Best High Schools in Chehalis, WA

This analysis examines five high schools serving grades 5-12 in and around Chehalis, Washington, revealing a landscape with one standout traditional high school and several smaller alternative schools facing significant challenges.

W F West High School in the Chehalis School District is the clear academic leader, with the highest enrollment, a 97% graduation rate, and English proficiency exceeding the state average. In contrast, Adna Middle/High School in the Adna School District shows more variable performance, with recent ranking declines despite its district sometimes outperforming the school in subjects like math. The three alternative schools—Green Hill Academic School, Lewis County Alternative School, and Lewis County Juvenile Detention—serve vulnerable populations and have much lower graduation rates, with Green Hill's 16.1% rate being particularly notable.

Key takeaways include a surprising inverse relationship where the highest-spending school (Green Hill) has the worst outcomes, and that the Chehalis School District maintains a strong overall graduation rate. Parents should note the consistent excellence of W F West for traditional education, while understanding that the smaller alternative schools, despite lower student-teacher ratios, are designed for different student needs and face steep performance hurdles.