Phil Snowdon Elementary

Phil Snowdon Elementary is a mid-tier elementary school in Cheney, Washington, overseen by Cheney School District. The school hosts 525 students in grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 38% above the typical public school in Washington, which averages around 380 students.

Within Cheney School District, which oversees 12 schools and 5,662 students, Phil Snowdon Elementary is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Phil Snowdon Elementary shows that 71% of the student body identifies as White. The remainder reads as 13% Hispanic, 7% multiracial, 5% Pacific Islander, 2% Black. By comparison, Spokane County as a whole is about 83% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, Phil Snowdon Elementary shows 33 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.3:1, putting Phil Snowdon Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 53% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

After controlling for student poverty, Phil Snowdon Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 44.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 49.3%.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Spokane County put median household earnings sit near $78,582, roughly 33% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Phil Snowdon Elementary is one of 187 public schools in Spokane County (combined enrollment of about 76,588 students).

Nearest neighbor: Windsor Elementary, around 2.0 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 5 other public schools cluster around Phil Snowdon Elementary. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Phil Snowdon Elementary at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 47.1%.

Phil Snowdon Elementary operates from a rural location.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Phil Snowdon Elementary has climbed 6%, going from 497 students in 2018 to 525 in 2025. The White share of enrollment fell from 80% to 71% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 17.9:1 in 2018 to 15.9:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.