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University High School

Q: Is University High School a good school?

University High School ranks 191 st of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

191^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Washington High Schools

Better than 56% of Washington high schools

Summary

University High School is a large public high school serving grades 9-12 with about 1,410 students in Spokane Valley, Washington, operating within the Central Valley School District and ranking slightly above average in the state.

The school has clear strengths, including an excellent graduation rate of 93.7% and strong English Language Arts proficiency that beats state averages. However, it faces significant challenges in math and science, where its proficiency scores lag behind both the district and state. Compared to similar-sized Central Valley High School, University High offers a slightly lower student-teacher ratio but generally similar performance, while the selective Stem Academy at SVT far outperforms in academics. The school's statewide ranking has been volatile over the last decade, dropping during the pandemic but showing recent recovery.

An interesting finding is the school's varied effectiveness with different student groups, showing particular success with one subgroup while others perform below average, suggesting a focus on targeted support. Its per-student spending is higher than some peers, yet math and science outcomes remain an area for improvement. Overall, University High serves as a solid, mid-tier option in the area—stronger in graduation and English than many, but not a top academic performer like the specialized Stem Academy at SVT.

1,410

Students ?

19.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,397

Per pupil spending ?

43.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12420 E 32nd Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99216-0140

(509) 558-6040

District: Central Valley School District

Feeder schools for University High School:

Elementary:	Chester Elementary School
	McDonald Elementary School
	Opportunity Elementary
	Ponderosa Elementary
	More...
	South Pines Elementary
	University Elementary School
Middle:	Bowdish Middle School
	Horizon Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.4%

Hispanic:

5.0%

African American:

4.0%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare University High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 46th percentile in 2015 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Washington median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Central Valley School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg54%

Washington avg48%

191^st of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 5High Schools in the Central Valley School District

64^th of 247Central Valley School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	191 of 438	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.0	164 of 437	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.8	168 of 442	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.6	177 of 434	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.5	296 of 455	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.3	110 of 417	73.6%	★★★★☆
2018	51.2	180 of 315	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	80.7	44 of 301	85.4%	★★★★☆
2016	84.8	31 of 306	89.9%	★★★★★
2015	45.6	185 of 341	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	68.2	112 of 454	75.3%	★★★★☆
2012	74.0	51 of 450	88.7%	★★★★☆
2011	67.4	89 of 440	79.8%	★★★★☆
2010	65.4	157 of 423	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	59.7	188 of 402	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.2	166 of 396	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.7	155 of 399	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	71.5	100 of 395	74.7%	★★★★☆
2005	84.1	39 of 394	90.1%	★★★★★
2004	76.8	79 of 390	79.7%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	56.1	43 of 111	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	45.3	190 of 350	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	170 of 347	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.6	151 of 357	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.6	177 of 368	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.6	277 of 390	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	70.3	96 of 358	73.2%	★★★★☆
2018	52.5	136 of 243	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	87.5	23 of 248	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	60.1	80 of 249	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.9	82 of 261	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.9	59 of 278	78.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	56.0	137 of 355	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.1	149 of 356	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.5	190 of 362	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.6	165 of 370	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	100 of 392	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	71.7	71 of 344	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	43.1	148 of 227	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	150 of 359	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.8	132 of 362	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.3	150 of 358	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.4	147 of 363	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.7	258 of 395	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.5	108 of 355	69.6%	★★★★☆
2018	43.9	161 of 254	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	23.0	140 of 170	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	136 of 166	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	157 of 179	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.0	187 of 195	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	64.7	46 of 163	71.8%	★★★★☆
2018	50.1	52 of 91	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	32.9	80 of 127	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.4	126 of 139	9.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	40.8	225 of 373	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.6	193 of 374	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.3	200 of 379	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.1	195 of 390	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	25.1	330 of 413	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.7	142 of 382	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.4	168 of 222	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2024)91st percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile+5 vs school

African American (2021)61st percentile+26 vs school

Male (2025)58th percentile~ school

Female (2025)46th percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)40th percentile-17 vs school

Special Education (2025)37th percentile-19 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)18th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts66%+13 vs state

