The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Science. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elementary
Jefferson Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Everett, Washington, part of the Everett School District. The school enrolls a student body that is diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group commanding an outright majority. White students make up the largest share, followed by Asian students, Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, and Black students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a proxy for economic need that places the school in a middle range for its community.
On state assessments, Jefferson Elementary posted results that, when taken together, put the school in the top quarter of all Snohomish County school districts on an overall proficiency index. This is a strong showing for a school its size. In English language arts, performance rises with each grade: the fifth-grade cohort reached a notably high proficiency rate, while third and fourth graders also posted solid numbers. In math, proficiency improved across the grades as well, with fifth graders performing best. In science, the only tested grade—fifth—also recorded a strong proficiency rate. Because this is the first year of data under the current assessment format, there is no trend to show whether these results represent an improvement or a decline.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Other metrics that would help round out the picture, such as chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, and the share of students receiving special education or English learner services, were not available in the data reviewed. A parent considering Jefferson may want to ask the school directly about these areas, as they matter for everyday experience.
Everett itself is a midsized city that serves as the Snohomish County seat and functions both as a major employment center—anchored by Boeing’s aircraft assembly plant, Naval Station Everett, and the Port of Everett—and as a bedroom community for Seattle. The downtown core has high-rise buildings clustered around Everett Station, a transit hub for commuter trains, Amtrak, and buses. Entertainment venues such as Angel of the Winds Arena and Funko Field add to the area’s street life. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is expensive relative to national benchmarks, and mortgage rates have been elevated, making homeownership a stretch for many households. Rents have also declined slightly in the past year, but remain high.
The Everett School District has been through several notable changes recently. In 2024, voters approved a replacement operations levy after an earlier version failed; the levy funds teachers, special education, athletics, music, and arts. In 2022, a bond measure for school construction and facility improvements passed, funding safety upgrades, roof and HVAC replacements, classroom additions, and a new elementary school. The district has also adjusted school boundaries in phases, including high school boundary changes from 2020 to 2023 and elementary boundary changes approved in 2024 to take effect in the 2025-26 school year, aimed at balancing enrollment across buildings.
For a family considering Jefferson Elementary, the school offers a solid academic foundation relative to other schools in the county, with rising proficiency across grade levels and a particularly strong showing at fifth grade. The student body is economically diverse and racially varied, which may appeal to families seeking a representative public school environment. The lack of published data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing means a conversation with the school or a visit is probably the best way to gauge day-to-day conditions. The broader Everett setting provides access to employment, transit, and civic amenities, but comes with high housing costs and a competitive market. The district’s recent boundary adjustments may also affect which elementary school a child attends, so checking current attendance zones is wise.
See more original research from School Decision →