Hulan L Whitson Elementary

Hulan L Whitson Elementary is a public K–4 school in White Salmon, Washington, serving 352 students in a community within the White Salmon Valley School District. The school is larger than nearby elementary schools and serves a moderately diverse student population, with 45.74% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. Its district ranks 84th of 238 Washington districts, but the school’s latest ranking is 580th of 1,138 schools, placing it at the 49th percentile and earning two stars.

Academic results are mixed but generally strong compared with nearby schools. Hulan L Whitson had 49.02% of students proficient in English language arts and 44.67% proficient in math. It trails smaller Trout Lake Elementary, which recorded 58.82% proficiency in both subjects, but outperformed similarly sized Carson Elementary School and smaller Dallesport Elementary by substantial margins. Results were also somewhat below Mill A Elementary School, although Mill A’s very small enrollment makes comparisons less stable. Hulan L Whitson is slightly below the state in ELA but above it in math, making math a relative strength within the district.

The school has improved considerably since 2022–23, when proficiency was 31.17% in ELA and 36.71% in math, but both subjects declined from their 2024–25 highs. Fourth-grade math is the clearest academic concern: 40.66% of fourth graders were proficient, compared with 50.85% in third grade and 49.54% statewide for fourth grade. Parents may also want to ask how the school is addressing subgroup differences: effectiveness rankings were 74th percentile for White students, 34th for special education students, 15th for low-income students, and 3rd for Hispanic students. These results point to a need for targeted, equitable support while the school works to restore recent gains.