Helen M. Knight School

Helen M. Knight School is a large public elementary school in Moab, Utah, serving 686 students in kindergarten through sixth grade within Grand District. The school ranked in the 23rd percentile statewide for 2025–2026, while the district ranked in the 21st percentile. Nearly half of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, and the student-teacher ratio was 18.8. These figures provide important context for families: the school serves a sizable and economically diverse community, but its overall academic performance remains below Utah averages.

In 2025–2026, proficiency was below the state average in every reported grade and subject. Average proficiency across grades 3–6 was approximately 33.8% in English language arts and 31.2% in mathematics, compared with approximately 45.7% statewide for both subjects. Science was a relative strength, averaging approximately 40.9%, with sixth-grade science reaching 49.6%. Fourth grade was the clearest cross-subject concern, with proficiency of 27.4% in English language arts, 28.3% in mathematics, and 30.7% in science. Sixth-grade mathematics has improved meaningfully, rising to 25.0% from 13.3% in 2024–2025, although it remains below Utah’s 37.4% average. The school’s low-SES subgroup ranked at the 35th percentile, higher than its overall ranking, suggesting a relative strength in serving economically disadvantaged students.

Attendance is a major issue: 37.8% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, substantially above Utah’s 23.8% rate and close to the district’s 38.0%. Improving attendance could increase students’ access to instruction and support academic progress. The only nearby comparison provided is Grand Preschool, 0.63 miles away. It serves pre-K through kindergarten and enrolls 60 students, so it is not a direct academic comparison. Its reported free/reduced-price lunch rate was 18.33%, but its student-teacher ratio of 60 is not directly comparable because preschool staffing and reporting models differ.