Science46%-4 vs state

Math36%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near University High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)			SBAC English Language Arts (2025)		SBAC Math (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science 11th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 10th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
University High School	Public	9-12	12420 E 32nd Ave	Spokane Valley	99216	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-6040	1,410	71	19.9	43.2%	1,176 (83.4%)	56 (4.0%)	71 (5.0%)	15 (1.1%)	14 (1.0%)	19 (1.3%)	55 (3.9%)	53.7	191^st of 438 public high schools	56.4%		58	164^th of 437 public high schools	62.5%	27		45.6	45.6	65.6	65.6	35.8	35.8	$16,397	$196	$16,200
Central Valley Virtual Learning High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	13208 E. Sprague Avenue	Spokane Valley	99216	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(509) 558-5515	108	0		55.6%	81 (75.0%)	4 (3.7%)	8 (7.4%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (13.0%)								(n/a)
Spokane Valley Technical Skills Center	Public	9-12	115 S University Rd	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 228-5600	28	0		10.7%	28 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)								$18,326	$86	$18,241
Dishman Hills High School	Public	8-12	115 S University	Spokane	99206	Spokane County	West Valley School District (Spokane)	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 927-1100	296	14	21.0	78.4%	206 (69.6%)	17 (5.7%)	46 (15.5%)	4 (1.4%)	11 (3.7%)	2 (0.7%)	7 (2.4%)	7.6	422^nd of 438 public high schools	3.7%		4.7	431^st of 437 public high schools	1.4%	9	26.7	27.4	27.3	30.8	26.8	7.7	7.1	$13,036	$849	$12,187
Stem Academy at SVT	Public	9-12	115 S. University Road	Spokane Valley	99206	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-6500	190	12	15.8	21.6%	169 (88.9%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (3.2%)	4 (2.1%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.7%)	95.2	21^st of 438 public high schools	95.2%		94.1	22^nd of 437 public high schools	95.0%	1		87.0	87.0	87.5	87.5	58.3	58.3	$15,651	$86	$15,565
Central Valley High School	Public	9-12	821 S Sullivan Rd	Spokane Valley	99037	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-5100	1,380	63	21.9	42.4%	1,042 (75.5%)	33 (2.4%)	104 (7.5%)	45 (3.3%)	19 (1.4%)	43 (3.1%)	90 (6.5%)	63.9	137^th of 438 public high schools	68.7%		58.2	163^rd of 437 public high schools	62.7%	26		56.1	56.1	67.3	67.3	37.8	37.8	$15,745	$86	$15,659
Mica Peak High School	Public	9-12	15111 E Sprague Ave	Spokane Valley	99037	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-5950	107	15	7.1	56.1%	83 (77.6%)	2 (1.9%)	7 (6.5%)	1 (0.9%)	4 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (6.5%)	26.2	334^th of 438 public high schools	23.7%		23.9	346^th of 437 public high schools	20.8%	12		37.9	37.9	50.0	50.0	20.7	20.7	$41,400	$1,395	$40,005
School to Life	Public	12	15111 E Sprague Ave	Spokane Valley	99037	Spokane County	Central Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 558-5950	38	0		71.1%	32 (84.2%)	1 (2.6%)	2 (5.3%)	2 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)								(n/a)								$3,047	$86	$2,961
Spokane Valley High School	Public	9-12	2011 N Hutchinson	Spokane	99212	Spokane County	West Valley School District (Spokane)	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 922-5475	229	10	22.3	62.9%	182 (79.5%)	4 (1.7%)	27 (11.8%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.3%)	10 (4.4%)	14.9	385^th of 438 public high schools	12.1%		20.7	358^th of 437 public high schools	18.1%	27		35.5	35.5	40.4	40.4	10.5	10.5	$13,339	$761	$12,578
Open Doors re-engagement	Public	9-12	2805 N Argonne	Spokane	99212	Spokane County	West Valley School District (Spokane)	No	No	No	No	(509) 924-2150	3	0			3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)								$4,163	$262	$3,902

Frequently Asked Questions about University High School

Is University High School a good school?

University High School ranks 191^st of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of University High School?

Students at University High School are 83% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander, 1% Asian.

How many students attend University High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,410 students attended University High School.

What district is University High School in?

Central Valley School District

What schools feed into University High School?

University High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Chester Elementary School
Elementary : McDonald Elementary School
Elementary : Opportunity Elementary
Elementary : Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary : South Pines Elementary
Elementary : University Elementary School
Middle : Bowdish Middle School
Middle : Horizon Middle School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.