Mount Pleasant School vs Hathaway Elementary

Mount Pleasant School and Hathaway Elementary sit 5.7 miles apart in Washougal, Washington, and both rank among the state's best — but the gap between them is narrow. Mount Pleasant School holds an overall rating of 9.3/10, placing it #16 of 2225 schools in Washington, while Hathaway Elementary scores 9.2/10 and ranks #39 of the same 2225. That 23-position difference in state rank is real but modest; parents are choosing between two genuinely high-performing schools, not a clear winner and an also-ran.

On the academic and growth dimensions, the schools trade punches. Hathaway Elementary edges Mount Pleasant School on both academic score (8.8 vs 8.7) and growth score (9.9 vs 9.5) — meaning students at Hathaway show slightly stronger measured achievement and year-over-year learning gains. The growth gap of 0.4 points is the most consequential data point separating the two schools academically, and it favors Hathaway despite its lower overall rating.

The enrollment and demographic profiles diverge sharply. Mount Pleasant School serves just 65 students across grades KG–08, with a student-teacher ratio of 13.0:1 and 37% of students on free or reduced lunch. Hathaway Elementary enrolls 281 students in grades PK–05, operates at a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio, and serves a higher-need population at 50% free or reduced lunch. Mount Pleasant's smaller enrollment translates directly into more individual attention per student, while Hathaway's larger footprint and higher FRL rate suggest stronger staff experience working with diverse economic backgrounds.

The grade-span difference is a practical deciding factor for many families. Mount Pleasant School runs KG through grade 8, meaning a child who enrolls in kindergarten can stay through middle school without a transition. Hathaway Elementary covers PK through grade 5 only, so families will manage a school change after fifth grade. Hathaway's PreK offering also gives it an earlier entry point for families with younger children not yet in kindergarten.