Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 67 schools in district

Whitman Elementary

5400 N Helena St, Spokane, WA 99207Spokane School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–05Non-Charter
401
Students
Total enrolled
$24,487
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 71% vs nat'l
11.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 26% vs nat'l
38/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 24% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 401 students in grades PK–05 in Spokane, Washington.
71% above average funding
District spends $24,487 per pupil, 71% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 38th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Whitman Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Spokane, Washington, serving grades PK–05 with 401 students. The district invests $24,487 per student — 71% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 85% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 38/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Whitman Elementary

401
Total Students
11.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
85%
Free Lunch
35
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution218 male · 183 female
54%
46%
Male 54%Female 46%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility85%
National avg 52% · 342 students
Student Composition
56%
16%
15%
Asian3%
White56%
Hispanic / Latino16%
Black4%
Multiracial15%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 530825001414

Academic Outcomes at Whitman Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
38
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 38th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 21th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 99207

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$24,487Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$24,487
State avg
$50,309
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$10,774
Student Support$4,653
Administration$2,938
Operations$3,673
Other$2,449
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $24,487 spent per student, an estimated $10,848 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
60%
22%
State government
60.3%
Local (property tax)
22.2%
Federal programs
17.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $24,487/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 85% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Mullan Road ElementaryLibby CenterHutton ElementaryHamblen Elementary
+14 more
↓
Middle
Sacajawea Middle SchoolShaw Middle SchoolSalk Middle SchoolChase Middle School
+3 more
↓
High School
Lewis & Clark High SchoolNorth Central High SchoolFerris High SchoolRogers High School
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 05
Location—
CountySpokane County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictSpokane School District →
Phone: (509)354-4320
NCES ID: 530825001414
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Spokane seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Spokane School District
High
Lewis & Clark High School
1,739 students · 09–12
38% FRL
High
North Central High School
1,674 students · 06–12
● 41 opp64% FRL
High
Ferris High School
1,631 students · 09–12
48% FRL
High
Rogers High School
1,536 students · 09–12
● 38 opp83% FRL
High
Shadle Park High School
1,382 students · 09–12
● 41 opp60% FRL
Mid
Sacajawea Middle School
775 students · 07–08
● 48 opp42% FRL
Mid
Shaw Middle School
764 students · 06–08
● 38 opp88% FRL
Mid
Salk Middle School
749 students · 06–08
63% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
5400 N Helena St, Spokane, WA 99207
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.