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University Elementary School

Q: Is University Elementary School a good school?

University Elementary School ranks 428 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

428^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

University Elementary School is a public elementary school (PK-5) serving 291 students in Spokane Valley, WA, as part of the Central Valley School District, and has shown remarkable improvement, climbing from a 1-star to a 3-star rating over the past three years.

This school stands out for its exceptional support for specific student groups. It ranks in the 97th percentile statewide for special education students, a dramatic strength not seen in nearby schools, and performs very well (84th percentile) for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, outperforming other local schools with similar poverty rates like Opportunity Elementary and Ness Elementary. The school's steady upward trajectory in overall ranking contrasts with some neighboring schools that have seen their performance decline or fluctuate.

While University Elementary's overall ranking is solidly in the middle tier compared to some lower-poverty schools in the area like Sunrise Elementary, its story is one of successful turnaround and effective investment. It has the highest per-student spending among comparable local schools, which appears to be yielding strong results for its most vulnerable students, though its efficiency compared to higher-performing, lower-spending schools like Chester Elementary School suggests there may be room for optimization. Parents can view this as a school that is clearly improving and excels at supporting students who need it most.

291

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,061

Per pupil spending ?

63.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1613 S University Rd
Spokane Valley, WA 99206-5699

(509) 558-4650

District: Central Valley School District

Students who attend University Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Bowdish Middle School
High:	University High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.5%

Hispanic:

12.0%

Two or more races:

7.6%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare University Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 59th percentile in 2015 → 63rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (55% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Above the Washington median (63rd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school55%

District avg54%

Washington avg48%

428^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 41% (2015) to top 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Central Valley School District

64^th of 247Central Valley School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	60.2	428 of 1160	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.1	634 of 1168	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	623 of 1169	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.5	892 of 1169	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.9	629 of 1107	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.8	684 of 1130	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.9	349 of 1054	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.2	469 of 1056	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	41.8	639 of 1053	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	57.5	437 of 1067	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	50.0	601 of 1106	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.9	595 of 1097	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.4	642 of 1092	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.2	522 of 1088	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	45.3	621 of 1072	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	48.0	591 of 1067	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	60.2	421 of 1069	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	50.4	541 of 1051	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	38.2	689 of 1031	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	39.3	647 of 1026	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	65.2	340 of 1092	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.8	466 of 1093	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.5	469 of 1094	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.7	568 of 1100	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.7	410 of 1008	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	29.5	808 of 1068	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.7	535 of 1004	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	164 of 1013	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	54.1	449 of 1024	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	477 of 1013	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.3	754 of 1019	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.4	290 of 979	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.5	204 of 835	75.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	62.1	387 of 1098	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.3	673 of 1099	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	708 of 1099	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.1	979 of 1113	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.5	769 of 1025	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.0	469 of 1075	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.9	162 of 999	83.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	93.4	11 of 363	97.0%	★★★★★
2024	48.4	169 of 339	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	18.2	528 of 566	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	72.6	112 of 637	82.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	59.8	393 of 1007	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.4	586 of 1009	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.3	640 of 1011	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.7	874 of 1031	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	691 of 943	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.9	840 of 1027	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.4	442 of 833	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)97th percentile+34 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile+21 vs school

Female (2025)69th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)65th percentile~ school

White (2025)61st percentile~ school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts57%+4 vs state

