Browne Elementary vs Jefferson Elementary

Browne Elementary and Jefferson Elementary are both well-regarded Spokane elementary schools, but Browne holds a meaningful edge in overall rating — 9.3 out of 10 versus Jefferson's 8.7, a 0.6-point gap. That difference is amplified by state rank context: Browne Elementary sits at #48 of 2,225 schools in Washington, while Jefferson Elementary ranks #185 of the same pool — a 137-position gap that places Browne firmly in the top 2% of the state and Jefferson in roughly the top 8%.

The academic picture splits in an interesting direction. Jefferson Elementary scores higher in raw academic proficiency at 9.0/10 compared to Browne Elementary's 8.5/10 — meaning Jefferson's students are currently testing at higher levels. Browne, however, leads significantly on growth: a 9.7/10 versus Jefferson's 8.6/10, a gap of 1.1 points. That growth score measures how much students improve year over year relative to peers with similar starting points, so Browne is adding measurably more learning momentum even if its absolute proficiency benchmark is slightly lower.

The demographic profiles of the two schools diverge sharply. Browne Elementary serves a higher-needs population — 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, compared to 36% at Jefferson Elementary. Browne's lower student-teacher ratio (13.5:1 versus Jefferson's 13.9:1) provides marginally more individual attention, which may help explain its outsized growth performance despite the higher economic challenges in its student body. Enrollment is comparable — 325 at Browne versus 362 at Jefferson — so neither school is substantially larger.

One structural difference separates the grade offerings: Jefferson Elementary extends through sixth grade (PK–06), while Browne Elementary tops out at fifth grade (PK–05). Families with a child entering middle school transition will face that extra year at Jefferson, which could ease scheduling continuity. The two schools sit 6.4 miles apart within Spokane, making direct comparison straightforward for families weighing a school choice or boundary exception.