The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Science. The lowest is 52% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Saltars Point Elementary
Saltars Point Elementary is a regular public school in Steilacoom, Washington, serving just two grade levels: fourth and fifth. As an upper-elementary school within the Steilacoom Historical School District, it functions as a focused step in a child’s progression before middle school. The school’s enrollment is on the larger side for a two-grade building, drawing from a community that sits on Puget Sound and functions largely as a bedroom community for Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
On the state’s Smarter Balanced assessments, Saltars Point posts results that place its overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades above the midpoint relative to districts in Pierce County. In English language arts, the share of students meeting the proficiency bar rises from fourth to fifth grade, with fifth graders turning in a stronger result. In math, the pattern runs the other way: fourth graders show a higher proficiency rate than fifth graders, and the fifth-grade math result is a softer spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. In science, tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate is solid and consistent with the school’s overall trajectory.
The student body is predominantly white, with substantial shares of Hispanic students and students who identify as two or more races, followed by smaller populations of Black, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is common for a school serving a community with a mix of military families and longer-term residents. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available in the provided records, so a full picture of student support needs is incomplete.
Steilacoom itself is a small, historic residential town with a preserved historic district and a quiet built environment. The town has no state highways running through it, and the shoreline railroad line does not have an active passenger station, limiting street-level hustle. The major employer shaping the area is Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which borders the city to the south. Over time, the town has grown as a bedroom community for service members stationed there. Housing values in the school’s zip code area are elevated relative to national benchmarks, and rents are similarly high, reflecting the area’s desirability near the base and the sound. The school district appears stable; a search for recent district-level changes turned up little of lasting impact.
Because Saltars Point covers only fourth and fifth grades, the school has no graduation rate, no chronic absenteeism data in the provided records, and no information on discipline or course access. A parent moving into the area should note that this school is a short but focused span of elementary years, and the feeder pattern into middle and high school would be a separate consideration. The academic picture is mixed: strong in science and in upper-grade ELA, with math showing a grade-level gap that is worth asking about.
For a family living in Steilacoom or nearby, Saltars Point offers a straightforward environment in a town that values its historical character and benefits from the stability of a military-anchored economy. The school’s performance is generally above the county median, but the unevenness in math across grades suggests that a parent who wants a consistent trajectory may want to understand how the school addresses skill gaps between fourth and fifth grade.
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