Columbia Valley Elementary, Vancouver WA

Original Research by School Decision on Columbia Valley Elementary

Columbia Valley Elementary, a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, is part of the Evergreen School District (Clark) in the mid-sized city of Vancouver, Washington. The school sits in the eastern part of the city, within a suburban corridor that is part of the broader Portland metropolitan area. Families considering this school should understand that it operates in a district that recently completed a major wave of school modernizations, funded by a voter-approved bond, which rebuilt some of the district's oldest schools and upgraded the remainder. This means the physical learning environment at many district schools, including likely at Columbia Valley, has seen recent investment, though the school's own specific building condition is not detailed in the available data.

The student body at Columbia Valley is relatively small for its grade band, drawing from a local attendance area. The demographic composition is diverse. A substantial share of students are white, with a notable Hispanic population, and smaller shares identifying as Asian, two or more races, and Black. A little over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which positions the school in a moderate range for economic need within the district. Data on the percentage of students with disabilities or those who are English learners was not available.

On state assessments, Columbia Valley presents a mixed picture that a parent would want to understand by grade level. In the most recent testing year, math proficiency showed a notable drop from the lower to the upper grades. While proficiency in math for the tested third and fourth graders was at a level many families would consider solid, it fell considerably among fifth graders. In English language arts, proficiency across third, fourth, and fifth grades clustered at a level that was modest, with fourth graders performing the highest in this subject. For science, which is tested only in fifth grade, proficiency was at a moderate level. When compared to other elementary schools within Clark County, Columbia Valley's overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades fell in the bottom quartile of the comparison group. Because this is the only testing year for which data is available, there is no multi-year trend to show whether these results represent a typical year or an outlier.

This school does not serve the grades that would produce a graduation rate or offer advanced placement or career pathways, so those metrics are not part of its profile.

The housing context in the school's immediate area reflects the broader Vancouver market. Home values are near the state benchmark, with rents having eased somewhat recently. The area has experienced rapid growth, and the city of Vancouver itself is one of the faster-growing municipalities in Washington state, with ongoing annexation proposals that could further expand its boundaries and population. This growth context means that local schools may see enrollment pressures over time, though the district's recent investments in school facilities are an indication of planning for those conditions.

For a family deciding whether Columbia Valley Elementary fits, the central factors are the grade-level variation in academic performance, particularly the drop-off in math proficiency between fourth and fifth grade, and the school's relative position among its county peers. The school's moderate size and diverse enrollment may appeal to families who value that compositional mix. The available data does not show information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or specialized program offerings, so a parent interested in those dimensions would need to inquire directly with the school. The district's recent facility upgrades are a tangible asset, but how that applies specifically to this building is not stated.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 40% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 42% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 32% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 33% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 9 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 38% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 40% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 42% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

This schoolEvergreen School District (Clark), same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income41%7 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income39%Higher-income51%12 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income38%Higher-income37%0 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income42%Higher-income55%12 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income57%9 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income24%1 pp gap