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La Center Elementary

Summary:

La Center Elementary is a public elementary school in La Center, Washington, serving students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the La Center School District. While the school has a predominantly white student population, it performs below the state and district averages on standardized tests, with lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math compared to nearby schools like Chinook Elementary School and South Ridge Elementary.

La Center Elementary has a higher student-teacher ratio of 17:1 compared to the nearby schools, which range from 13.2:1 to 16.4:1. Additionally, the school has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (30.51%) than some of the surrounding schools, such as Columbia Elementary (53.5%) and Daybreak Primary (47.97%), suggesting that La Center Elementary serves a more affluent student population. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated between 489 and 768 out of 1,056 to 1,169 Washington elementary schools over the past several years, with a rating of 2 or 3 stars out of 5.

The analysis of La Center Elementary and the nearby schools reveals several key differences, including racial makeup, academic performance, socioeconomic factors, and school district characteristics. These factors may contribute to the overall performance and ranking of La Center Elementary within the La Center School District, which is ranked 89 out of 247 school districts in Washington and is rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 700 East 4th Street
       La Center, WA  98629

(360) 263-2134

District: La Center School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
593rd of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,386 Help


Students who attend La Center Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    La Center Middle School
High:    La Center High School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.2 Help
Number of students:  820

Racial breakdown:

White:
81.1%
Hispanic:
10.7%
Two or more races:
5.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.9% Help


 See top rated Washington elementary schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details La Center Elementary ranks worse than 50.8% of elementary schools in Washington. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.32. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.1%), Hispanic (10.7%), two or more races (5.4%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 32.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at La Center Elementary is 16.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare La Center Elementary employs 50.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at La Center Elementary is $15,386.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

La Center Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks La Center Elementary 593rd of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See La Center Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


La Center School District:

SchoolDigger ranks La Center School District 89th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for La Center Elementary

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Rank History for all students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 28.93 779th 1026 24.1%
2005 57.72 441st 1031 57.2%
2006 55.18 483rd 1051 54.0%
2007 54.16 503rd 1069 52.9%
2008 57.15 469th 1067 56.0%
2009 51.38 533rd 1072 50.3%
2010 49.39 570th 1088 47.6%
2011 52.56 541st 1092 50.5%
2012 44.27 654th 1097 40.4%
2013 48.46 619th 1106 44.0%
2016 39.39 670th 1053 36.4%
2017 30.53 768th 1056 27.3%
2018 44.22 592nd 1054 43.8%
2019 56.95 489th 1130 56.7%
2021 43.30 585th 1107 47.2%
2022 47.10 598th 1169 48.8%
2023 47.82 583rd 1169 50.1%
2024 47.32 593rd 1168 49.2%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.66 481st 637 24.5%
2019 37.06 330th 566 41.7%
2021 28.12 130th 158 17.7%
2022 44.46 230th 478 51.9%
2023 17.93 280th 308 9.1%
2024 17.50 306th 339 9.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.83 510th 835 38.9%
2019 55.08 438th 979 55.3%
2021 37.73 536th 854 37.2%
2022 66.27 249th 1019 75.6%
2023 58.16 374th 1013 63.1%
2024 59.75 374th 1024 63.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.60 601st 1004 40.1%
2019 50.62 558th 1068 47.8%
2021 49.14 472nd 1008 53.2%
2022 50.40 514th 1100 53.3%
2023 57.23 435th 1094 60.2%
2024 48.98 537th 1093 50.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.06 508th 999 49.1%
2019 63.84 374th 1075 65.2%
2021 35.98 630th 1025 38.5%
2022 44.71 578th 1113 48.1%
2023 36.47 687th 1099 37.5%
2024 44.06 594th 1099 46.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 51.89 279th 694 59.8%
2023 89.44 27th 633 95.7%
2024 52.79 300th 651 53.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at La Center Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.51 617th 833 25.9%
2019 43.72 628th 1027 38.9%
2021 30.57 677th 943 28.2%
2022 34.22 715th 1031 30.6%
2023 33.25 718th 1011 29.0%
2024 38.43 641st 1009 36.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

