Summary:
The Kalama School District operates three public schools serving grades K-12 on a centralized campus, ranking in the middle of Washington state districts with an overall 3-star rating for its 1,138 students.
Kalama Elementary School is the district's top academic performer, exceeding state averages in English, math, and especially science, where it shines 20 points above the state. Kalama High School stands out for its excellent 91% graduation rate, which is significantly higher than the state average, indicating strong student support systems even though its math scores are lower. In contrast, Kalama Middle School faces significant challenges, underperforming state averages in all subjects and ranking in the bottom third of state middle schools.
The most notable finding is a pronounced "middle school slump," where student proficiency, particularly in science, drops sharply after elementary school before recovering in high school. The economic background of students is consistent across all grades, suggesting the performance differences are not due to demographic shifts. The district's key task is to address the middle school gap to build on the strengths seen at the elementary and high school levels.
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