Best Public Schools in Elma, WA

Elma, Washington, is served by six public schools across two districts, educating approximately 1,857 students from Pre-K through 12th grade in a mix of traditional and alternative settings with high levels of economic need.

Among traditional schools, Elma High School stands out for its strong 91.4% graduation rate and excellent English proficiency, though its math scores are notably low. Elma Elementary School also performs well academically compared to district averages. In contrast, the alternative schools face significant challenges: East Grays Harbor Open Doors has a very low graduation rate and high dropout rate, while Eagle Virtual Sky Academy operates with a very high student-teacher ratio.

The data reveals interesting disparities in resource allocation and outcomes. Mary M. Knight School, an alternative school in the Mary M Knight School District, spends far more per student than any other school but has low test scores, while schools in the Elma School District generally achieve better results with lower spending. For parents, the key takeaway is that while traditional Elma schools show strengths, particularly in graduation rates and English, math performance is an area for improvement across the board, and alternative schools serve high-need populations with mixed results.