Vaughn Elementary School, Vaughn WA

Original Research by School Decision on Vaughn Elementary School

Vaughn Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the unincorporated community of Vaughn on the Key Peninsula in Pierce County. It is the only elementary school in the immediate area and one of several within the Peninsula School District. The school sits on a separated campus away from any commercial center, consistent with the rural, low-density character of the peninsula, where homes run on well water and septic systems and a personal vehicle is essential for nearly everything.

Academically, Vaughn Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint when compared with districts in Pierce County. On the state’s Smarter Balanced assessments for the most recent school year, students in third through fifth grade showed a mixed picture. In English language arts, grade four posted a stronger result than grade five, while third grade was in the middle. In math, grades three and four performed at a similar level, with grade five lower. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, a slight majority of students met the proficiency bar. With only one year of assessment data available, there is no trend to report, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining.

The school’s enrollment is small for an elementary school serving this grade span. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a mix of economic backgrounds. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic population and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races; other racial groups are present in very low numbers. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, a gap that may reflect the school’s size or reporting practices; a parent may want to ask the school directly about how these populations are served.

Because Vaughn Elementary serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate, and the questions about high school preparation or college readiness do not apply here. No information was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access, so those dimensions cannot be assessed.

The community context is important for any family considering this school. Vaughn is a very small, unincorporated place with no downtown, no public transit, and limited commercial infrastructure. The nearest hub for groceries and basic services is Key Center a short drive south; for medical appointments and larger shopping, most residents drive to Gig Harbor or Tacoma, each a significant commute. The area skews older and more retirement-oriented, with a high share of households without children. Housing values in the broader zip code are well above national medians, making this an expensive area by most measures. The Peninsula School District recently renewed two property-tax levies, funding educational programs, technology, and facility improvements through the mid-2020s.

For a family, Vaughn Elementary offers a small, rural public school experience in a community that is quiet and car-dependent. Academic performance is roughly around the middle for its county, with some grades doing a bit better and a couple of soft spots a parent may wish to look into further with the school. The lack of broader data on attendance, discipline, and student support services means families should seek that information directly. The school fits best for those who are already living on the Key Peninsula or who are drawn to a rural setting and are comfortable with the trade-offs—limited local amenities, long commutes, and a high cost of housing—that come with it.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 70% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 67% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 60% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 67% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 66% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 547%

School 47% · District 73% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Science

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 73% · ▼ 21 pts below district

even with state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

This schoolPeninsula School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income60%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income55%Higher-income70%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income54%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income39%Higher-income57%18 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income36%Higher-income65%29 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income38%Higher-income46%9 pp gap