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Orcas Island Elementary School

Q: Is Orcas Island Elementary School a good school?

Orcas Island Elementary School ranks 366 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

366^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Orcas Island Elementary School is a public K-5 school serving about 160 students in the heart of Eastsound, Washington, within the highly-ranked Orcas Island School District.

The school's standout story is its remarkable recent improvement and its exceptional success in supporting students from lower-income families, where it now ranks among the top schools in the state for that group. While the school's overall state ranking has fluctuated more than nearby island schools like Friday Harbor Elementary School or Lopez Elementary School, its latest scores show a dramatic positive jump. It achieves these strong results with moderate per-student spending compared to peers, suggesting resources are used effectively, and benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio that allows for more individual attention.

Some areas for the community to consider include a significant and persistent performance gap between female and male students, as well as a notable drop in math proficiency in the 5th grade. The school's comparison to the nearby Orcas Island Montessori Public school, which serves fewer students in grades 1-3, offers an interesting look at different educational approaches within the same district. Overall, Orcas Island Elementary demonstrates that a small, remote school can provide a high-quality and equitable education, leveraging its close-knit community to help all students thrive.

160

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,871

Per pupil spending ?

40%

Free/discounted lunch ?

611 School Rd
Eastsound, WA 98245

(206) 376-2286

District: Orcas Island School District

Students who attend Orcas Island Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Orcas Island Middle School
High:	Orcas Island High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.8%

Hispanic:

20.0%

Two or more races:

8.1%

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Compare Orcas Island Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 48th percentile in 2012 → 68th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (57% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2012

✓Above the Washington median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school57%

District avg58%

Washington avg48%

366^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 7 pts since 2017

From top 39% (2017) to top 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

32^nd of 247Orcas Island 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	66.0	366 of 1160	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.9	708 of 1168	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.7	533 of 1169	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.4	466 of 1169	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.8	185 of 1107	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	39.5	703 of 1130	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.6	456 of 1054	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.7	411 of 1056	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.3	434 of 1106	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.4	570 of 1097	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	58.7	452 of 1092	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.2	302 of 1088	72.2%	★★★★☆
2009	74.5	222 of 1072	79.3%	★★★★☆
2008	78.0	171 of 1067	84.0%	★★★★☆
2007	67.5	319 of 1069	70.2%	★★★★☆
2006	81.5	131 of 1051	87.5%	★★★★☆
2005	76.5	200 of 1031	80.6%	★★★★☆
2004	96.3	10 of 1026	99.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	78.8	204 of 1092	81.3%	★★★★☆
2024	43.4	601 of 1093	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.1	511 of 1094	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	378 of 1100	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	92.1	73 of 1008	92.8%	★★★★★
2019	43.1	644 of 1068	39.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	43.3	367 of 694	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.5	415 of 697	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	98 of 1013	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	42.7	580 of 1019	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.9	731 of 979	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	554 of 1098	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.8	613 of 1099	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.3	724 of 1099	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.9	541 of 1113	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.3	316 of 1025	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.2	697 of 1075	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.0	433 of 999	56.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	75.8	222 of 1007	78.0%	★★★★☆
2024	42.9	591 of 1009	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	650 of 1011	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.7	500 of 1031	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	83.1	132 of 943	86.0%	★★★★☆
2019	45.7	596 of 1027	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.2	512 of 833	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)90th percentile+22 vs school

Female (2025)81st percentile+13 vs school

White (2025)78th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)50th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2022)47th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts62%+8 vs state

