The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mattawa Elementary
Mattawa Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Wahluke School District, a small, regular public school in the farming town of Mattawa, Washington. The town itself is a compact, predominantly Latino community on the east side of the Columbia River, with an economy tied to orchards, vineyards, and irrigation projects. The school sits within a district that covers this small, rural place, and the town's character—a very young population, a high share of residents who are not native English speakers, and a setting surrounded by agriculture—shapes the context for the school.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a very small share of white students and even smaller numbers from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need in the community. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade, and its enrollment is small for an elementary school of that grade span. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available in the provided records, which is a gap a parent may want to follow up on with the school directly, as these are common factors in elementary settings.
State assessment results for the 2023-24 school year show that proficiency rates in math and English language arts were low across all tested grades. In math, the share of students meeting the state standard was in the single digits for third and fourth grade, and just above that for fifth grade. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with the highest rate seen in fifth grade, though still well below a majority. Science results for fifth grade were also low. Participation rates on the tests were very high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body. When compared with other districts in Grant County, Mattawa Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed in the bottom quartile. This is a clear signal that academic performance is an area of concern, and a parent considering this school would want to understand what supports and interventions the school and district are providing.
Because the school serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not serve high school grades, so that metric does not apply. The district brief turned up no recent major changes such as bond measures, boundary shifts, or curriculum overhauls that would be relevant to a parent, so the district context appears stable in terms of those large-scale shifts.
Housing in the area, based on the zip code data, shows a home value that is below the state benchmark but above the national one. The town has experienced volatile population growth over decades, with a recent estimate showing continued growth. The community is predominantly Latino, with a very low level of English-proficient speakers, and the economy is tied to agriculture and irrigation projects. The school’s enrollment reflects that community: a large majority of students are Hispanic, and a substantial share qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.
The academic picture is the central feature a parent will want to understand. On the state’s Smarter Balanced assessments, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were low across all tested grades. In math, the share of students meeting the state standard was in the single digits for third and fourth grade, and just above that for fifth grade. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with the highest rate in fifth grade still well below a majority. Science results for fifth grade were also low. When compared with other districts in Grant County, Mattawa Elementary’s overall proficiency placed in the bottom quartile. This is a clear area of concern, and a parent would want to ask the school about the specific academic interventions, tutoring, or curriculum supports in place to address these results.
Because the school serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not serve high school grades, so that metric does not apply. The district brief found no recent major changes such as bond measures, boundary shifts, or curriculum overhauls that would be relevant to a parent, so the district context appears stable in terms of those large-scale shifts.
Housing in the area, based on zip code data, shows home values below the state average but above the national one. The town has a compact grid layout, and the school is likely in close proximity to other civic life within the town proper. The community is predominantly Latino, with a very low level of English-proficient speakers, and the economy is driven by agriculture and related industries. A parent considering this school would be looking at a setting where the student body is nearly entirely Hispanic and where a high share of families face economic challenges. The academic results are the central concern, and a parent would want to have a direct conversation with the school about the specific strategies and resources being used to improve student learning.
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