The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Virgie Robinson Elementary
Virgie Robinson Elementary is a regular public school in Pasco, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Pasco School District, a fast-growing system in the Tri-Cities region of southeastern Washington. The school sits in a city that has seen intense residential and commercial expansion, particularly on its west side, driven by a strong agricultural and industrial economy anchored by food processors and the BNSF Railway. The district itself is in the middle of a long-term capital build-out, having recently opened a third comprehensive high school and purchased land for another elementary or middle school. Families moving into new housing tracts in Pasco will likely interact with these boundary and facility changes over time.
The student body at Virgie Robinson is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with nearly all students coming from low-income households, as measured by the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a high-poverty school by any measure. The student population is substantial for an elementary school, and the grade-level enrollments are fairly balanced across kindergarten through fifth grade, with pre-kindergarten also offered. Information on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available in the data provided.
State testing results from the most recent school year show a challenging academic picture. In math, proficiency rates were low across all tested grades, with a combined average below the midpoint among elementary schools in the district. English language arts scores were also low for third and fourth grade, but fifth graders posted a notably higher proficiency rate, suggesting some unevenness in performance as students move up. Science results for fifth graders were similar to the math average. The data covers only a single school year, so there is no trend to examine. Taken together, the proficiency levels across subjects are well below state averages, and the school’s overall performance index lands in the bottom quartile when compared to other elementary schools in Franklin County. A parent looking at these scores will want to ask the school directly about its academic supports, interventions, and how it addresses skill gaps, especially in math and early literacy.
The community context matters here. Pasco is a rapidly growing city with a mix of long-established agricultural industry and new suburban development. Housing values are somewhat below the state median, and rents are rising modestly. The unemployment rate is in line with the national figure. The city has a number of civic anchors, including a regional airport, a farmers market, riverfront parks, and Columbia Basin College. Downtown Pasco functions as a civic hub, while much of the new residential growth is occurring in West Pasco, where new schools are being built to keep pace with enrollment. The district has also launched a Digital Learning Academy and planned a career and college center, which may eventually offer alternative pathways for students as they move through the system.
For a family considering Virgie Robinson, the most important takeaway is that this is a school serving a high-needs population, and its state test results reflect the challenges that often accompany concentrated poverty. The school is located in a district that is investing heavily in new facilities, but at the elementary level the academic performance data is soft. A parent would want to learn about the school’s specific programs for English learners, its approach to early literacy intervention, and any after-school or family support services that might be available. The absence of data on chronic absenteeism and discipline leaves a gap in the picture, so those are topics worth raising with the school directly.
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