Tonasket Elementary School

Tonasket Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 476 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in the rural Tonasket School District in Washington state.

The school serves a high-need community and, like the district overall, has academic proficiency rates below state averages. However, a closer look reveals important strengths. The school is notably effective in teaching mathematics, outperforming nearby Oroville Elementary by over 10 percentage points, and its science scores are its strongest subject area. Furthermore, the school achieves these outcomes while spending significantly less per student than the comparison school, suggesting efficient use of resources. A particularly bright spot is the school's exceptional success with migrant students, where it ranks among the top schools in the state for serving this population.

Parents should be aware that the school faces challenges, with English Language Arts scores being an area for growth and a noticeable drop in performance in the 4th grade. Compared to Oroville Elementary in the higher-ranked Oroville School District, Tonasket has a higher student-to-teacher ratio. The school's statewide ranking has declined over the past decade, a trend that accelerated during the pandemic years. The key takeaway is that Tonasket Elementary School has demonstrated specific, effective teaching practices in math and with migrant students that could be leveraged to improve overall performance.