The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in English language arts. The lowest is 52% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on East Olympia Elementary
East Olympia Elementary is a regular public school in Olympia, Washington, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Tumwater School District. The school sits in a residential part of Olympia, a city that blends state government, a downtown historic core, and the campus of The Evergreen State College. The broader area includes the neighboring cities of Tumwater and Lacey, and the district recently had voters approve replacement levies for operations and capital projects, maintaining funding for staff, programs, and school improvements through 2026.
On state assessments, East Olympia Elementary’s students posted a combined proficiency index that places the school in the top quartile among districts in Thurston County. This is a strong showing relative to its peers. Digging into the individual grade-level results gives a more nuanced picture. In English language arts, third and fourth graders both performed at a level where more than six out of ten met the proficiency bar, while fifth graders were a step lower, with about half meeting the standard. In math, the pattern is steeper: third graders outstripped the other grades by a clear margin, with a large majority proficient; fourth grade came in at roughly half proficient; and fifth grade dropped further, with fewer than four in ten reaching proficiency. Science is tested only in fifth grade, where the proficiency rate fell a bit above the midpoint of the group. The downward trend in math as students move through the grades is something a parent may want to look into further with the school—whether it reflects curriculum shifts, cohort effects, or other factors. Only one year of assessment data is available for this school, so there is no trend to compare.
The school enrolls a sizable student body for an elementary school, with the bulk of students in kindergarten through fifth grade and a small prekindergarten program. More than half the students come from non-low-income households, but a notable share—roughly a third of the student body—qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly white, with a growing Hispanic presence making up the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, and Black. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the data provided, which limits a full picture of the school’s support services.
The housing market in the zip area serving East Olympia Elementary reflects a cost of living above the national average but slightly below the Washington state benchmark. Home values have been stable recently, and rents have edged up. The area is served by fare-free public bus transit, and Interstate 5 runs along the south side of the city, providing access to the broader Puget Sound region. Olympus itself has grown steadily and anchors a metropolitan area of substantial size, with state government as the dominant employer.
Because East Olympia Elementary serves only elementary grades, no graduation rate or high-school-level measures apply. No information on programs such as music, art, or enrichment was available; the absence likely reflects the data provided rather than an absence of offerings at the school. Similarly, no discipline or attendance data was reported. The school’s performance on state tests gives families a useful starting point: students generally perform well in early grades in both math and reading, but the slide by fifth grade in math is worth paying attention to. The school’s top-quartile ranking within Thurston County districts on overall proficiency suggests it holds its own against its neighbors, yet the grade-level variation means that the experience of a child in third grade may differ considerably from that of a child in fifth. Parents considering East Olympia Elementary will want to talk to the school about how it supports math learning in the upper elementary years and what academic supports are available for students who begin to slip. The community context offers a stable, government-anchored economy with good transit access, and the district has secured continued local funding for the near term.
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