Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98241

ZIP code 98241 has two schools serving students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in the Darrington area: Darrington Elementary School serves PK–8, while Darrington High School serves grades 9–12.

Together, the schools enroll 464 students and are part of the Darrington School District. The elementary school is much larger, with 351 students, compared with 113 at the high school. Both schools have relatively high free- and reduced-price lunch participation, at about 62% in elementary school and 58% in high school. Student-teacher ratios are lower at the high school—12.4 compared with 15.3—although these figures do not necessarily represent actual class sizes. The district as a whole has a low statewide ranking, but the two schools perform quite differently.

Darrington High School is the stronger-performing school. Its latest ranking places it at the 52nd percentile statewide, up from the 44th percentile the previous year. It performed above the district in English, math, and science, with especially strong science results: 63.64% proficient, above both the district and state. Math remains a significant weakness at 21.88% proficient. Darrington Elementary School improved slightly to the 9th percentile but remains in the bottom tenth statewide. Its proficiency rates were below state results in every reported subject, with the greatest concerns in elementary English and math. Across both schools, improving math is a key priority, while high school science is the clearest area of strength. Because the high school is small, year-to-year assessment percentages may change noticeably with relatively few students.