Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 99217

Elementary schools in ZIP code 99217 include three schools serving grades from prekindergarten or kindergarten through fifth or seventh grade: Cooper Elementary, Arlington Elementary, and Orchard Prairie Elementary. Together, they enroll 843 students and serve a varied area that includes two similarly sized schools in the Spokane School District and one much smaller school in the Orchard Prairie School District. Cooper and Arlington each enroll about 380 students and serve PK–5, while Orchard Prairie enrolls 79 students and serves kindergarten through seventh grade.

Orchard Prairie Elementary is the strongest overall performer based on the available data. It ranks at the 72nd percentile and reports 51.02% proficiency in ELA and 52% in math, including math performance above the Washington average. Its four-star rating and improving ranking history are encouraging, although its small enrollment means many grade-level results are suppressed and comparisons should be made cautiously. Among the two larger schools, Cooper Elementary is the stronger option. It ranks at the 31st percentile and exceeds Arlington Elementary in ELA, math, and science. Cooper remains below state averages, however, with fifth-grade math and ELA standing out as areas for attention.

Arlington Elementary has the greatest academic challenges in this group. It ranks at the 13th percentile, with 30.99% ELA, 22.22% math, and 31.37% science proficiency. Math is the clearest concern, particularly in fourth grade at 18.46% and fifth grade at 15.69%. Arlington’s ranking has improved modestly, and ELA and science increased slightly year over year, but math declined. Reported student-teacher ratios are similar across the schools, so families should weigh achievement data alongside school programs, supports, school climate, and the importance of choosing between a larger school and Orchard Prairie’s smaller setting.