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Gess Elementary

Q: Is Gess Elementary a good school?

Gess Elementary ranks 701 st of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

701^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Gess Elementary is a public K-6 school serving 324 students in the rural community of Chewelah, WA, as part of the Chewelah School District.

The school earns a 2-star rating, placing it in the middle range of Washington elementary schools, and shows particular strength in science, where student proficiency exceeds both the state and district averages. While the school serves a population with significant economic need, it performs better in core subjects than several nearby schools with similar or higher poverty rates, such as Springdale Elementary and Loon Lake Elementary School. An interesting comparison is Columbia Virtual Academy, a nearby online school that spends less per student but achieves higher ELA scores, highlighting different approaches to education in the region.

Performance varies by grade, with math scores dipping in 5th grade before recovering in 6th, while reading scores steadily improve from 3rd to 6th grade. The school has shown a solid recovery from pandemic-related learning loss, though it has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic performance level. Notably, the school's per-student spending is efficient compared to outcomes at some neighboring schools, suggesting factors like teaching methods and curriculum are key drivers of success alongside resources.

324

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,905

Per pupil spending ?

57.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

405 E Lincoln
Chewelah, WA 99109

(509) 685-6800

District: Chewelah School District

Students who attend Gess Elementary usually attend:

High:

Jenkins Junior/Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.3%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

3.4%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Gess Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 25th percentile in 2021 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 40th (2025) from a 25th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school47%

District avg41%

Washington avg48%

701^st of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 14 pts since 2019

From top 47% (2019) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

109^th of 247Chewelah 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	38.8	701 of 1160	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.8	710 of 1168	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.2	699 of 1169	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.9	867 of 1169	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.8	832 of 1107	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.1	526 of 1130	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.8	321 of 1106	71.0%	★★★★☆
2012	57.6	472 of 1097	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.6	453 of 1092	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	48.8	582 of 1088	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	55.3	481 of 1072	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.2	542 of 1067	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.9	623 of 1069	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.7	618 of 1051	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.7	590 of 1031	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	50.4	527 of 1026	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	532 of 1092	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.3	587 of 1093	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.4	496 of 1094	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	718 of 1100	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.5	648 of 1008	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.2	413 of 1068	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	597 of 1013	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.1	580 of 1024	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.9	440 of 1013	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.1	573 of 1019	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.1	449 of 854	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	77.5	117 of 979	88.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	741 of 1098	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.3	699 of 1099	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.2	837 of 1099	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.3	902 of 1113	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.6	826 of 1025	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.5	575 of 1075	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	27.0	790 of 1007	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.1	830 of 1009	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.8	874 of 1011	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.5	969 of 1031	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.5	895 of 943	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	709 of 1027	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)51st percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)41st percentile~ school

Male (2025)33rd percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)22nd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science59%+9 vs state

