Wahkiakum School District

Wahkiakum School District is a small Washington district serving about 399 students in two schools covering kindergarten through 12th grade: a combined K–8 school and a high school. The district ranks 60th out of 238 Washington districts, placing it around the 75th percentile, and has a four-star rating. The Julius A Wendt Elementary/John C Thomas Middle School serves 272 students, while Wahkiakum High School serves 127.

Wahkiakum High School is the stronger school by statewide ranking, placing 102nd out of 396 high schools, or around the 74th percentile. Its ranking improved substantially over three years, rising from the 54th percentile to the mid-70s. Science is its standout subject: 57.58% of students were proficient, compared with 50.95% statewide. Math is a concern, however, with 37.5% proficient compared with 43.11% statewide, and the current English Language Arts result is suppressed, so it cannot be evaluated. The school’s prior graduation rate was strong at 91.6%, though that figure is from 2021–2022 and should be updated before making current comparisons.

Julius A Wendt Elementary/John C Thomas Middle School ranks around the 58th percentile and improved from two stars to three stars in the latest year. It raised proficiency in English Language Arts, math, and science, with the largest gains in math and science. Science is slightly above the state overall, while math remains below the state. Results vary considerably by grade: sixth-grade ELA and fifth-grade math and science are strengths, while third-grade ELA, fourth-grade math, and eighth-grade science need attention. Across both schools, science is the district’s clearest strength and math the most consistent challenge. Small enrollment means yearly percentages can shift noticeably, and suppressed scores should be treated as unknown rather than low performance.