When we relocated to Spokane, Washington, I carried a mix of excitement and anxiety. We were chasing the dream of a fresh start — a safe neighbourhood, friendly faces, and, perhaps most importantly, the promise of the best elementary schools in Spokane where our child could feel seen, supported and inspired.

I didn’t come here with a neat checklist. No single school brochure could tell me everything. What I found instead was the reality of walking hallways, seeing class projects pinned up, hearing teachers chat, and discovering that the “best” school had equal parts heart and structure.

Why we chose to move here

Our previous home felt tight — crowded, familiar in all the wrong ways, and the local school simply didn’t feel aligned with our child’s energy. One Sunday afternoon we asked ourselves: “What if we find a place where the elementary years matter more than a stepping-stone?”

Spokane became the answer. As per the Spokane Public Schools (SPS) district info, there are 34 elementary schools serving grades K-5. Knowing that kind of variety existed made me hopeful.

We landed in a leafy neighbourhood near one of those schools. And from day one, the process of exploring “the best elementary schools in Spokane” became part research, part intuition.

What I looked for (and what we found)

1. A real sense of community

Walking into the lobby, seeing kids greeting each other, parents chatting after school — it mattered. One school had a poster: “Every child matters here.” It wasn’t just marketing. It felt genuine.

2. Teachers who people wanted to stay

When I asked about the turnover rate, I was told “We try to keep the same crew for at least three-four years so the kids see consistency.” For us, that signalled stability.

3. Opportunities beyond tests

Yes, test scores and rankings matter (for instance, platforms like Niche catalogue and compare schools in Spokane County based on test scores, staff, diversity and parent reviews). But equally powerful were art classes, outdoor play, “buddy reading” programs, and parent-teacher lunches.

4. Diversity of the student body

The SPS district serves a multilingual, multicultural community — “more than 70 languages,” according to the district overview. We wanted our child to see different cultures, different stories, different ways of thinking.

5. A feel-good match

In the end I asked myself: “Does this feel right for us?” And the right answer wasn’t always the highest scoring school. It was the one where our child left class smiling, talking about something new, and wanting to go back.

My top moments and revelations

  • The first morning of school: Our child held my hand, walked into the building, and didn’t turn back. That moment told me more than any ranking ever could.

  • A teacher called one afternoon: “Your child did a wonderful thing today in class, that you may not hear about at home.” I was floored. Kindness and attention like that matter.

  • A field trip to a local forest preserve: The school partnered with the city parks department. It was pure joy watching the kids learn nature, local history, and teamwork outdoors.

  • The school fair: Parents baked, kids had booths, local community organizations joined. Suddenly the “school” felt like the heart of the neighbourhood.

Wrapping it up: what “best” truly means

When I say “best elementary schools in Spokane”, what I really mean is “the one that fits your child, your family, your story”. It’s not always the one with the highest test score or the most awards (though those are nice). It’s the one:

  • Where your child feels safe

  • Where curiosity is encouraged

  • Where you feel welcomed as a parent

  • Where diversity is celebrated

  • Where you walk into the classroom and think: “Yes, this is the right place”

If someone asked me tomorrow for suggestions, I’d say: “Go visit. Walk the halls. Talk to the teachers. Ask about their values. Ask about their students. Because the best elementary schools in Spokane aren’t just buildings: they’re living communities.”

My advice if you’re on a similar journey

  • Visit more than one school. Even two schools in the same district can have very different vibes.

  • Ask about parent-teacher collaboration. How does the school engage families?

  • Attend a school event (if possible). The way the school looks when students, parents, and teachers are all present reveals a lot.

  • Check the neighbourhood too. What’s the surrounding community like? Does it support the school?

  • Trust your gut. You might walk away from a high-ranked school because the feel isn’t right—and that’s okay.

In closing: Our story of finding one of the best elementary schools in Spokane wasn’t about chasing the top statistic or phrase in a brochure. It was about matching our child’s curiosity with a school’s openness, matching our needs as parents with a community’s values, and trusting that the right place would feel like home.

If you’re considering Spokane, I hope your journey ends as ours did — with a school that resonates, a community that uplifts, and a child who wakes up excited for the day ahead.

Here’s to the new chapter.

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