Summary
Orchard Middle School is a public school in Wenatchee, Washington, serving 395 students in grades 6–8 within the Wenatchee School District. Located near several other middle and junior high schools, Orchard serves a relatively high-need community: 76.71% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The student-teacher ratio was 16.8, and reported spending was $19,157 per student. Orchard ranked in the 23rd percentile among Washington middle schools in 2025–26, an improvement from the 10th percentile in 2020–21, but it remains below the statewide midpoint.
Academic performance is below both the district and state averages, with math the clearest challenge. In 2025–26, 38.98% of students were proficient in English language arts, 21.02% in math, and 30.94% in science. The eighth-grade results deserve particular attention: 32.37% were proficient in ELA and just 13.67% in math. Orchard is very similar to nearby Pioneer Middle School, which has a similarly high free- or reduced-price lunch rate. Orchard is substantially behind Foothills Middle School, which reported 56.52% ELA, 34.31% math, and 52.33% science proficiency, although Foothills serves a less economically disadvantaged student population. Results are also broadly comparable with Eastmont Junior High, where Orchard performed slightly better in science.
There are encouraging signs: ELA proficiency increased 10.13 percentage points from 2022–23 to 2025–26, and science has recovered from a recent low. Math, however, has remained near 20% for four years, indicating a need for sustained instructional support, especially in eighth grade. Orchard also trails stronger nearby schools such as Sterling Junior High School, Cashmere Middle School, and Icicle River Middle School. Overall, Orchard’s direction is positive, but the most important improvement priorities are math achievement, eighth-grade instruction, and making sure available resources translate into stronger outcomes.
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