The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 28% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Shoultes Elementary
Shoultes Elementary serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Marysville, a fast-growing suburban city in Snohomish County. The school sits within the Marysville School District, a system that has been under significant financial strain in recent years. State testing data from the most recent school year offers a picture of where students currently stand academically, and it is worth understanding before making enrollment decisions.
On the state’s standardized assessments, Shoultes Elementary posted results that are notably below the typical range for Snohomish County elementary schools. In math, proficiency rates for third, fourth, and fifth graders all clustered in the low thirty-percent range, meaning roughly a third of students reached the state standard. English language arts results were lower in the early grades: about one-fifth of third graders met the bar, with fourth and fifth graders improving to just under and just over a third proficient. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a higher share at just over two-fifths proficient. When all tested subjects and grades are combined into a single index, the school’s overall proficiency places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Snohomish County.
These numbers represent a single year of data, so there is no multi-year trend to compare against. Still, a parent or guardian may want to ask the school directly about the strategies it uses to support students who are not yet at grade level, and whether any academic interventions or enrichment programs are in place. The school’s grade band means it does not have a graduation rate, as that measure applies only to high schools.
The student body at Shoultes is approximately 370 children, which is a modest size for an elementary school. Demographically, the largest group is white students, followed by Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, Asian students, and Black students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic diversity of the families the school serves. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available, so a parent with specific needs in those areas should contact the school directly.
Marysville itself is a mixed-use suburban city with a historic downtown and extensive retail centers. It was historically a strawberry-farming and lumber town, and it has grown rapidly in recent decades, fueled by annexations and new housing development. The city’s economy includes aerospace, clean technology, IT, and distribution sectors, and it borders the Tulalip Indian Reservation to the west. Housing in the area is priced well above the national median, though slightly below the Washington state benchmark, and rents have been rising moderately. The community is largely auto-oriented, with walkability limited outside the downtown core.
The district context matters here in a way that directly affects the school. Voters rejected two school levies in 2022, which triggered a financial crisis. The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction placed the district under binding conditions in 2023 and declared it financially insolvent in 2024, convening a Financial Oversight Committee. This means the Marysville School District is operating under unusual state oversight, and families may want to understand how that affects class sizes, program offerings, and support services at Shoultes. The data available does not include specific details on programs, staffing ratios, or course access at the school, so a parent with questions about art, music, physical education, or academic enrichment should reach out to the school office.
For a family considering Shoultes, the academic data points to a school where the majority of students are not yet meeting state standards in reading, math, and science. The school is in a growing suburban city, but within a district managing a significant financial recovery. A parent may want to discuss the school’s improvement plan and available supports with the principal to get a clearer sense of how their child would be served.
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