The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rock Island Elementary
Rock Island Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in the small town of Rock Island, Washington, part of the Eastmont School District. The school is relatively small, with a student body that is heavily Hispanic and economically disadvantaged; a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The peer environment reflects that socioeconomic context, and families considering the school should be aware that resource constraints and concentrated poverty can shape the day-to-day academic experience.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year provide a first look at academic performance, though only a single year of data is available, so trends cannot be assessed. In math, proficiency rates are low across all tested grades, with the highest rate seen in third grade and noticeably weaker results in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. English language arts proficiency is mixed: third graders reach a rate that is moderate, but rates in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades are lower, with all of them clustering well below half of students meeting the bar. Fifth-grade science proficiency is also low. When compared across districts in Douglas County, Rock Island Elementary’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the cohort. A parent should weigh these figures against the school’s high proportion of students learning in a high-poverty setting; the district may be able to provide additional context about intervention supports or progress over time.
No data on special education or English learner populations is reported in the available records, and there is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access beyond the core academic subjects. The school’s website and district communications would be the best sources for understanding what academic interventions, enrichment programs, or family engagement strategies are in place. The district brief turned up little in the way of recent bonds, levies, or curriculum changes, so there are no publicly reported district-level shifts to note.
The housing context around Rock Island is relatively modest. Home values in the area are below the Washington state average but above the national median, and values have risen slightly over the past year. The market is not as expensive as the broader state, though affordability remains stretched for many households; the estimated monthly mortgage is higher than typical rent, and the rent-to-income ratio is elevated relative to national averages. For families renting or buying near the school, this is a market that requires a solid household income.
Rock Island Elementary serves a small, close-knit community. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, and the economic need is high. The school is a neighborhood elementary that feeds into the Eastmont district’s middle and high schools. For families who value a small, familiar setting and are looking for a school where their child will be known, this could be a comfortable fit. The academic numbers are a soft spot, particularly in math and the upper elementary grades, and any parent considering this school should ask the principal and teachers what academic supports are available, what the school’s literacy and math interventions look like, and how the school measures progress for students who enter below grade level. Without trend data or program details, the picture is incomplete, but the available evidence points to a school that serves a high-needs population and is working to raise achievement in a challenging environment.
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