The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hathaway Elementary
Hathaway Elementary serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Washougal, a small city along the Columbia River in Clark County. Opened as a regular public school within the Washougal School District, it draws from a community that functions primarily as a bedroom community for workers commuting to Vancouver and Portland. Washougal is known as the “Gateway to the Gorge,” sitting at the western edge of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and its downtown is compact with a handful of parks and river access. The city has seen modest population growth in recent years and remains more residential than commercial, with a historical textile mill that once anchored the local economy now part of the region’s past.
Academically, the school’s performance on state assessments paints a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates rise notably across grade levels, with the strongest results in fourth and fifth grade. Science results for fifth graders stand out as a solid area of strength. Math proficiency, however, is lower across all tested grades, and third-grade math and reading both show softer results compared to later grades. When measured against other districts in Clark County, the school’s combined proficiency across subjects and grades lands above the midpoint of the county’s districts, a positive signal for families weighing elementary options in the region. Because this is an elementary school, no graduation rate or high school offerings apply, and state testing begins in third grade, so younger grade performance is not captured in the data.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic representation and a modest share of students identifying as two or more races. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant portion of families with lower household incomes. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available data, so a parent wanting to understand those support structures may wish to ask the school directly. The school does not appear to have magnet or Title I designation, though the free-lunch rate often triggers Title I funding; the status was listed as not reported.
Housing in Washougal reflects the broader Portland-area market. Home values are above the national median and roughly in line with the Washington state average. Rents are elevated as well, and with current mortgage rates, buying a home is generally less affordable than renting for a typical household. The area’s affordability relative to local incomes is stretched, a common dynamic in the greater Portland commuter zone.
The school’s environment and access data are limited in the available records—no staffing ratios, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism figures, or specific program offerings were found. Given that Hathaway is a regular elementary school without specialized magnet or charter designations, a family’s experience will largely depend on classroom instruction and the district’s overall approach. The Washougal School District, which operates several elementary schools and a secondary system, is the governing body, but recent publicly reported developments about budgets, curriculum, or levies were not found in the sources reviewed for this profile.
Hathaway Elementary fits families looking for a solid, mid-sized neighborhood elementary school in a small-town setting near the Columbia River. Its academic profile is uneven—stronger in reading and science by upper elementary, but with room for growth in math, especially for younger students. The community offers outdoor recreation and commuter access to Vancouver and Portland, while the housing market is expensive for local incomes. Parents who want to understand special education services or English learner supports should reach out to the school directly, as published data does not cover those details here.
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