The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Math. The lowest is 32% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kettle Falls Elementary School
Kettle Falls Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade in the small, rural town of Kettle Falls, Washington, a community with a working-class, resource-town character shaped by logging, agriculture, and the nearby Lake Roosevelt recreation area. The school is the elementary entry point for the Kettle Falls School District, which also operates a middle and high school for the older grades.
The student body is small relative to many elementary schools, and the majority of students come from families with low enough incomes to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Racially, the enrollment is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a modest number of students identifying as two or more races or American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on the share of students with disabilities or those classified as English learners was not available in the source material.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year are available for grades three and four, the only tested grade levels in this building. On the English language arts assessment, proficiency rates were higher in third grade than in fourth grade. In math, the same pattern held, with third graders showing a stronger performance than fourth graders. No prior-year testing data was available for comparison, so it is not possible to say whether scores are improving or declining. When placed among its peers, the school's overall proficiency level across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Stevens County. A parent may want to inquire with the school about how it supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks and what academic interventions are in place, particularly for the later primary grades.
The school offers no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or course access was provided. Information about specific programs, such as art, music, physical education, or enrichment offerings, was not included in the source material.
The town of Kettle Falls itself is a compact place, with a small traditional downtown and a footprint that suggests basic walkability within town limits, though most residents likely rely on cars for everyday errands. Housing values in the area, as captured by a widely used national index, are well below the statewide benchmark, which is consistent with the rural and working-class character of the region. The town has seen modest population growth in recent years, and the broader economic context includes a national mortgage rate and unemployment rate that reflect a typical economic cycle.
In sum, Kettle Falls Elementary is a small, rural primary school serving a community with modest resources. State test results show a range of performance, with strengths in the early tested grade weakening by fourth grade. Families considering the school will want to explore how the school addresses those academic gaps and what enrichment opportunities exist beyond core instruction. The school’s small size and rural setting will appeal to those looking for a close-knit, neighborhood-based elementary experience.
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