Summary:
Yelm, Washington, has 9 public schools in the Yelm School District, serving elementary, middle, and high school students across a community southeast of the Olympia area; the schools enroll about 5,253 students and include five elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
Among elementary schools, Fort Stevens Elementary is the strongest overall performer, ranking in the 74th state percentile and posting about 60% or higher proficiency in English language arts, math, and science. Its low student-teacher ratio is also a positive feature. Yelm Prairie Elementary stands out in science, while Lackamas Elementary has shown the most dramatic improvement, especially in English and science. Mill Pond Elementary School currently performs above district averages in English and math but has experienced noticeable year-to-year ranking changes. Southworth Elementary has the weakest current elementary results, particularly in math and English, making it an important focus for improvement.
The two middle schools are closely matched: Yelm Middle School has a slightly higher current ranking, while Ridgeline Middle School shows consistent performance and several strong grade-level results. Science is generally the district’s strongest subject, while math is the clearest challenge in middle and high school. Yelm High School 12 is the strongest high school, with an 82.2% graduation rate, strong English results, and a major recent ranking improvement, though math remains weak. Yelm Extension School serves a smaller, nontraditional student population and has lower graduation and higher dropout rates, indicating a need for added persistence and academic supports. Overall, parents may want to compare schools by grade level and subject, with secondary math and differences among elementary schools receiving the closest attention.
Thank you for your feedback!