Best Public Schools in Othello, WA

Othello, Washington, has seven public schools serving about 4,391 students from elementary through high school, including four elementary schools, one middle school, one traditional high school, and one re-engagement program. All are part of the Othello School District, which ranks 194th out of 238 Washington districts in the supplied data. Most schools serve a high-need community, with roughly 79% to 85% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Among elementary schools, Wahitis Elementary School has the strongest current test results, leading the elementary schools in ELA, math, and science. However, its statewide ranking declined recently, so families may want to watch whether that trend continues. Scootney Springs Elementary has shown the largest ranking improvement, rising from the 13th to the 46th percentile over two years, with especially solid ELA and math results. Lutacaga Elementary improved in all three subjects and has strong recent momentum. Hiawatha Elementary School has comparatively lower ELA and science results, although its third-grade math performance is a notable strength. Across the elementary schools, science results vary widely and remain an important area for improvement.

Othello High School has the district’s strongest graduation outcomes: a 90% graduation rate and a 7.1% dropout rate, both better than district and state comparisons. Its main concern is academic proficiency, especially math, where only 10.46% of students are proficient. McFarland Middle School has improved modestly, particularly in science, but math remains its weakest subject. The small Open Door Re-Engagement program serves a specialized student population, so its results are not directly comparable with the traditional schools. Overall, families should see elementary achievement as mixed but improving in some schools, while secondary math and districtwide science are the clearest priorities.