La Center Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
Help






Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for La Center Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 244 0 0 1 2 n/a n/a 0 247
1989 233 0 1 3 2 n/a n/a 0 239
1990 434 1 1 9 3 n/a n/a 0 448
1991 473 1 2 13 2 n/a n/a 0 491
1992 494 3 2 17 2 n/a n/a 0 518
1993 527 3 3 23 4 n/a n/a 0 560
1995 389 3 8 19 3 n/a n/a 0 422
1996 389 3 8 19 3 n/a n/a 0 422
1997 433 3 8 17 6 n/a n/a 0 467
1998 433 3 8 17 6 n/a n/a 0 467
1999 545 3 8 25 4 n/a n/a 0 585
2000 547 2 7 23 4 n/a n/a 0 583
2001 517 1 9 26 4 n/a n/a 0 557
2002 485 4 4 20 7 n/a n/a 0 520
2003 485 4 4 20 7 n/a n/a 0 520
2004 514 4 3 27 5 n/a n/a 0 553
2005 566 4 8 30 6 n/a n/a 0 614
2006 618 7 13 20 7 n/a n/a 5 670
2007 661 3 11 14 8 n/a n/a 6 703
2008 670 1 9 15 10 n/a n/a 14 719
2009 649 1 10 21 8 n/a n/a 17 706
2010 657 1 11 18 6 n/a n/a 20 713
2011 643 2 9 41 9 0 13 0 717
2012 634 1 5 44 7 0 13 0 704
2013 587 1 3 54 5 0 15 0 665
2014 603 4 3 51 2 0 13 0 676
2015 594 5 4 49 1 0 18 0 671
2016 603 6 3 54 2 0 16 0 684
2017 647 3 3 44 0 2 21 0 720
2018 664 3 5 47 0 3 23 0 745
2019 685 4 6 54 1 3 20 2 775
2020 634 4 8 60 3 4 22 4 739
2021 536 0 6 48 1 3 27 7 628
2022 591 4 5 69 0 4 25 5 703
2023 651 4 8 85 1 5 29 7 790
2024 665 4 9 88 1 4 44 5 820

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at La Center Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 247 14.0 17.6 0
1989 239 15.0 15.9 n/a
1990 448 22.1 20.2 0
1991 491 21.7 22.6 n/a
1992 518 23.1 22.4 n/a
1993 560 22.7 24.7 n/a
1995 422 17.2 24.5 n/a
1996 422 17.2 24.5 n/a
1997 467 19.8 23.6 n/a
1998 467 21.0 22.2 n/a
1999 585 23.7 24.7 n/a
2000 583 24.8 23.5 n/a
2001 557 24.8 22.5 n/a
2002 520 28.8 18.1 25.2
2003 520 28.8 18.1 25.2
2004 553 26.0 21.3 20.1
2005 614 25.3 24.3 26.4
2006 670 25.8 26.0 20.8
2007 703 32.3 21.8 18.9
2008 719 33.0 21.8 21.7
2009 706 33.3 21.2 28
2010 713 34.6 20.6 29.1
2011 717 34.4 20.8 31.7
2012 704 34.3 20.5 34.2
2013 665 33.0 20.1 35.2
2014 676 n/a n/a 32
2015 671 39.0 17.2 32.3
2016 684 39.0 17.5 28.1
2017 720 39.6 18.1 27.2
2018 745 40.0 18.5 26
2019 775 40.8 18.9 24.8
2020 739 47.4 15.5 23.8
2021 628 43.7 14.3 22.8
2022 703 45.8 15.3 25.3
2023 790 46.2 17.0 30.5
2024 820 50.3 16.2 32.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio La Center Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 247 14.0 17.6 0
1989 239 15.0 15.9 n/a
1990 448 22.1 20.2 0
1991 491 21.7 22.6 n/a
1992 518 23.1 22.4 n/a
1993 560 22.7 24.7 n/a
1995 422 17.2 24.5 n/a
1996 422 17.2 24.5 n/a
1997 467 19.8 23.6 n/a
1998 467 21.0 22.2 n/a
1999 585 23.7 24.7 n/a
2000 583 24.8 23.5 n/a
2001 557 24.8 22.5 n/a
2002 520 28.8 18.1 25.2
2003 520 28.8 18.1 25.2
2004 553 26.0 21.3 20.1
2005 614 25.3 24.3 26.4
2006 670 25.8 26.0 20.8
2007 703 32.3 21.8 18.9
2008 719 33.0 21.8 21.7
2009 706 33.3 21.2 28
2010 713 34.6 20.6 29.1
2011 717 34.4 20.8 31.7
2012 704 34.3 20.5 34.2
2013 665 33.0 20.1 35.2
2014 676 n/a n/a 32
2015 671 39.0 17.2 32.3
2016 684 39.0 17.5 28.1
2017 720 39.6 18.1 27.2
2018 745 40.0 18.5 26
2019 775 40.8 18.9 24.8
2020 739 47.4 15.5 23.8
2021 628 43.7 14.3 22.8
2022 703 45.8 15.3 25.3
2023 790 46.2 17.0 30.5
2024 820 50.3 16.2 32.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

