The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on John Rogers Elementary School
John Rogers Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of northeast Seattle. It is part of Seattle School District No. 1, the largest public school district in Washington state. The school has a small enrollment for its grade band. The student body is diverse: the largest group is white students, followed by students who are Black, Hispanic, those identifying as two or more races, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school above the district’s overall economic need profile, though precise special education and English learner counts were not available in the data.
Seattle itself is a major Pacific Northwest metropolis. It is a technology hub, home to Amazon and with Microsoft and Boeing in the broader region. The city has a dense commercial core of skyscrapers overlooking Elliott Bay, with numerous residential neighborhoods spread across hills and waterfronts. The school sits in a residential area, away from the downtown core, and is served by the city’s network of transit options including King County Metro bus service and the Link light rail system. The housing market in the neighborhood is expensive; median home values and rents in the area are well above national benchmarks, reflecting the broader Seattle housing market, which has seen substantial price appreciation over time alongside a recent slight softening in listing prices.
On state Smarter Balanced assessments for the 2024-25 school year, the school’s proficiency rates varied by grade and subject. In third grade, just under half of students met the bar in math, and a similar share did so in English language arts. Fourth-grade results were comparable. Fifth-grade students posted the strongest results, with a majority meeting proficiency in math, English language arts, and science. Overall, the school’s composite proficiency index places it below the midpoint relative to other elementary schools in King County. This is a notable data point for a family comparing academic performance across schools in the region, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how the school supports student learning.
The school’s parent district is undergoing significant changes that affect families. In early 2022, Seattle voters approved a substantial capital levy for school construction, renovation, and technology upgrades, which will shape facilities across the district for years. At the same time, the district is grappling with a significant projected budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds. This has led to proposals for school closures, staff reductions, and program cuts. After community opposition, the district scaled back closure plans, but the financial pressures and ongoing enrollment decline continue to create uncertainty for families considering the district.
A student at John Rogers moves through a small, neighborhood elementary school in a high-cost urban setting. The school has a diverse student body with a noteworthy share of families of economic need. Its academic results on state tests are mixed by grade and subject, and its overall proficiency profile sits below the typical elementary school in King County. The parent district is navigating budget challenges and a declining enrollment trend, which may affect school resources and programming in the coming years. Families considering John Rogers should weigh its small scale and diverse community against the broader context of Seattle’s expensive housing market and the district’s ongoing financial restructuring.
See more original research from School Decision →