Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 98901

ZIP code 98901 has two public middle schools serving grades 6–8: East Valley Central Middle School and Washington Middle School, serving 1,540 students across the East Valley and Yakima school systems in the Yakima area.

East Valley Central Middle School is the stronger-performing option based on the available rankings and test results. It ranks in the 55th statewide percentile, compared with the 7th percentile for Washington Middle School. In 2025–26, East Valley Central reported proficiency rates of 49.53% in English language arts, 33.42% in math, and 52.80% in science. Washington Middle reported 23.68%, 18.10%, and 21.46%, respectively. East Valley Central’s science result was slightly above the state average, while its math performance was its main academic weakness. The school also improved notably in its latest ranking year.

Washington Middle School serves a substantially higher-need student population, with 95.99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, compared with 62.37% at East Valley Central. This context is important when reviewing achievement results, though it does not by itself explain school performance. Washington Middle showed encouraging science growth, rising 9.38 percentage points in one year, but its results remained well below district and state averages in all three subjects. Both schools had similar student-teacher ratios, while Washington Middle reported higher spending per student. For families comparing the schools, East Valley Central currently offers stronger academic outcomes, while Washington Middle’s recent science improvement is a positive sign to monitor. The schools belong to the East Valley School District (Yakima) and Yakima School District, respectively.