The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Science. The lowest is 57% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Valley View Elementary School
Valley View Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Ellensburg, a college town and the county seat of Kittitas County. The school sits on the east side of town, in a district that includes four elementary schools feeding into a single middle school and high school. Ellensburg itself has a historic downtown, a walkable core with regular farmers markets and festivals, and a large Central Washington University campus that is a major employer and civic anchor. The valley is known for timothy hay production, and a new distribution center under construction promises further growth.
Valley View’s enrollment is about the size one would expect for a mid-sized elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic population and a small share of students who identify as two or more races. Roughly one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of economic diversity that sits at a moderate level. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile, so families with specific needs in those areas may want to ask the school directly about services and supports.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Valley View’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the top quartile relative to other schools in Kittitas County. That is a clear strength. In English language arts, third graders showed solid proficiency, fourth graders had a softer result, and fifth graders performed very well. In math, third graders had a strong showing, while fourth and fifth graders posted results that were somewhat lower, though still above many peers within the county. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the school’s performance was also strong. The pattern suggests that early literacy and late-elementary science are particular strengths, while math consistency across grades is an area a parent may want to examine more closely with the school.
Valley View is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet school. The school itself offers no data on disciplinary incidents, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios, so those dimensions of the school environment are not available in this profile. Because Valley View serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The district context matters. In February 2024, a capital bond that would have funded safety upgrades, roof replacements, and HVAC improvements across district schools failed to reach the required supermajority. The school board has discussed next steps, so families may encounter continued facility needs and future ballot measures. On a more positive note, a replacement Educational Programs and Operations levy passed in 2022 and runs through 2026, funding staffing, curriculum, and student support beyond what state money covers. That levy directly sustains the educational programs families experience in the district. Also, the district opened a new elementary school in fall 2022 and adjusted attendance boundaries at that time, so families moving into Ellensburg should confirm their address’s assigned school.
Housing in the Ellensburg area carries a price tag modestly below the statewide median, though still elevated relative to the national benchmark. The local economy is supported by the university, agriculture, and the incoming distribution center. The unemployment rate has been steady at moderate levels nationally.
For a family considering Valley View, the academic picture is one of solid performance with notable highs in fifth-grade reading and science and a strong overall standing among county schools. The school serves a largely white, moderately economically diverse student body in a growing college town. The district has a recent bond failure that left some facility projects unfunded, but also has a voter-approved operating levy in place through 2026. Parents who want the full picture on special education services, English learner support, and school climate will need to go beyond this data and contact the school directly.
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