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Highland Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

442^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 514 Washington Middle Schools

Better than 14% of Washington middle schools

Summary

Highland Middle School in Cowiche, Washington, serves 243 students in grades 6–8 in a small, rural community within the Highland School District. The school is considerably smaller than nearby middle schools, which typically enroll about 400 to 1,200 students. Highland ranks in the 14th percentile among Washington middle schools, while its district ranks in the 27th percentile statewide. Economic need is relatively high: 76.54% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025.

Academic performance is below Washington averages in every reported subject. In 2025–2026, 32.88% of students were proficient in English language arts, 17.89% in math, and 28.05% in science. Math is the clearest concern, especially in eighth grade, where proficiency was 10.98%. For perspective, nearby Naches Valley Middle School posted higher results in all three subjects, while West Valley Mid-Level Campus had substantially higher proficiency: 50.34% in math compared with Highland’s 17.89%. Highland’s results are not the lowest across the area, however. Its ELA and science scores were higher than those at Washington Middle School and Lewis & Clark Middle School.

Performance has declined from Highland’s stronger 2020–2021 ranking, when it stood at the 42nd percentile, and has remained near the bottom of the state in recent years. Science results have also been inconsistent, while ELA is comparatively stronger but still below state expectations. The school’s 18.5-to-1 student-teacher ratio is similar to nearby schools, so its outcomes cannot be explained simply by larger classes. Highland spent $14,620 per student in 2023–2024, less than the nearby comparison schools listed in the data. The most important improvement priorities appear to be eighth-grade math, seventh-grade ELA, consistent science instruction, and stronger supports for students facing economic challenges.

243

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,620

Per pupil spending ?

76.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

17000 Summitview
Cowiche, WA 98923-9719

(509) 678-8870

District: Highland School District

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually attend:

High:

Highland High School

Feeder schools for Highland Middle School:

Elementary:

Marcus Whitman-Cowiche Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

79.0%

White:

20.6%

Asian:

0.4%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Highland Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 20th percentile in 2016 → 14th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (26% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg35%

Washington avg48%

442^nd of 514

Washington public middle schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 20% (2016) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

174^th of 238Highland 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
2026	16.6	442 of 514	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.1	459 of 534	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.1	482 of 535	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	395 of 539	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.2	370 of 541	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.1	309 of 529	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.9	346 of 512	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	20.7	354 of 437	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.7	375 of 435	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.3	355 of 443	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	32.8	302 of 445	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	31.1	370 of 498	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	34.3	349 of 497	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	18.1	435 of 492	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.9	368 of 483	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.7	363 of 476	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.0	382 of 466	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	24.6	376 of 463	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	20.5	377 of 449	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	32.6	310 of 425	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	24.5	344 of 421	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	32.8	93 of 135	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	20.3	361 of 443	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.7	388 of 471	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.2	368 of 464	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.8	368 of 464	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.6	314 of 479	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.4	245 of 469	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.9	291 of 452	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.1	303 of 376	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	276 of 347	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.5	270 of 347	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	274 of 344	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.0	170 of 336	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.8	131 of 360	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.4	100 of 353	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	48.4	166 of 344	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	29.0	192 of 259	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	24.2	364 of 453	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.4	335 of 457	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.5	370 of 455	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.0	227 of 463	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.5	147 of 475	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.1	69 of 458	84.9%	★★★★☆
2019	50.1	214 of 448	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.4	232 of 349	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	17.0	392 of 454	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.4	403 of 472	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	429 of 466	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	30.5	330 of 470	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.8	353 of 480	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.2	313 of 476	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.9	332 of 453	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.5	335 of 371	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	59.7	11 of 39	71.8%	★★★★☆
2018	36.5	30 of 43	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	262 of 453	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.2	324 of 488	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.4	281 of 488	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.2	320 of 488	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.8	199 of 480	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.9	169 of 470	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	88.8	29 of 325	91.1%	★★★★★

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)

Migrant (2019)72nd percentile+39 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile+28 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)31st percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)20th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)20th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)19th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)14th percentile~ school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts33%-20 vs state

