Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 98596

Zip code 98596 contains one public middle school, Winlock Middle School, serving grades 6-8 in the community of Winlock, Washington, as part of the Winlock School District.

This school faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom quarter of Washington middle schools over the past three years. Student proficiency rates are well below state averages in all core subjects, with mathematics being a particular area of concern at only 15.86% proficiency. Performance is consistently low across all three grade levels, suggesting systemic instructional issues. Notably, the school's statewide ranking fell sharply in the most recent year, dropping to the 10th percentile.

Context is important for understanding this school's profile. It serves a high-need population, with over two-thirds of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this, the school's per-student spending of over $16,000 is relatively high, indicating that resource allocation and effectiveness, rather than sheer funding, may be key issues. As the only middle school in the area, it represents the sole public option for families in this zip code, and its struggles mirror those of the broader Winlock School District, which itself ranks in the bottom quartile statewide.