Connell High School

Connell High School is a public grades 9–12 school in the small community of Connell, Washington, serving 615 students in the North Franklin School District. The school serves a relatively high-need population, with 71.38% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and has a student-teacher ratio of 19.3 to 1. Its overall ranking—312th of 396 Washington high schools, at the 21st percentile—remains low, although it has improved from the previous two years.

The clearest strength is graduation: 97.3% of students graduated in 2024–2025, compared with 94.8% for the district and 82.6% statewide. English Language Arts is another encouraging area. All-grades ELA proficiency rose sharply to 55.47% in 2025–2026, slightly above the state result of 52.81% and well above the district’s 36.56%. Math is the major concern: only 12.5% of students were proficient, compared with 25.37% districtwide and 43.11% statewide. Science proficiency was 28.15%, also well below the state’s 50.95%, after declining from 39.39% the prior year. Families may therefore see a school that is effective at helping students graduate but needs sustained improvement in academic readiness, especially in math and science.

Compared with the larger nearby Othello High School, Connell reported stronger 2025–2026 results in ELA, math, and science, as well as a higher graduation rate—97.3% versus 90.0%—despite serving a similarly high-need community. The very small Palouse Junction High School has a different alternative-program setting, and its test results were suppressed, so it is not a direct academic comparison. CRCC-Open Doors and Open Door Re-Engagement are also very small specialized programs. Overall, Connell’s priorities are extending its ELA progress, strengthening math and science instruction, and ensuring gains reach English learners and students from low-income backgrounds.