Math55%+12 vs state

Science54%+4 vs state

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Schools Near Orcas Island 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 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 All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th 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
Orcas Island Elementary School	Public	K-5	611 School Rd	Eastsound	98245	San Juan County	Orcas Island School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 376-2286	160	12	13.6	40.0%	110 (68.8%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (20.0%)	3 (1.9%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (8.1%)	66	366^th of 1160 public elementary schools	68.4%		37.9	708^th of 1168 public elementary schools	39.4%	342	53.6	53.6	61.5	66.7	57.1		61.5	57.7	66.7	40.7		54.6	81.8	97.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	93.9	84.9	90.9	93.9	93.9	$19,871	$1,750	$18,121
Orcas Island Montessori Public	Public, Magnet	1-3	557 School Road	Eastsound	98245	San Juan County	Orcas Island School District	No	Yes	No	No	(360) 376-2284	24	1	19.8	54.2%	18 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (20.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.2%)								(n/a)			70.0				70.0	50.0				50.0											$14,858	$799	$14,059
Waldron Island School	Public	1-8	1 School Road	Waldron	98297	San Juan County	Orcas Island School District	No	No	No	No	(206) 376-2286	5	1	5.0		4 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)								(n/a)																							$79,461	$799	$78,662
Shaw Island Elementary School	Public	K-8	44 Hoffman Cove Road	Shaw Island	98286	San Juan County	Shaw Island School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 468-2570	8	1	11.9		7 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																							$51,847	$00	$51,847
Beach Elementary	Public	K-5	3786 Centerview Road	Lummi Island	98262	Whatcom County	Ferndale School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 383-9440	30	2	15.0	53.3%	19 (63.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (13.3%)	1 (3.3%)	4 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.7%)								(n/a)							52.9					70.6											$25,885	$940	$24,945
Lummi Nation Tribal School	Public	K-8	2334 Lummi View Drive	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Lummi Nation Tribal School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(360) 758-4300	297	51	5.7	99.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	297 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Friday Harbor Elementary School	Public	K-5	95 Grover Street	Friday Harbor	98250	San Juan County	San Juan Island School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 378-5209	329	23	14.0	43.5%	223 (67.8%)	5 (1.5%)	72 (21.9%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.7%)	56.8	474^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.1%		55.7	491^st of 1168 public elementary schools	58.0%	17	61.2	61.2	55.6	57.6	50.0		54.6	55.6	52.5	36.0		48.5	94.6	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	100.0	94.6	97.3	97.3	$19,891	$1,245	$18,647
Lopez Elementary School	Public	K-6	86 School Road	Lopez Island	98261	San Juan County	Lopez School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 468-2202	91	9	10.5	57.1%	64 (70.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (24.2%)	1 (1.1%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.3%)	53.3	512^th of 1160 public elementary schools	55.9%		77.7	242^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	79.3%	270	50.0	50.0		40.0	50.0	76.5	55.3				41.2	22.9	68.8	68.8	68.8	68.8	68.8	68.8	81.3	75.0	68.8	68.8	$29,149	$1,663	$27,486
Stuart Island Elementary	Public	K-8	532 Reid Harbor Road	Friday Harbor	98250	San Juan County	San Juan Island School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(360) 378-4133	3	1	3.0		3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Eagleridge Elementary	Public	K-5	2651 Thornton Road	Ferndale	98248	Whatcom County	Ferndale School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 383-9700	457	27	17.0	58.6%	225 (49.2%)	6 (1.3%)	84 (18.4%)	20 (4.4%)	80 (17.5%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (9.0%)	25.7	892^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	23.1%		22.4	934^th of 1168 public elementary schools	20.0%	42	44.1	44.1	34.1	37.5	45.6		38.6	30.7	38.0	27.9		32.3	90.6	90.6	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	90.6	92.2	92.2	$18,791	$756	$18,035

Frequently Asked Questions about Orcas Island Elementary School

How many students attend Orcas Island Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 160 students attended Orcas Island Elementary School.

Is Orcas Island Elementary School a good school?

Orcas Island Elementary School ranks 366^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Orcas Island Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Orcas Island Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Orcas Island Middle School
High : Orcas Island High School

What is the racial makeup of Orcas Island Elementary School?

Students at Orcas Island Elementary School are 69% White, 20% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Orcas Island Elementary School in?

Orcas Island 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.