The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School
Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School serves fifth and sixth graders in the White Salmon Valley School District. It is a regular public school, and its student body of just over one hundred seventy is large enough to form classes across two grades but small enough that families will know the staff. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that places the school in a middle range for economic need.
The student population is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic or Latino enrollment, and very small numbers of students who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the record, which a parent may want to ask the school about directly.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students met the state’s proficiency bar in both fifth and sixth grade. In math, the proportion was lower, with about one in four fifth graders and roughly three in ten sixth graders scoring proficient. Science is assessed only in fifth grade in Washington, and in that subject just under half of students were proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines all tested subjects and grades, falls below the midpoint when compared with other schools in Klickitat County. This is the only year of test data available for this school, so there is no trend line yet to show improvement or decline.
Because the school serves only grades five and six, it does not have a graduation rate to report. This is a normal feature of an intermediate school, not a gap in performance.
White Salmon sits on a bluff above the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge, directly across from Hood River, Oregon, connected by a toll bridge. The town has a compact, walkable downtown with restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and art studios, and the local economy blends tourism, outdoor recreation, and a small but growing unmanned aerial vehicle industry. Families cross the bridge regularly for shopping and services in Hood River. The city’s housing stock is relatively pricey, with values above the national benchmark, though White Salmon has positioned itself as a more affordable alternative to Hood River. The district serves the town and its surrounding area, and publicly reported information about recent bond measures, curriculum changes, or property tax measures was not available in this record, so a parent would need to check with the district office for updates.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is a small intermediate school in a scenic, recreationally rich town, where state test scores are below the county average and where academic support may be an important topic to raise with the school. The setting is appealing for families who want a small-town Gorge lifestyle with access to a larger Oregon community just across the river, but the academic numbers invite a closer look at how the school addresses math and literacy.
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