Summary:
Metaline Falls, Washington, has one listed public school, Selkirk Elementary School, a small rural school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Selkirk School District.
With 124 students, Selkirk Elementary is the only public school option listed in the city, so there are no separate middle or high schools locally. The school reports a student-teacher ratio of 14.5 to 1, which may support smaller instructional groups and individual attention. About 70% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25, an important context when considering academic results. Per-student spending was $21,426 in 2023–24, though higher spending can be common in small schools because fixed operating costs are spread across fewer students. Since enrollment is small, results can change significantly from year to year as student groups change.
Academic performance was mixed. In 2025–26, science was the strongest subject, with 47.06% of students proficient, and it was closest to the Washington average. Third-grade English Language Arts was a bright spot, with 55.56% proficiency—above the state rate of 48.84%. The main concerns were fourth-grade ELA and math, both at 20% proficiency, as well as schoolwide math at 30.91%. Overall, 40% were proficient in ELA, 30.91% in math, and 47.06% in science, each below the state average. Results had been stronger in 2024–25, when ELA and science exceeded state results, but the school’s latest ranking fell to the 31st percentile. Parents may want to ask about plans for fourth-grade support, math instruction, and the reasons for the recent year-to-year decline.
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