Best Public Schools in Castle Rock, WA

Castle Rock, Washington, has four schools serving about 1,484 students in preschool through grade 12, all within the Castle Rock School District. The schools include Castle Rock Elementary for PK–5, Castle Rock Middle School for grades 6–8, Castle Rock High School for grades 9–12, and Castle Rock Virtual Academy for K–12. Elementary enrollment is the largest share of the student population, while the Virtual Academy serves only 13 students and has limited comparable performance data.

Castle Rock Elementary and Castle Rock High School have the highest current school-ranking percentile, both at the 30th percentile. Elementary is the strongest school in science, with 61.86% of students proficient, above the state rate, and its math performance is stronger than the district average. High school stands out for English Language Arts, with 55.21% proficiency, and for its 88% graduation rate, which exceeds both district and state results. However, high school math is a significant weakness, with only 16.67% proficiency. The elementary school’s main areas for attention are fourth-grade ELA and fifth-grade math.

Castle Rock Middle School has the strongest improvement trend, rising from the 6th to the 22nd percentile over three years. Its ELA, math, and science results all improved year over year, although its overall performance remains below state averages, particularly in eighth-grade math, where proficiency was 16.09%. Mathematics is the most important districtwide concern, declining from 33.92% proficiency in elementary school to 22.51% in middle school and 16.67% in high school. Parents may also want to note the sharp drop in science after elementary school. Overall, the district shows positive momentum, but its highest priorities are coordinated K–12 math support, stronger secondary science, and continued attention to student progress and graduation.