Balboa Elementary vs Libby Center
Balboa Elementary and Libby Center are very closely rated, both scoring around 7.7 out of 10. In math proficiency, Libby Center leads at 95.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Balboa Elementary
Spokane, WA
253 students
Libby Center
Spokane, WA
287 students
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| Metric | Balboa Elementary | Libby Center |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.7 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Growth Score | 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 51.4% | 28.6% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 9.9 |
| State Rank | #455 of 2,251 | #365 of 2,251 |
| State Percentile | 80th | 84th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Balboa Elementary | Libby Center |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 57.0% | 95.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 62.0% | 97.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Spokane (99208) | Spokane (99202) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,084 | $61,323 |
| Median Home Value | $414,000 | $268,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,226 | $1,070 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 33.8% | 32.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.6% | 25.0% |
| Avg Commute | 25 min | 16 min |
The data story: Balboa Elementary vs Libby Center
Balboa Elementary and Libby Center are separated by just one spot in Washington's statewide rankings — Balboa at #92 of 2,225 schools and Libby Center at #93 of 2,225 — yet both earn an overall rating of 9.1/10. For parents in Spokane choosing between two top-tier elementary schools, the distinction lies in what drives each school's performance, not in where they land overall.
The academic gap between the two schools is the sharpest difference on the scorecard. Libby Center posts a 10.0/10 academic score against Balboa Elementary's 8.9/10 — a meaningful 1.1-point delta that signals consistently higher proficiency across tested subjects. Balboa counters with a stronger growth score, 9.1/10 compared to Libby Center's 8.2/10, meaning students at Balboa are outpacing projected year-over-year gains at a higher rate. Families weighing current achievement levels against trajectory will find genuinely different answers at each school.
The demographic and staffing profiles diverge considerably. Libby Center's student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1 is substantially lower than Balboa Elementary's 12.7:1, translating to more individual attention per student. Balboa enrolls 253 students across PreK through 5th grade while Libby Center serves 287 students. On economic indicators, 51% of Balboa's students qualify for free or reduced lunch compared to 29% at Libby Center — a difference that often correlates with the support services and programming each school must prioritize.
Grade span is another structural distinction worth noting. Balboa Elementary serves PreK through 5th grade, giving families access to pre-kindergarten programming. Libby Center runs kindergarten through 8th grade, which means students can remain at the same school through middle school — a continuity advantage that eliminates one school transition entirely.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Balboa Elementary
Balboa Elementary suits families who prioritize strong academic growth trajectories and want PreK access for younger siblings — its 9.1/10 growth score tops Libby Center by nearly a full point. It also serves a more economically diverse student body, which appeals to parents who value socioeconomic integration as part of their child's school experience.
Libby Center
Libby Center fits families who want the highest current academic achievement (10.0/10) paired with a notably low 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio and the convenience of keeping a child in one building from kindergarten straight through 8th grade — eliminating a middle school search entirely.