The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Onalaska Elementary School
Onalaska Elementary School serves students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as the sole elementary school in the Onalaska School District, a small public system in Lewis County, Washington. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits in the unincorporated rural community of Onalaska, a former lumber mill town that today is primarily residential with a high rate of owner-occupied housing. The local economy relies on construction, transportation and warehousing, and health care, with no single large employer today. The community retains a small-town feel centered on its school district, a volunteer-driven nonprofit called the Onalaska Alliance, and civic anchors such as Carlisle Lake Park and the Ed Herold Observatory, which houses the second-largest public telescope in the state.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a modest number of students who identify as two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. The grade span is typical for an elementary school, with classes from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, Onalaska Elementary showed a pattern that varies by subject and grade. In math, proficiency rates for third graders and fourth graders were each at a level that parents will want to examine in the context of their own expectations, while the fifth-grade math proficiency rate was lower. In English language arts, third graders and fourth graders had proficiency rates comparable to their math performance in those grades, while fifth graders had a rate that was also lower. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was noticeably higher than the math and ELA rates for that grade. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile among districts in Lewis County, a comparison set that includes fourteen districts statewide. Because this is a single year of data with no prior trend available, it is not possible to say whether these results represent an improvement or a decline.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism was not available.
For a family considering Onalaska Elementary, the housing market context matters. The typical home value in the area lands at a moderate level relative to state benchmarks, and the monthly cost of owning a home is higher than renting, which is common in many markets. The community population saw modest growth in the early 2020s, but available sources do not describe any major new subdivisions or large-scale development. The built environment is low-density and car-dependent, with no public transit and limited walkability beyond the immediate vicinity of the school and the town's central park.
The most pressing context for this school is the financial situation of its parent district. The Onalaska School District’s Educational Programs and Operations replacement levy failed twice in 2025, prompting cuts to staffing and programs that are already in effect. The levy is scheduled for another vote in early 2026. If it fails again, further reductions are expected. This directly affects what the elementary school can offer in terms of programming, staff size, and student support. Families considering this school should be aware that the level of resources available may depend on the outcome of that ballot measure, and should inquire with the district about current program offerings and class sizes.
In short, Onalaska Elementary is a small, rural school serving a lower-income student body, with state test results that are competitive within its county but show a dip in the upper elementary grades, particularly in math and reading. The school’s academic environment is shaped by its community’s economic profile and by the ongoing levy uncertainty that hangs over the entire district. A family looking at this school should weigh its solid relative county standing against the real possibility of further budget-driven reductions, and should seek direct answers from the district about what the coming school year will look like.
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