Science28%-23 vs state

Math18%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highland Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)			SBAC English Language Arts (2026)					SBAC Math (2026)					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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Middle School	Public	6-8	17000 Summitview	Cowiche	98923	Yakima County	Highland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 678-8870	243	13	18.5	76.5%	50 (20.6%)	0 (0.0%)	192 (79.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16.6	442^nd of 514 public middle schools	14.0%		17.1	459^th of 534 public middle schools	14.0%	17		28.1	28.1		34.4	26.3	37.8	32.9		18.0	25.3	11.0	17.9	$14,620	$1,484	$13,136
Naches Valley Middle School	Public	5-8	32 Shafer Avenue	Naches	98937	Yakima County	Naches Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 653-1599	427	22	19.1	50.6%	303 (71.0%)	2 (0.5%)	104 (24.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	29	362^nd of 514 public middle schools	29.6%		35.4	336^th of 534 public middle schools	37.1%	26	37.6	31.0	34.5	32.3	33.3	52.5	38.3	39.2	25.0	17.0	33.0	27.3	25.5	$17,078	$583	$16,495
West Valley Virtual Academy 7-8	Public, Virtual	7-8	9206 Zier Road	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	Yes	No	(509) 823-2602	21	0		61.9%	16 (76.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)								(n/a)														$7,450	$90	$7,360
West Valley Mid-Level Campus	Public	6-8	7505 Zier Rd	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	West Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 972-5800	1,167	62	18.7	54.7%	612 (52.4%)	10 (0.9%)	472 (40.4%)	31 (2.7%)	8 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (2.9%)	64.5	161^st of 514 public middle schools	68.7%		60.2	186^th of 534 public middle schools	65.2%	25		44.9	44.9		55.3	56.4	45.8	52.5		45.0	46.2	60.0	50.3	$16,150	$770	$15,380
Selah Middle School	Public	6-8	411 North First Street	Selah	98942	Yakima County	Selah School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 698-8400	871	47	18.5	51.7%	508 (58.3%)	3 (0.3%)	320 (36.7%)	4 (0.5%)	10 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (2.9%)	28.3	366^th of 514 public middle schools	28.8%		24.9	414^th of 534 public middle schools	22.5%	48		41.0	41.0		35.8	44.1	29.8	36.4		25.9	31.2	24.8	27.3	$15,488	$479	$15,009
Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	902 S 44th Ave	Yakima	98908	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-2400	840	43	19.5	75.2%	170 (20.2%)	11 (1.3%)	619 (73.7%)	6 (0.7%)	8 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.1%)	24.4	389^th of 514 public middle schools	24.3%		17.4	457^th of 534 public middle schools	14.4%	68		37.1	37.1		34.9	45.0	37.6	39.3		23.4	23.0	16.7	21.0	$16,600	$1,563	$15,037
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	410 S 19th Ave	Yakima	98902	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-2100	848	42	20.1	85.0%	152 (17.9%)	16 (1.9%)	653 (77.0%)	5 (0.6%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.9%)	21.5	411^th of 514 public middle schools	20.0%		22.9	428^th of 534 public middle schools	19.9%	17		40.6	40.6		29.0	35.8	40.0	34.8		19.7	15.0	24.2	19.4	$16,374	$1,271	$15,103
Lewis & Clark Middle School	Public	6-8	1114 W Pierce St	Yakima	98902	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-2200	815	44	18.6	90.2%	60 (7.4%)	4 (0.5%)	732 (89.8%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.1%)	16.6	441^st of 514 public middle schools	14.2%		13.2	475^th of 534 public middle schools	11.0%	34		23.8	23.8		30.8	34.7	28.2	31.1		23.7	16.2	26.1	22.2	$16,537	$1,326	$15,212
Washington Middle School	Public	6-8	510 S 9th St	Yakima	98901	Yakima County	Yakima School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 573-2300	748	40	18.7	96.0%	26 (3.5%)	6 (0.8%)	699 (93.4%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.2%)	9.9	480^th of 514 public middle schools	6.6%		8.6	505^th of 534 public middle schools	5.4%	25		21.5	21.5		22.7	23.9	24.4	23.7		18.0	15.9	20.6	18.1	$16,469	$1,392	$15,077
East Valley Central Middle School	Public	6-8	2010 Beaudry Rd	Yakima	98901	Yakima County	East Valley School District (Yakima)	No	No	No	No	(509) 573-7500	792	42	18.8	62.4%	297 (37.5%)	10 (1.3%)	448 (56.6%)	5 (0.6%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	22 (2.8%)	49.8	231^st of 514 public middle schools	55.1%		38.9	313^th of 534 public middle schools	41.4%	82		52.8	52.8		46.4	52.1	50.4	49.5		34.0	36.3	30.1	33.4	$15,011	$827	$14,185

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Highland Middle School?

Students at Highland Middle School are 79% Hispanic, 21% White.

How many students attend Highland Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 243 students attended Highland Middle School.

What district is Highland Middle School in?

Highland School District

Is Highland Middle School a good school?

Highland Middle School ranks in the bottom 14.0% of Washington middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Highland Middle School attend?

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually go on to attend Highland High School

Rate Highland Middle School!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2016–17 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

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.