English Language Arts44%-9 vs state

Math38%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Gess Elementary

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
Gess Elementary	Public	K-6	405 E Lincoln	Chewelah	99109	Stevens County	Chewelah School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 685-6800	324	22	14.5	57.7%	286 (88.3%)	3 (0.9%)	18 (5.6%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	38.8	701^st of 1160 public elementary schools	39.6%		37.8	710^th of 1168 public elementary schools	39.2%	9	58.8		58.8	36.4	31.3	54.2	51.9			44.4	50.9	29.0	28.6	37.3			37.6	63.3	71.4	77.6	77.6	77.6	63.3	79.6	75.5	63.3	63.3	$16,905	$2,583	$14,321
Columbia Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	K-8	3030 Huffman Road	Valley	99181	Stevens County	Valley School District	No	No	Yes	No	(509) 937-4663	863	30	28.9	31.5%	478 (55.4%)	55 (6.4%)	154 (17.8%)	81 (9.4%)	13 (1.5%)	7 (0.8%)	75 (8.7%)	58.8	449^th of 1160 public elementary schools	61.3%		51.6	538^th of 1168 public elementary schools	53.9%	89	47.4	66.7	56.3	60.7	59.4	57.9	75.9	54.8	61.1	61.3	55.6	34.4	31.6	55.2	37.5	42.9	42.0	64.6	72.3	73.9	73.9	73.9	70.8	75.4	67.7	70.8	70.8	$9,721	$00	$9,721
Valley School	Public	K-8	3034 Huffman Road	Valley	99181	Stevens County	Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 937-2413	166	17	9.8	61.4%	147 (88.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (7.8%)	28.1	849^th of 1160 public elementary schools	26.8%		15.5	1030^th of 1168 public elementary schools	11.8%	181	56.3		43.5	25.0		50.0	27.8	38.5		30.8				22.2	38.5		16.7	60.9	60.9	60.9	60.9	60.9	60.9	69.6	60.9	60.9	60.9	$36,125	$2,555	$33,570
Summit Valley School	Public	PK, KG-8	2360 Addy-Gifford Road	Addy	99101	Stevens County	Summit Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 935-6362	108	6	17.0	86.1%	80 (74.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (17.6%)	27.7	858^th of 1160 public elementary schools	26.0%		49.5	568^th of 1168 public elementary schools	51.4%	290	31.3		26.1		41.7	31.3				21.9		50.0					17.2											$17,441	$1,566	$15,875
Springdale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 N 4th	Springdale	99173	Stevens County	Mary Walker School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 258-7357	227	14	16.4	83.7%	181 (79.7%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.7%)	24.4	917^th of 1160 public elementary schools	20.9%		6.6	1129^th of 1168 public elementary schools	3.3%	212	20.0		20.0	39.4	37.5	22.0				32.1	60.6	37.5	15.0				36.2	47.8	60.9	60.9	60.9	60.9	52.2	65.2	60.9	52.2	52.2	$17,766	$3,133	$14,633
Loon Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4001 Maple Street	Loon Lake	99148	Stevens County	Loon Lake School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 233-2212	113	10	10.8	84.1%	86 (76.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (14.2%)	20.8	960^th of 1160 public elementary schools	17.2%		17.7	1006^th of 1168 public elementary schools	13.9%	46	22.2		22.2	36.4	46.2					34.0		23.1					19.6	69.2	84.6	76.9	76.9	76.9	84.6	76.9	76.9	84.6	84.6	$23,562	$2,252	$21,310
Loon Lake Homelink Program	Public	K-8	3999 Maple Street	Loon Lake	99148	Stevens County	Loon Lake School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 233-8185	138	3	45.8	42.8%	108 (78.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.8%)	43.3	637^th of 1160 public elementary schools	45.1%		49.3	572^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	51.0%	65	50.0		43.5	56.0	53.9	50.0	38.5			51.9	36.0	46.2	42.9	30.8			39.2											$8,256	$03	$8,253
Fort Colville Elementary	Public	3-5	1212 E Ivy Ave	Colville	99114	Stevens County	Colville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 684-7830	355	23	15.3	69.9%	299 (84.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.2%)	57.5	462^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	60.2%		51.2	547^th of 1168 public elementary schools	53.2%	85	55.1		55.1	56.1	57.0	54.1				55.8	58.2	54.4	35.8				49.9											$17,489	$2,189	$15,300
Kalispel Language Immersion School	Public	K-8	305 Monumental Way	Cusick	99119	Pend Oreille County	Cusick School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 447-7461	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																												$16,458	$01	$16,457
Bess Herian Elementary	Public	K-5	305 Monumental Way	Cusick	99119	Pend Oreille County	Cusick School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 445-0361	134	9	14.1	71.6%	56 (41.8%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (13.4%)	1 (0.7%)	23 (17.2%)	1 (0.7%)	35 (26.1%)	49.1	565^th of 1160 public elementary schools	51.3%		38.4	705^th of 1168 public elementary schools	39.6%	140	43.5		43.5	54.6	63.6	43.5				53.7	54.6	59.1	21.7				44.8	79.0	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	84.2	$27,821	$1,962	$25,859

Frequently Asked Questions about Gess Elementary

What schools do graduates of Gess Elementary attend?

Students who attend Gess Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Jenkins Junior/Senior High

Is Gess Elementary a good school?

Gess Elementary ranks 701^st of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Gess Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 324 students attended Gess Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Gess Elementary?

Students at Gess Elementary are 88% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What district is Gess Elementary in?

Chewelah School District

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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.