The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Columbia Elementary School
Columbia Elementary School served students from kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Wenatchee School District. The school closed after the 2023–2024 school year, so this profile reflects a building that no longer operates. Families looking at the Wenatchee area today would research other elementary options within the district.
The student body was moderately sized for an elementary school. A substantial share of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment was predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and a very small number of students of other racial backgrounds. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was not reported in the available records.
State assessment results from the spring of 2024, the school’s final year, showed modest proficiency rates across tested subjects and grade levels. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was below the midpoint of other elementary schools in Chelan County in all three tested grades. English language arts results were similar, with about a quarter to just over two in five students reaching proficiency depending on the grade, though a parent may want to look into this further with the district to understand how the school’s performance compared before its closure. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, were the strongest subject showing, though still modest relative to state averages. Overall, the school’s proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Chelan County when measured across all tested subjects and grades.
Because Columbia was an elementary school, there was no graduation rate, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available in the record. The school was a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and Title I status was not provided.
The community of Wenatchee sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers and serves as the county seat of Chelan County. Known widely as the Apple Capital of the World, the city’s economy has long been built on tree fruit agriculture, with orchards ringing the urban core. In recent years, tourism and information technology have grown as employment sectors. The downtown area offers a traditional grid street pattern, civic spaces like Memorial Park, and the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. The Apple Capital Loop Trail provides a paved path along the river connecting neighborhoods to recreational areas. The city has experienced population growth and real estate appreciation, with home values and rents reflecting a regional hub status.
The Wenatchee School District has been studying a bond measure to replace most of Wenatchee High School and improve air quality across district buildings, a major potential capital investment that would affect facilities for all families in the district over the long term.
Given the school’s closure, this narrative serves as a record of what Columbia Elementary was. Families moving to Wenatchee would need to look at other elementary schools within the district or nearby private or charter options. The community context of Wenatchee remains relevant for understanding the area, while the district’s pending bond proposal signals upcoming facility changes that may influence where students attend.
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