High Schools in Yelm School District

The Yelm School District operates two high schools, Yelm High School 12 and Yelm Extension School, both serving grades 9-12 in the Yelm, Washington area.

Yelm High School 12 is the district's main comprehensive high school with nearly 1,700 students, and it generally performs stronger academically than the alternative school. It has a solid graduation rate of 82.2% and excels particularly in English Language Arts, where over 64% of students are proficient. However, its math and science proficiency rates are below state averages. In comparison, Yelm Extension School is a much smaller alternative school of about 116 students, with significantly lower graduation (59.5%) and proficiency rates, reflecting the different student population it serves.

Key takeaways for parents include a notable performance gap between the two schools and a district-wide need to improve math and science outcomes. The alternative school faces steep challenges, with a dropout rate nearly double the state average. There is also a substantial difference in per-student spending between the schools, with the main high school receiving over $6,000 more per student. Both schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, which is an important factor for the Yelm School District to consider in its support strategies.