The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Longfellow Elementary
Longfellow Elementary is a regular public school in Spokane, Washington, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools in Spokane Public Schools, the largest district in the region. Because it serves only early and intermediate grades, it has no graduation rate or secondary-level measures, and state testing data is available only for grades three through five, which are the tested grade levels.
On the most recent state assessments—the Smarter Balanced tests for math and English language arts and the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science for fifth grade—Longfellow’s results paint a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency was close to half across grades three, four, and five, with a slight uptick in fifth grade. Math proficiency was also around the half mark for third and fourth graders, but it dropped off noticeably for fifth graders. Science proficiency, measured only in fifth grade, came in at about the same level as the stronger math grades. When combined across all tested subjects and grades, Longfellow’s overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among districts within Spokane County. That relative position is a meaningful strength, but the fifth-grade math dip is a soft spot a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what support is in place for that transition.
The student body is diverse in composition. White students make up the largest share, and the remainder includes students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in the records, so families looking for information on special education services or language support programs would need to ask the school directly.
Longfellow sits in the heart of Spokane, a city that serves as the economic and cultural center of the Inland Northwest. Spokane’s economy has diversified from its historical reliance on mining, timber, and agriculture into healthcare, government, education, and logistics. Major employers include Fairchild Air Force Base, Providence Health Care, Spokane Public Schools itself, and Amazon. The city’s housing market is relatively affordable compared to western Washington, with home values and rents well below state and national benchmarks, though prices have been rising modestly. The area has seen modest population growth since 2020.
For families whose children will eventually move on from Longfellow to middle school, the district has recently undergone a significant change. Spokane Public Schools opened three new middle schools—Yasuhara, Peperzak, and Flett—funded by a major construction bond, reshaping attendance boundaries and capacity. That means the feeder pattern from Longfellow into middle school may be different from what it was a few years ago, something worth verifying with the district if you are house-hunting.
The neighborhood comparison shows Longfellow’s academic proficiency standing above the middle of the pack among Spokane County districts. That is a positive signal, especially given the high level of economic disadvantage among its families. Still, the single year of test results means there is no trend to show whether performance is improving or declining. A parent looking for a school where a large portion of students are from low-income households and which performs reasonably well relative to its county peers would find Longfellow a solid option, but the drop in fifth-grade math and the absence of information on special populations are areas to probe further.
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