The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Science. The lowest is 12% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Amistad Elementary School
Amistad Elementary School is a regular public school in Kennewick, Washington, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools in the Kennewick School District, which relies on local bond and levy measures voted on by residents to fund capital projects and ongoing programs, a process the district has outlined publicly.
The school is located on Kent Street in Kennewick, the most populous of the Tri-Cities. Kennewick sits along the Columbia River and is part of a region described as having the fastest growing population in Washington state. Its economy is diversified across manufacturing, food processing, retail, and services, with offices for Amazon and Lamb Weston, along with the nearby Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. The city has a mix of riverfront recreation, civic anchors like the Toyota Center and the Three Rivers Convention Center (currently undergoing a major expansion), and residential neighborhoods that rise from the river toward the Horse Heaven Hills. The district serves a wide area of this growing city.
Amistad enrolls a large student body for its grade band. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of White students, and the remaining enrollment is distributed among Black, Asian, multiracial, and other groups. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs and the share who are English learners was not provided.
State assessment results were available for the most recent school year in math, English language arts, and science. In math, proficiency rates were low across grades three, four, and five. In English language arts, rates were similarly low across those grades. In science, tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was also low. Compared to other districts in Benton County, Amistad’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed in the bottom quartile of the comparison set. The school had only a single year of data available, so an academic trend could not be established. A parent reading these results will want to discuss them directly with the school and understand what academic support and intervention programs are in place.
Because Amistad serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing were not provided, nor were specific program offerings or a Title I status designation.
Housing values in the area around the school are moderate relative to the state benchmark, and rents have risen recently. The broader economic context includes a national unemployment rate and mortgage rates that shape housing affordability for families looking in this part of Kennewick. The city’s growth trajectory and commercial development suggest a steady inflow of new residents.
For a family considering Amistad, the picture is a large, diverse elementary school in a growing city with a strong local economy but where state assessment results are lower than those of many other schools in the county. The school’s strengths are not reflected in the limited academic data available here. A parent will want to visit, talk with staff about how the school supports students who are performing below grade level, and learn about the specific programs that might serve their child’s needs, especially given the school’s size and high rate of economic disadvantage. The district’s bond and levy process is a relevant factor for families who intend to stay long-term, as it shapes the funding available for facilities and programs.
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