Science56%+6 vs state

Math52%+9 vs state

★

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Schools Near University Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)			SBAC English Language Arts (2025)							SBAC Math (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
University Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1613 S University Rd	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 558-4650	291	22	13.2	63.9%	208 (71.5%)	6 (2.1%)	35 (12.0%)	3 (1.0%)	3 (1.0%)	13 (4.5%)	22 (7.6%)	60.2	428^th of 1160 public elementary schools	63.1%		44.1	634^th of 1168 public elementary schools	45.7%	206	55.6		55.6	61.5	47.1	63.0				56.9	56.4	38.0	61.1				51.8	80.6	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	83.3	$20,061	$955	$19,106
Sunrise Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10304 E 9th Ave	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-3600	644	39	16.5	25.8%	524 (81.4%)	8 (1.2%)	33 (5.1%)	19 (3.0%)	3 (0.5%)	5 (0.8%)	52 (8.1%)	87.3	139^th of 1160 public elementary schools	88.0%		88.3	127^th of 1168 public elementary schools	89.1%	12	69.4		69.4	76.2	76.0	68.5				73.7	80.0	78.3	55.6				71.6	86.8	86.8	88.2	88.2	88.2	86.8	90.8	88.2	86.8	86.8	$15,322	$311	$15,011
Opportunity Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1109 S Wilbur Rd	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 558-3550	631	43	14.7	74.0%	415 (65.8%)	31 (4.9%)	93 (14.7%)	8 (1.3%)	12 (1.9%)	10 (1.6%)	61 (9.7%)	30.5	818^th of 1160 public elementary schools	29.5%		30.7	807^th of 1168 public elementary schools	30.9%	11	49.5		49.5	29.3	36.0	47.6				37.8	42.0	40.0	32.0				38.0	73.9	79.6	78.4	78.4	78.4	78.4	85.2	78.4	78.4	78.4	$16,318	$1,119	$15,199
South Pines Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12021 E 24th Ave	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 558-4400	288	19	15.2	60.4%	221 (76.7%)	5 (1.7%)	25 (8.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	30 (10.4%)	46.9	593^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	48.9%		62.1	420^th of 1168 public elementary schools	64.0%	173	53.7		53.7	50.0	38.5	54.8				47.9	63.2	33.3	40.5				45.4	76.9	79.5	79.5	79.5	79.5	79.5	84.6	79.5	79.5	79.5	$19,343	$679	$18,664
McDonald Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1512 S McDonald Rd	Spokane Valley	99216	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 558-5350	282	22	12.9	56.0%	201 (71.3%)	12 (4.3%)	30 (10.6%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.4%)	11 (3.9%)	23 (8.2%)	75.9	251^st of 1160 public elementary schools	78.4%		60.9	436^th of 1168 public elementary schools	62.7%	185	62.5		62.5	66.7	67.5	72.9				69.1	66.7	52.5	52.1				57.4	83.3	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	83.3	90.5	83.3	83.3	83.3	$20,868	$1,334	$19,534
Broadway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11016 E Broadway Ave	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 558-4100	282	21	13.3	71.3%	175 (62.1%)	11 (3.9%)	47 (16.7%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	13 (4.6%)	32 (11.3%)	34.1	764^th of 1160 public elementary schools	34.1%		42.1	654^th of 1168 public elementary schools	44.0%	110	36.5		36.5	50.0	37.0	42.3				43.0	63.6	30.4	26.9				39.4	69.1	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	73.8	76.2	76.2	73.8	73.8	$16,999	$1,472	$15,527
Chester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3525 S. Pines Road	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-3150	410	26	15.5	30.2%	318 (77.6%)	9 (2.2%)	33 (8.0%)	10 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.2%)	30 (7.3%)	80.1	209^th of 1160 public elementary schools	82.0%		84.2	172^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	85.3%	37	67.4		67.4	63.2	74.2	67.8				67.9	66.7	66.7	52.9				61.7	82.7	88.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	90.4	86.5	86.5	86.5	$17,393	$86	$17,307
Ponderosa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10105 E Cimmaron Dr	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-6450	344	25	14.0	41.9%	263 (76.5%)	10 (2.9%)	30 (8.7%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.0%)	3 (0.9%)	29 (8.4%)	75	259^th of 1160 public elementary schools	77.7%		75.6	267^th of 1168 public elementary schools	77.1%	8	72.7		72.7	57.1	58.8	66.7				60.8	64.9	60.8	54.6				60.3	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	87.8	82.9	82.9	82.9	$17,564	$86	$17,478
Ness Elementary	Public	1-5	9612 E Cataldo	Spokane	99206	Spokane County	West Valley School District (Spokane)	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 922-5470	243	15	15.8	75.3%	163 (67.1%)	6 (2.5%)	53 (21.8%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.6%)	15 (6.2%)	64.2	387^th of 1160 public elementary schools	66.6%		63.8	397^th of 1168 public elementary schools	66.0%	10	52.2		52.2	60.5	42.6	69.6				57.3	86.8	42.6	54.4				59.5											$18,593	$955	$17,638
Summit School	Public	K-8	13313 E Broadway Ave	Spokane Valley	99216	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-3252	383	22	17.2	37.6%	306 (79.9%)	6 (1.6%)	35 (9.1%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	22 (5.7%)	76.8	246^th of 1160 public elementary schools	78.8%		84.3	170^th of 1168 public elementary schools	85.4%	76	81.8	60.7	73.6	62.5	68.4	77.3	48.9	61.5	67.9	64.1	64.1	63.2	61.4	42.2	57.9	35.7	54.7	81.1	81.1	83.0	83.0	83.0	81.1	88.7	83.0	81.1	81.1	$14,756	$481	$14,275

Frequently Asked Questions about University Elementary School

What district is University Elementary School in?

Central Valley School District

What is the racial makeup of University Elementary School?

Students at University Elementary School are 71% White, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 4% Pacific Islander, 2% African American, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.

What schools do graduates of University Elementary School attend?

Students who attend University Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bowdish Middle School
High : University High School

Is University Elementary School a good school?

University Elementary School ranks 428^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend University Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 291 students attended University Elementary School.

Rate University Elementary School!

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Schools in Spokane Valley, WA

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.