Best High Schools in Zip Code 98597

This analysis covers two public high schools serving grades 9-12 in zip code 98597, which corresponds to Yelm, Washington, both operated by the Yelm School District.

Parents will find a significant contrast between the two options. Yelm High School 12 is the district's main, much larger high school and performs stronger academically, particularly in English Language Arts where it exceeds the state average. It also boasts a higher graduation rate and lower dropout rate than its counterpart. The smaller Yelm Extension School appears to serve a different student population, with notably lower test scores and graduation rates, which may reflect its role as an alternative education program.

Key considerations include a substantial funding gap, with Yelm High School 12 receiving significantly more per student, and a shared district-wide challenge in mathematics, where even the higher-performing school falls below state averages. While the main high school shows stable, mid-tier performance statewide, the extension school's rankings have declined sharply in recent years. Overall, the Yelm School District itself is ranked in the middle compared to other districts in Washington.