The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rosalind Franklin Stem Elementary
Rosalind Franklin STEM Elementary is a regular public school in Pasco serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Pasco School District, a system that has been under considerable growth pressure, voters having recently approved a major bond measure to fund a new high school that opened for the 2025-26 school year, with additional land purchased for future elementary or middle school construction. The district also launched a Digital Learning Academy and plans a career and technical education center, Orion High School, expanding options for older students. Locally, Pasco itself is among the fastest-growing cities in Washington, with growth concentrated in West Pasco where new housing tracts, apartments, and shopping centers have transformed formerly agricultural land. The city retains a strong food-processing and agricultural-industrial base, and its economy is also anchored by the Hanford nuclear site and BNSF Railway. For a family considering this school, the broader context is a district and a city that are building rapidly to keep pace with rising enrollment.
The student body at Rosalind Franklin STEM Elementary is diverse. Slightly more than half of students come from Hispanic backgrounds, and a substantial share of the student population is white. A little over half of all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the community. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans and the share who are English learners was not available in the source materials, so a reader who wants a full picture of special education and language supports would need to follow up directly with the school.
As a STEM-themed elementary, the school’s name signals an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math, though the data available for this profile include only state test results and do not describe the specific curriculum or program offerings in those subjects. Academic performance on Washington’s state assessments shows a mixed pattern across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency rates rise meaningfully between third and fifth grade, with the highest rate seen among fifth graders. In math, rates are lower across the board, with a dip in fourth grade before a slight recovery in fifth. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a rate that is higher than the math results for that grade. Compared to other school districts in Franklin County, Rosalind Franklin STEM Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among the small number of districts that had results reported. That relative position is a strength, though a family should note that the county’s district-level comparisons are based on a limited set of data points.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to report, and no college-going or career-readiness metrics that apply to its grade band. The school serves grades PK through 05, which means the measures that matter for older students are simply not in play here. What a parent can evaluate is the early academic grounding the school provides, and the test results offer a starting point for that conversation. The math proficiency rates in particular are an area where a parent may want to ask the school about interventions, curriculum materials, and teacher support, especially given the dip in fourth grade.
Housing in the area carries a price that is modest relative to the state benchmark, though the typical home value has seen a slight year-over-year decline. Rents have been rising modestly. The overall affordability picture, with mortgage costs outpacing typical rents, reflects national trends, but the local market remains more accessible than Washington’s coastal metro areas. Pasco’s rapid residential growth means that families moving into West Pasco may find themselves in a neighborhood of newer homes and schools, but the school system is still in the middle of a building surge, and attendance boundaries have been in flux. The district’s purchase of land for a future elementary school suggests that relief for overcrowding is part of the long-term plan.
For a family weighing this school, the primary considerations are its place in a fast-growing district, its STEM-themed identity, and a proficiency profile that is strongest in later elementary English language arts and weakest in math, with an overall standing above most other districts in Franklin County. The school is relatively new to the scene and still establishing a track record, so there is limited multi-year trend data to assess whether performance is improving or declining. A parent should expect to visit, ask about the STEM program’s specific activities and how they integrate with the core curriculum, and inquire about how the school supports students who are below the proficiency threshold in math. For those committed to the Tri-Cities area, this elementary represents a competitive option within the local district landscape, one that sits in a corridor of heavy residential development and district investment.
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