The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Long Beach Elementary School
Long Beach Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through second grade in the Ocean Beach School District, situated in the coastal tourism town of Long Beach, Washington. Because the school currently serves only the earliest elementary grades, the state testing results available come from an earlier period when the school also enrolled third and fourth graders. Those results, from the 2018-19 school year, showed that a majority of students scored proficient or above in both math and English language arts, with overall performance placing the school in the top quarter of schools in Pacific County. All tested students participated in the assessments, so the data are complete for that year.
The student body is small, predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and a smaller group identifying as two or more races. About seven in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a high rate that signals a school community with significant economic need. This level of poverty is typical for the area and shapes the resources and support systems available.
Long Beach anchors the southern end of a long peninsula known for its drivable beach, kite festivals, and razor clam digs. The town is small and tourism-driven, with walkable downtown blocks near the oceanfront boardwalk but a car-dependent peninsula overall. There is no public transit service to or within the peninsula. Civic life centers on beach access, state parks, museums, and seasonal events. Growth is slow, constrained by the town’s geography on a narrow barrier spit and its exposure to tsunami risk. A proposed tsunami berm was abandoned after new science showed it would be insufficient. These conditions give Long Beach a stable, low-turnover character rather than a rapidly expanding one.
Home values in the area are well below the Washington state average, making this a relatively affordable coastal market. The typical home value is roughly in line with the national median and far below Seattle-area prices. This affordability, combined with the town’s recreational amenities, attracts a mix of year-round residents, retirees, and second-home owners.
The Ocean Beach School District operates several schools across the peninsula, with elementary campuses located in neighboring towns rather than in downtown Long Beach itself. Parents with children at this school commute within the peninsula. The district brief did not identify significant recent changes or strategic initiatives.
Information on programs such as arts, music, physical education, or enrichment is not available in the data provided. Likewise, staffing details, class sizes, and student support services are not included here. Parents interested in these specifics should contact the school directly.
For a family seeking a small, early-elementary school in a coastal community with a strong sense of place and relatively affordable housing, Long Beach Elementary provides a foundational academic start. The historically strong test performance, while from a different grade configuration, suggests a capable instructional program. The high poverty rate means the school likely participates in federal nutrition programs and may have additional supports. The school’s early elementary focus means children will transition to a different campus for later grades, so families should consider the full K-12 pathway within the Ocean Beach district. The lack of recent testing data for K-2 is normal, as those grades are not state-tested in Washington.
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