Summary
University Elementary School in Spokane Valley serves 291 students in prekindergarten through grade 5 and is part of the Central Valley School District, a strong district ranked in the 81st statewide percentile. The school is in a highly competitive area, with several nearby elementary schools showing stronger recent academic results. University ranks in the 46th statewide percentile and has a 2-star rating, down from the 63rd percentile and 3 stars the previous year. Its student-teacher ratio is a favorable 13.2:1, and 63.92% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a higher share than at nearby schools such as Sunrise Elementary, Chester Elementary School, and Ponderosa Elementary.
Academic performance is currently the school’s main concern, especially in mathematics. In 2025–2026, University students were proficient at rates of 48.15% in English language arts, 39.71% in math, and 56.52% in science. Math was nearly flat across grades 3–5, ranging from 39.13% to 40%, and trailed the district by 11.49 percentage points. University also lagged most nearby Central Valley School District schools, including Sunrise Elementary, which posted 70.08% math proficiency, and Summit School, which ranked in the 83rd statewide percentile. ELA was weakest in grades 3 and 4, both at 42.22%, while grade 5 ELA reached 60% and exceeded the state rate. Science is a relative bright spot: University’s 56.52% proficiency exceeded the state rate, though it remained below results at Sunrise Elementary, Chester Elementary School, and several other nearby schools.
There are also meaningful strengths for families to consider. University’s special education subgroup ranked in the 85th statewide percentile in 2025–2026, following a 97th-percentile result the prior year. Spending was relatively high at $20,061 per student, second-highest among nearby schools with comparable data, although the strong resources have not yet translated into top local achievement results. The school’s small enrollment may contribute to year-to-year variation, but the latest math gaps are substantial. Compared with nearby Opportunity Elementary, University performed notably better in ELA and science; compared with Sunrise Elementary, it trailed considerably in every subject. The clearest priorities are improving math across grades 3–5, strengthening grades 3 and 4 ELA, and maintaining the school’s relative strengths in grade 5 ELA, science, and special education services.
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