Kennewick School District

The Kennewick School District includes 30 schools serving elementary, middle, and high-school students in the Kennewick, Washington, area, along with alternative and specialized programs. Overall, the district ranks 124th of 238 Washington districts, placing it near the state midpoint. The strongest elementary results come from Amon Creek Elementary, Cottonwood Elementary, and Ridge View Elementary School. These schools generally report proficiency near or above 70% in at least two subjects. Cottonwood Elementary leads science at 79.21%, while Ridge View Elementary School has the highest elementary ELA result at 71.37%.

Among middle schools, Desert Hills Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide and outperforming the state comparison in ELA, math, and science. Its math proficiency of 50.92% is especially strong compared with the district’s 36.83%. Other middle schools, including Chinook Middle School, Horse Heaven Hills Middle School, Park Middle School, and Highlands Middle School, have more modest results, although all five middle schools improved in science during the latest year. At the high-school level, Kamiakin High School has the strongest overall profile, including 90.8% graduation, 3.8% dropout, and 67.94% ELA proficiency. Kennewick High School and Southridge High School have also made notable ranking gains.

For families comparing schools, math is the district’s most consistent academic weakness, particularly in middle and high school. The three comprehensive high schools average about 29% math proficiency despite graduation rates above both district and state averages. Elementary performance varies widely: Amistad Elementary School and Eastgate Elementary School report some of the lowest results, while Southgate Elementary School, Vista Elementary School, and Lincoln Elementary School show encouraging results or improvement despite serving substantial student needs. Alternative programs such as Legacy High School, Endeavor High School, and Phoenix High School should be judged separately because they serve different student populations and missions. Suppressed results at some small schools also limit direct comparisons.