Summary:
Palouse, Washington, has four small schools serving students from preschool through 12th grade: Palouse Elementary, Palouse at Garfield Middle School, Palouse High School, and Garfield at Palouse High School. Together they enroll 236 students, with schools from both the Palouse School District and the Garfield School District located at or near the same Alder Street campus.
Palouse Elementary is the clearest recent success story. Its ranking rose from the 42nd percentile in 2022–2023 to the 70th percentile in 2024–2025, and its 2024–2025 reading, math, and science results all exceeded state averages. Math was especially strong, with 68.89% of students proficient compared with 42.63% statewide. Among the high schools, Palouse High School had the highest latest ranking, at the 75th percentile, while reporting particularly strong science results in 2024–2025. Garfield at Palouse High School also stood out in science, reaching 76.92% proficiency in 2024–2025 and ranking as high as the 91st percentile that year.
The main area for parents to examine closely is Palouse at Garfield Middle School. Its ranking fell from the 72nd percentile to the 26th percentile over the available two-year period, while reading proficiency dropped from 70.00% to 45.71%. Math was below the state average in both years. Math was also below the state average at both high schools in 2025–2026, although current results are often suppressed. Because these schools are very small, yearly percentages and rankings can change substantially when only a few students are involved. Families should therefore consider multi-year trends, course offerings, school climate, and current information from each district rather than relying on a single ranking.
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