The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in Science. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Morris Schott Elementary
Morris Schott Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Mattawa, a small Grant County farming town on the east side of the Columbia River. The school is part of the Wahluke School District. Mattawa’s population is predominantly Latino and has a very low share of English-proficient speakers in the community, a demographic reality that directly shapes Schott’s student body. The town’s economy is tied to orchards, vineyards, and irrigated agriculture; nearby dam construction has driven periods of rapid growth. Mattawa has a young population and a compact layout, so schools and civic life sit close together.
Schott’s enrollment is small for an elementary school serving six grade levels. Nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context of high economic need. The student population is almost entirely Hispanic, with a handful of white students and even fewer multiracial students. Separate data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the record we reviewed; given the community profile, a parent may want to ask the school about its services for English learners and special education directly.
Academic performance data comes from the 2024-25 Washington state assessments in math, English language arts, and science. For fourth-grade math, about a fifth of students met the proficiency standard; in fifth-grade math, the share was slightly lower. In English language arts, roughly a quarter of fifth-graders and a smaller portion of fourth-graders scored proficient. Science results for fifth grade were similar to the fifth-grade ELA figure. Overall, proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects were low relative to state averages. Because the school serves only elementary grades, it does not have a four-year graduation rate or high school metrics.
Schott’s proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Grant County. The district-level comparison shows a wide range: the index at the median county district is about double Schott’s figure, and the highest district is roughly triple. This gap likely reflects the concentrated challenges of a high-poverty, predominantly non-English-speaking community rather than a simple measure of school quality. The school has only one year of state test data available, so there is no trend to evaluate improvement or decline over time.
The housing market in the Mattawa ZIP code sits below the Washington state benchmark but slightly above the national figure. Home values have been roughly stable, with a very slight year-over-year dip. National mortgage rates and rent inflation are in line with broader trends. For a family considering moving into the area, housing costs are moderate relative to the state, and the compact town layout means schools are within a short distance of most homes.
No recent district-level changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or property tax adjustments were identified in publicly available information. A parent would need to contact the Wahluke District office for updates on funding or programs.
Morris Schott Elementary fits a family looking for a small, neighborhood school in a tight-knit agricultural community. The peer environment is almost entirely Hispanic and high-poverty, which may matter to families seeking a diverse setting or those concerned about concentrated socioeconomic need. Academic proficiency is low, and a parent should explore what supports for English language development and literacy are in place. The school does not offer the broader program pathways found in larger or wealthier elementary schools. For a family moving to Mattawa for work in farming or related industries, Schott is the local option; understanding the school’s services and improvement efforts would be an important next step.
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