Summary:
Richland School District has 11 elementary schools serving about 5,592 students, generally from kindergarten or prekindergarten through Grade 5, in the Richland area of southeastern Washington. Academic performance varies widely: the district ranks 78th of 238 Washington districts, but school rankings range from the upper tier statewide to well below average. Across the schools, average proficiency is about 57% in English language arts (ELA), 54% in math, and 59% in science.
The strongest overall choices are Orchard Elementary and Desert Sky Elementary. Orchard ranks 145th statewide and has especially balanced ELA and math results, including the district’s highest Grade 4 math score. Desert Sky ranks just behind it and leads the district in science, with nearly 80% of students proficient. Other strong performers include William Wiley Elementary School, which has the highest Grade 5 ELA result; White Bluffs Elementary School, which is strong in science and Grade 5; and Badger Mountain Elementary, where math performance and statewide ranking have improved. Lewis & Clark Elementary School is also notable for strong results despite serving a higher proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Families comparing schools should look closely at grade and subject differences. Jason Lee Elementary School has the lowest current results and the largest ranking decline, while Sacajawea Elementary also needs attention, particularly in Grade 4. Marcus Whitman Elementary has a major science and Grade 5 weakness. Jefferson Elementary and Tapteal Elementary School have improved their rankings but show uneven results. Districtwide, science has the largest gap between schools and declined most year over year, while math improved slightly. Spending and student-teacher ratios vary, but neither consistently predicts achievement.
Thank you for your feedback!