock includes many multi-family complexes and older subdivisions. The district did not provide data on the share of students receiving special education services or identified as English learners; a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year are available for math, English language arts, and science. Across the tested grades (three through five), overall proficiency in math and ELA places Dower in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Pierce County. In math, the share of students meeting the state standard was roughly a quarter or less at each grade level. In English language arts, about a third of students scored proficient in fifth grade, with lower rates in third and fourth grades. Science results for fifth graders were also low, with about a fifth reaching proficiency. Only one year of data was reported, so trends cannot be observed. These are soft spots: the school’s academic performance is notably below the median for Pierce County districts, and families considering Dower may want to discuss how the school addresses this—through curriculum, intervention programs, or staffing—with the principal or classroom teachers.
Because Dower is an elementary school, it does not have a graduation rate, chronic absenteeism figures in the data, or discipline records; those metrics apply to secondary schools or are simply not reported for this campus. No staffing ratios, course access information, or attendance data were available. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not specified.
The neighborhood context is stable but not affluent. Lakewood has developer incentives aimed at growth, including a multifamily tax exemption and Opportunity Zones, and the city’s taxable retail sales have grown in recent years. The housing market shows home values that are lower than the Washington state average, with a modest year-over-year decline, while rents have risen slightly. For a resident or parent, this means Dower serves a community where affordability is relatively better than in the broader region, but where household incomes and property values reflect the pressures of a post-industrial, military-linked economy.
The Clover Park School District, as publicly reported, had no major recent changes in policy, curriculum, or funding that surfaced in available records. A parent researching this school will find limited published information on its internal programs, special education services, or enrichment offerings—those are gaps the school itself can fill in a visit or a phone call.
Overall, Dower Elementary is a medium-sized elementary school in a suburban, military-adjacent city with a high level of student economic need. Its state test results are low compared to other Pierce County districts, and the available data does not show any countervailing strengths in areas like attendance or discipline. Families who value a diverse, working-class environment and want to engage directly with the school about academic improvement efforts may find it a fit. Others may want to compare it with other elementary options in the district or consider discussing support programs with school staff before deciding.
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