Summary:
Schools in ZIP code 98629 include four public schools serving about 1,823 students in the La Center area, with programs ranging from pre-K through grade 12, including a small K–12 alternative school. All are part of the La Center School District, which ranks 49th of 238 Washington districts, placing it in the 79th percentile statewide.
La Center High School stands out for its excellent English language arts results and graduation outcomes. In 2025–2026, 84.33% of students were proficient in ELA, far above the district and state results, while the 2024–2025 graduation rate was 95.4% and the dropout rate was only 2.2%. Math and science were weaker, however, with both below state proficiency levels. La Center Elementary is another major strength, particularly in science, where 70.59% of students were proficient. It also improved substantially in statewide rankings, moving from the 49th to the 76th percentile over three years. Elementary math was above the state average overall, although third- and fourth-grade results were areas to watch.
La Center Middle School has a more moderate profile, ranking in the 54th percentile and scoring below the state in overall ELA, math, and science. Eighth-grade math and sixth-grade ELA were particular concerns, making the middle-school years an important point for academic support. La Center Academy serves just 38 students, so its results can fluctuate significantly and are less directly comparable. Its ELA performance was above the state level, while math was much lower; some science results were suppressed and therefore unknown. Overall, the area offers strong high-school completion and ELA outcomes, impressive elementary science performance, and a clear districtwide need to strengthen math achievement.
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