High Schools in Kelso School District

The Kelso School District operates three public high schools serving grades 9-12, with a total enrollment of 1,416 students, anchored by the large comprehensive Kelso High School alongside two much smaller alternative programs, Loowit High School and Kelso Goal Oriented Learning Design.

Kelso High School is the district's primary high school, educating over 98% of students and achieving a strong 90.2% graduation rate that exceeds state averages. However, its academic proficiency shows a mixed picture, with English scores meeting the state average but math proficiency notably low at 14.83%. The two alternative schools serve very small populations of students, typically with higher economic need, and have faced significant historical challenges with graduation rates, though current-year data is not reported.

Key considerations for families include the stark differences in school environment and resources. While Kelso High receives the most funding per student and has a lower student-teacher ratio, the alternative schools operate with less funding and higher ratios despite serving students who may need more support. All three schools share the same address, suggesting a centralized campus. The district outperforms the state in keeping students in school but faces a critical need to improve math achievement at its main comprehensive high school.