Summary:
ZIP code 99206 has eight elementary schools serving about 3,000 students, primarily in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, with schools spread across Central Valley School District, East Valley School District (Spokane), and West Valley School District (Spokane). Academic results vary widely across this area, so comparing individual schools is more useful than relying on ZIP-code averages alone.
Ponderosa Elementary is the strongest overall performer, with 2025–2026 proficiency rates of 67.23% in English language arts, 64.41% in math, and 70.00% in science. It exceeds state and district averages in all three subjects and ranks in the 81st percentile statewide. Chester Elementary School is another leading option, especially in science, where 76.92% of students were proficient; it ranks in the 77th percentile. South Pines Elementary also offers solid results and had one of the largest recent ranking improvements. Its scores exceed state averages in every subject. Broadway Elementary remains more mixed academically but showed a notable rebound in its latest ranking and exceeded state averages in all three subjects.
Ness Elementary stands out for math performance relative to its district, with 53.91% proficiency, although its fifth-grade results are weaker. University Elementary School has the area’s lowest student-teacher ratio but middling academic results and a recent ranking decline. The greatest challenges appear at Opportunity Elementary and Trent School. Opportunity’s proficiency rates are well below district and state averages, while Trent ranks near the bottom statewide in every subject. Overall, Ponderosa and Chester are the clearest high-performing choices, South Pines is notable for improvement, and families considering the lower-performing schools may want to ask about academic supports, recent improvement plans, and grade-specific results.
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