La Center Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201680.6%1.0%2.9%1.0%83.5%85.4%88.3%83.5%86.4%85.4%
201768.5%0.0%1.9%0.9%10.2%70.4%73.2%83.3%73.2%72.2%73.2%
201885.7%0.9%1.8%0.9%5.4%92.0%92.9%92.0%90.2%91.1%92.9%
201985.0%0.0%0.8%0.8%7.1%88.2%90.6%92.1%88.2%89.0%90.6%
202286.0%7.0%1.8%0.9%10.5%89.5%88.6%89.5%89.5%88.6%91.2%91.2%91.2%88.6%
202393.8%3.9%0.8%0.8%3.1%95.3%94.5%97.7%93.8%94.5%94.5%94.5%94.5%94.5%
202494.2%1.4%0.0%0.7%1.4%97.8%97.8%98.6%96.4%97.8%98.6%98.6%98.6%97.8%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

La Center Elementary

Help
Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201987.0%1.1%2.4%6.6%93.3%93.7%93.4%91.3%93.3%93.7%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for La Center Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $351 (3.1%) $10,934 (96.9%) $11,286
2020 $561 (5.5%) $9,559 (94.5%) $10,120
2021 $722 (4.6%) $14,835 (95.4%) $15,556
2022 $802 (5.2%) $14,584 (94.8%) $15,386

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on La Center Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 489th of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 583rd of 1169 Elementary schools
 6.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (La Center Elementary)67.637.6
 30%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (La Center School District)67.937.8
 30%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (La Center Elementary)60.445.9
 14.5%
   3rd Grade Math (La Center School District)60.746
 14.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (La Center Elementary)54.844.9
 9.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (La Center School District)54.845.3
 9.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (La Center Elementary)53.239.7
 13.5%
   4th Grade Math (La Center School District)53.239.5
 13.8%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (La Center Elementary)65.956.2
 9.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (La Center School District)65.755.7
 10%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (La Center Elementary)48.645.8
 2.7%
   5th Grade Math (La Center School District)47.945.1
 2.8%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (La Center Elementary)58.363.6
 5.4%
   5th Grade Science (La Center School District)58.263.4
 5.3%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (La Center Elementary)62.746.4
 16.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (La Center School District)63.151.8
 11.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (La Center Elementary)53.643.5
 10.2%
   All Grades Math (La Center School District)52.138.8
 13.3%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (La Center Elementary)58.363.6
 5.4%
   All Grades Science (La Center School District)46.453
 6.6%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students775790
 1.9%
African American44
American Indian11
Asian68
 33.3%
Hispanic5485
 57.4%
Pacific Islander35
 66.7%
White685651
 5%
Two or More Races2029
 45%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients24.8%30.5%
 5.7%

Schools Near La Center Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about La Center Elementary

Students who attend La Center Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : La Center Middle School
High : La Center High School

La Center Elementary ranks 593rd of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 820 students attended La Center Elementary.

Students at La Center Elementary are 81% White, 11% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.


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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.




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