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Colton School

Q: Is Colton School a good school?

Colton School ranks 321 st of 1160 Washington alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

321^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Alternative Schools

Better than 72% of Washington alternative schools

Summary

Colton School is a small, rural alternative school serving about 166 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the Colton School District, offering a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 11-to-1.

Academic performance at the school shows a mixed picture with notable strengths and challenges. Some elementary and middle grades, particularly 3rd, 4th, and 6th, perform well in English and math, often above state averages. However, there is a significant drop in performance in 7th and 8th grades, and science scores are a particular area of concern, falling well below the state average. The school invests significantly more money per student than nearby schools, but this high level of funding does not consistently translate into higher test scores across all subjects.

When compared to other alternative schools like Special Services in the Clarkston School District and Discovery Virtual School, Colton's model is quite different. It spends much more per student and has a far lower student-teacher ratio, yet Discovery Virtual School achieves comparable or better results in some subjects with a higher ratio and lower spending. This comparison highlights that Colton's considerable resources present both an opportunity for personalized attention and a question about how to most effectively use that investment to improve outcomes, especially in middle school and science.

166

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,635

Per pupil spending ?

29.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

706 Union
Colton, WA 99113

(509) 229-3386

District: Colton School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.6%

Hispanic:

6.0%

Two or more races:

1.2%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Colton School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 82nd percentile in 2022 → 44th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Washington median (72nd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (38% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 82nd-percentile peak (2022) to 44th (2025)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg38%

Washington avg48%

Elementary school

321^st of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From top 35% (2015) to top 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

298^th of 534

Washington public middle schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From top 43% (2015) to bottom 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	69.0	321 of 1160	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	70.0	320 of 1168	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	42.2	660 of 1169	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.7	429 of 1169	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.4	672 of 1107	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.5	815 of 1130	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	67.0	348 of 1054	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	73.0	273 of 1056	74.1%	★★★★☆
2016	52.1	505 of 1053	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.4	375 of 1067	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	74.2	249 of 1106	77.5%	★★★★☆
2012	80.9	140 of 1097	87.2%	★★★★☆
2011	61.0	417 of 1092	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.4	461 of 1088	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.9	404 of 1072	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.1	516 of 1067	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.3	358 of 1069	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.2	503 of 1051	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	85.7	111 of 1031	89.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	42.1	601 of 979	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	13.7	976 of 1075	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	54.8	453 of 1007	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.6	563 of 1011	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	60.1	394 of 1031	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	19.6	796 of 943	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.1	874 of 1027	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	41.3	298 of 534	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	261 of 535	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	24.3	416 of 541	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.4	383 of 529	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	82.0	67 of 435	84.6%	★★★★☆
2016	64.7	148 of 443	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.0	191 of 445	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.9	149 of 498	70.1%	★★★★☆
2012	60.8	177 of 497	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.4	257 of 492	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	65.7	142 of 483	70.6%	★★★★☆
2009	55.4	204 of 476	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.1	142 of 466	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	68.5	118 of 463	74.5%	★★★★☆
2006	55.8	187 of 449	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	75.7	91 of 425	78.6%	★★★★☆
2004	54.6	192 of 421	54.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	35.5	320 of 488	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	11.6	458 of 488	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.7	398 of 480	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	78.4	76 of 434	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	54.4	189 of 417	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.8	44 of 315	86.0%	★★★★☆
2017	78.9	51 of 301	83.1%	★★★★☆
2016	90.0	14 of 306	95.4%	★★★★★
2013	73.5	59 of 454	87.0%	★★★★☆
2012	69.0	91 of 450	79.8%	★★★★☆
2011	82.5	17 of 440	96.1%	★★★★★
2010	95.6	2 of 423	99.5%	★★★★★
2009	86.6	27 of 402	93.3%	★★★★★
2008	91.6	9 of 396	97.7%	★★★★★
2007	91.4	8 of 399	98.0%	★★★★★
2006	93.7	6 of 395	98.5%	★★★★★
2005	84.0	40 of 394	89.8%	★★★★★
2004	86.2	33 of 390	91.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	61.0	144 of 390	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.7	223 of 382	41.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

White (2025)55th percentile-17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)39th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2019)9th percentile-19 vs school

Middle school

White (2025)34th percentile-10 vs school

High school

White (2022)63rd percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts45%-8 vs state

Math38%-4 vs state

Science31%-19 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, September 18, 2021

Some children who are related to the teachers don't get in trouble with any of the staff including their own parents. The school needs be fair even when it comes to being in trouble. It's honestly embarrassing for the school. Close Quote

Schools Near Colton School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)							SBAC Math (2025)				% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Colton School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	706 Union	Colton	99113	Whitman County	Colton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 229-3386	166	15	11.0	29.5%	152 (91.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)								(n/a)	27.3	30.8	60.0	54.6	70.6	40.0	27.3		44.7	45.5	52.9	27.3	38.2	90.0	90.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	90.0	90.0	100.0	90.0	90.0	$25,635	$1,485	$24,150
Special Services	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1294 Chestnut St	Clarkston	99403	Asotin County	Clarkston School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 758-3309	54	0		72.2%	40 (74.1%)	2 (3.7%)	6 (11.1%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	4 (7.4%)								(n/a)																								$4,572	$444	$4,128
Discovery Virtual School	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1294 Chestnut Street	Clarkston	99403	Asotin County	Clarkston School District	No	No	Yes	No	(509) 769-5534	98	2	45.3	33.7%	68 (69.4%)	3 (3.1%)	8 (8.2%)	4 (4.1%)	1 (1.0%)	3 (3.1%)	9 (9.2%)								(n/a)	50.0	45.5					50.0	62.5	52.4															$14,998	$2,962	$12,035

Frequently Asked Questions about Colton School

How many students attend Colton School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 166 students attended Colton School.

Is Colton School a good school?

Colton School ranks 321^st of 1160 Washington alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Colton School in?

Colton School District

What is the racial makeup of Colton School?

Students at Colton School are 92% White, 6% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

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Schools in Colton, WA

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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.