Average
#1019 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 46% in state
Barnes Elementary
Elementary School · Kelso School District · Kelso, WA
A Kelso School District elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
401 Barnes, Kelso, WA 98626
- Math 27% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 37% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Barnes Elementary score 32% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 15 points since 2018, to 32% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Barnes Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 19Car-Dependent
- Bike 49Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,171/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Kelso), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,058
Median home value
$339,800
Median rent
$1,169/mo
College educated
14.9%
Homeownership
68.1%
Poverty rate
12.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98626; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special EducationEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 28 | Compare → |
| Butler Acres ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 403 | Compare → |
| Rose Valley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 167 | Compare → |
| Columbia Heights ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | 1.5 mi | 336 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Kelso School District
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #4 of 11
- District spending per student
- $16,984NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Barnes Elementary is listed in Kelso School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Barnes Elementary
Barnes Elementary is a public elementary school in Kelso, WA, part of Kelso School District, serving approximately 322 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,019 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Barnes Elementary
What grades does Barnes Elementary serve?
Barnes Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Barnes Elementary?
Barnes Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 322 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Barnes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Barnes Elementary is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Barnes Elementary rank in WA?
Barnes Elementary ranks #1,019 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Barnes Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Barnes Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Barnes Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Barnes Elementary has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Barnes Elementary a charter school?
No, Barnes Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Barnes Elementary a Title I school?
No, Barnes Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Barnes Elementary?
81.4% of students at Barnes Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 322
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Cowlitz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.1%
- Phone
- (360) 501-1500
- Area population (ZIP 98626)
- 26,948
- Area average commute
- 23.4 min
- Area median age
- 40.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 98626; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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