Wenatchee School Wins Honors Despite Closure: Inside Look

The recently closed Columbia Elementary School was a bastion of progress, according to the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

2023 was Columbia’s penultimate year. But even with declining enrollment and punishing austerity, the school turned in solid results. It was one of four schools in Wenatchee and Eastmont to be recognized by Washington’s OSPI student recognition program.

According to the press release, “schools may be recognized for achievement in more than one category.” The categories are: Closing the Gap, Growth, and Achievement.

Columbia showed noticeable growth “for one or more student groups.” (The same is true for Grant and Lee elementary schools.) Elsewhere in Wenatchee, Orchard High School made “significant progress” for ELL students.

It’s not like Columbia was free from faults and glitches. A sufficient number of low-performing students led Columbia to receive additional support through the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF).

But great progress has been made; this seems to be the empirical truth of the matter. The students’ tremendous progress was often cited by faculty, parents and organizers in their futile pleas to keep Columbia open.

On May 14, the Wenatchee school board voted unanimously to close the Columbia school, where declining enrollment has caused a $9 million budget deficit.

“The closure, combined with district-wide staffing and budget reductions, will help preserve programming and ensure that we can continue to provide high-quality education and opportunities to all of our 6,800 students,” a statement on the district’s website reads.

“Lincoln and Washington elementary school principals and staff are ready to welcome Columbia students and families in the fall and create new and evolving learning environments.”

Click here to read our exchange with a passionate former kindergarten teacher.