The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Minnehaha Elementary School
Minnehaha Elementary School is a regular public school in Vancouver, Washington, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of many elementary schools within the Vancouver School District, which covers the city and some surrounding areas. Vancouver itself is a mid-sized city that acts as the county seat of Clark County and sits within the Portland metropolitan area. The city has seen sustained growth, with a historic downtown, a developing waterfront, and a mix of older neighborhoods and newer suburban subdivisions. The school is located in a residential area of the city, within a short drive of downtown and the Columbia River.
The student body is moderately sized for an elementary school. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a higher-need context relative to many others in the district. Racially and ethnically, the student population is diverse: White students make up the largest group, followed by students who identify as Hispanic and those of two or more races. There are also small numbers of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. The school does not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results are the main academic measure for an elementary school of this grade band. On the 2024-25 Washington state tests, Minnehaha’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science placed the school in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Clark County. In reading and math, tested proficiency rates were below the midpoint among county districts. The data shows that in each grade tested—third, fourth, and fifth—a larger share of students scored below the proficiency benchmark than above it. Fifth-grade science results followed a similar pattern. Only one year of assessment data is available, so it is not possible to see an upward or downward trend. These scores are a soft spot, and a family considering the school may want to investigate what academic interventions or enrichment programs the school offers to support students who are not yet meeting state standards.
The school’s physical environment and programming details are thin in the available information. There are no reported figures on chronic absenteeism, discipline incidents, staffing ratios, or course access. Because Minnehaha is a standard elementary school, it does not offer the specialized career or dual-credit pathways that a high school would, and no enrichment or extended learning programs are named. A parent interested in extracurricular activities or before- and after-school care would need to contact the school directly.
Housing in the school’s immediate zip code area carries a home value around the national median, with rents somewhat above the national average, reflecting the broader Vancouver market. Affordability is a moderate challenge: typical mortgage payments are noticeably higher than rents, and home prices have been roughly flat over the past year. The unemployment rate nationally has been steady and relatively low, and mortgage rates have edged down slightly in recent months, factors that may influence a family’s housing decision. Vancouver’s growth is ongoing, with active annexation proposals and continued residential development, which may affect school enrollment patterns and neighborhood character over time.
Minnehaha Elementary offers what a typical public elementary school does: a neighborhood setting, a standard curriculum, and state testing. Its academic results are a clear area of concern relative to other Clark County schools. For a family, the school fits if the location and community are the primary draw, but the proficiency data warrants a closer look at what academic supports are in place. Without more detailed information on staffing, programs, and discipline, parents should plan to visit and ask questions about classroom instruction, teacher experience, and how the school addresses the learning needs of all its students.
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