The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bemiss Elementary
Bemiss Elementary is a regular public school in Spokane, Washington, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Spokane Public Schools, the city’s largest school district. The school is located in the northeastern part of Spokane, a city that functions as the economic and cultural hub of the Inland Northwest. Spokane’s economy has diversified from its historical base in mining, timber, and agriculture into healthcare, government, education, and logistics, with employers like Fairchild Air Force Base, Providence Health Care, and Amazon among the largest. The city is bisected by the Spokane River and features a historic downtown core, but Bemiss sits in a residential neighborhood away from the downtown center.
Bemiss enrolls a student body that is predominantly White, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races. Hispanic students make up a substantial part of the population, with smaller groups of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A very large proportion of students come from low-income households, based on eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. This level of economic need is one of the most pronounced characteristics of the school.
State assessment results for the most recent testing year show that the share of students meeting proficiency standards in English language arts and math was well below the mid-range for elementary schools in Spokane County. In third grade, roughly a quarter of students met proficiency in English language arts, with modestly higher results in fourth and fifth grades. Math proficiency rates were lower than English language arts across all tested grades, with fifth grade showing the highest figure. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, about a third of students met the standard. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the lowest quarter relative to other districts across Spokane County. These are not strong results, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what academic interventions or supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
Because Bemiss serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism was not available, and information on staffing ratios or course access was not included in the available data. The share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was also missing from the record, so these dimensions of student support cannot be assessed here.
Spokane Public Schools has recently invested heavily in facilities. A major construction bond funded the opening of three new middle schools in the 2022–2023 school year, which reshaped feeder patterns and middle school capacity across the district. Families living near Bemiss may be affected by these changes when their children move from elementary to middle school, though the specific feeder school for this attendance area was not detailed in the available information.
Housing in the immediate area is relatively affordable compared to western Washington. Home values are below both the state and national medians, and rents have been rising modestly. The neighborhood mix of older residential stock and proximity to the city’s core makes it accessible for families who work in Spokane’s major employment sectors.
Bemiss is a school where the student population reflects a high level of economic need, and where academic proficiency on state assessments trails the county median by a meaningful margin. The district is in the middle of a significant building-era shift in its middle schools. For families considering this school, the most important conversations will center on how the school addresses its academic challenges and what resources are directed toward the early grades.
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