The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harriet Rowley
Harriet Rowley is a regular public elementary school in Mount Vernon, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Mount Vernon School District and functions as a neighborhood school for families living in the city’s southern side. The school’s enrollment is moderate for its grade band, and its student body reflects the broader diversity of the community.
Mount Vernon is the county seat of Skagit County and the largest city in the valley. It sits along Interstate 5, roughly midway between Seattle and the Canadian border. The surrounding Skagit Valley is known for agriculture, and the annual tulip festival draws visitors from across the region. Downtown has a historic core with the Lincoln Theatre, a seasonal farmers’ market on the riverfront revetment, and Skagit Station, the multimodal transit hub serving Amtrak and buses. In September 2024, the city opened the Library Commons, a new multi-use community center downtown. The city has grown modestly over the past decade and sees ongoing development plans for riverfront revitalization. Housing in the area is priced above national medians, and for many families, renting is more affordable than buying given current mortgage rates and home values.
The school’s student composition is a central characteristic. A majority of students are Hispanic, and a substantial share are white. Smaller groups include students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiracial. A large portion of families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing the school in a context of significant economic need. Data on English learner and special education enrollment was not reported in the available records, so a reader may want to ask the school directly about those programs.
On state assessments from the most recent testing year, proficiency rates varied across subjects and grades. In math and English language arts, third-grade results were notably stronger than those in fourth and fifth grades. Science results, available only for fifth grade, reflected a similar pattern. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index fell below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Skagit County. This is a soft spot. A parent looking for a school with above-average academic benchmarks would want to investigate what support structures are in place and how the school addresses skill gaps across grade levels.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate, and data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not available. Those gaps are common for schools at this level, but a parent may wish to ask about class sizes, intervention programs, and the school’s approach to supporting students who are behind.
The district has made several recent changes that affect Harriet Rowley. Voters approved a replacement Educational Programs & Operations levy in late 2024, maintaining funding for special education, transportation, athletics, and extracurricular activities. A capital projects levy passed in 2022 has funded roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, and security improvements across district schools. In 2023, the district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum called EL Education for all K-5 schools, including Harriet Rowley. That curriculum emphasizes diverse classroom libraries and aligns with the science of reading. Beginning in the 2023–24 school year, the district also implemented a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), a framework for identifying and helping students who need extra academic or behavioral support. The district’s improvement plan now centers on MTSS as a key strategy. A revised gender inclusion policy was adopted in 2023, formalizing guidelines for supporting transgender and gender-expansive students.
Harriet Rowley is a school in a growing mid-sized city with a strong agricultural and civic identity. Its student body is economically diverse, with a majority Hispanic population. Academic proficiency results are below the county midpoint, especially in the upper elementary grades. The district is actively working on literacy and tiered support initiatives, and a parent considering this school would want to learn more about how those programs are taking hold in the classroom and what additional resources are available for children who need them.
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