The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hearthwood Elementary School
Hearthwood Elementary School, part of the Evergreen School District in Clark County, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in the Vancouver area, a mid-sized city that blends residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and industrial zones. Vancouver has seen steady growth, with recent high-density development along its downtown waterfront and substantial annexation proposals on the table. The city’s economy includes corporate headquarters for firms like Nautilus and ZoomInfo, as well as the Port of Vancouver, while many residents commute to the Portland metro area across the Columbia River. Because Hearthwood sits within the Evergreen district, families also benefit from a major bond measure passed a few years ago that funded rebuilds and upgrades across the district’s schools, modernizing physical learning environments.
Hearthwood itself is a regular public school with an enrollment in the mid-size range for an elementary school. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up a little more than half of the population, while Hispanic students represent a substantial share, alongside smaller but present groups of Asian, Black, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with above-average economic need.
Academically, the picture from state testing is mixed, and a parent or guardian will want to understand where the school’s strengths and challenges lie. In English language arts, student proficiency rates vary noticeably by grade level. The most recently tested third graders showed a very low proficiency rate, while fourth and fifth graders performed at roughly the midpoint or a bit below, with about half meeting the bar. In math, the range is also uneven: third graders posted a low proficiency rate, while fourth graders climbed to a rate approaching half, and fifth graders were not far behind. The general pattern suggests that students in the upper elementary grades are performing more strongly than those in the earliest tested year. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a proficiency rate that a parent might consider a relative bright spot, landing at a majority of students meeting the standard. When measured across all tested subjects and grades, Hearthwood’s combined proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other school districts in Clark County. It is worth noting that the school’s test results represent a single year of data, so there is no trend information yet to judge whether performance is improving or declining.
Several relevant data points were not available in the record. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, and staffing ratios was absent. Because Hearthwood is an elementary school serving only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, nor would such a metric apply. The school’s Title I status was also unlisted, though the high share of students on free or reduced-price lunch suggests it may qualify for federal support. Special population counts, such as students with individualized education programs or English learners, were not present in the data. A parent interested in these support services should contact the school directly for specifics.
The housing market in the area reflects a typical suburban-West Coast pattern. Home values are moderately above the national average but below the state benchmark, and rents have been rising slightly. Buying a home in the attendance zone carries a cost roughly comparable to the broader Vancouver metro. Rental affordability is typical for the region. The area is generally auto-dependent, though the downtown Vancouver core offers a more walkable, mixed-use environment. For families living in the Hearthwood neighborhood, a car will be the primary mode of getting to school, errands, and activities.
In sum, Hearthwood Elementary offers a diverse, economically mixed student body within a growing suburban region that has invested in its school facilities. Academic results are uneven, with some grades faring better than others and overall proficiency tracking behind many other Clark County districts. A parent considering this school will want to look into how the school supports early literacy in the primary grades, where the low third-grade ELA results are a clear area of concern, and whether the upper-grade strength in math and science is part of a broader upward trend.
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