Schools in Zip Code 98923

Schools in ZIP code 98923 include three schools serving grades PK–12: Marcus Whitman-Cowiche Elementary (PK–2), Highland Middle School (6–8), and Highland High School (9–12), all part of the Highland School District. Together, they enroll 858 students in a small rural-area school system. The district ranks 174th among 238 Washington districts in the supplied data, placing it near the 27th percentile.

Highland High School is the clearest bright spot. Its 92% graduation rate is above the Washington average of 82.6%, and 67.5% of students met the English language arts standard, well above both the district and state results. However, math proficiency was only 17.72% and science proficiency was 32.95%, both substantially below state averages. The school’s recent ranking also declined, so families should view its strong graduation and ELA results alongside its significant math and science challenges. The high school has the largest enrollment and the highest student-teacher ratio of the three schools.

Highland Middle School appears to need the most academic attention. It ranks in the lower portion of the state, although its ranking has improved modestly over three years. Current proficiency rates were below state levels in ELA, math, and science, with math especially weak in eighth grade. The school also has the highest reported free/reduced-price lunch rate and the lowest spending per student in the group. By comparison, Marcus Whitman-Cowiche Elementary has the most favorable student-teacher ratio and highest spending per student, though academic test results were not provided. Overall, math improvement across the middle and high schools, stronger middle-to-high-school academic transitions, and continued monitoring of high-school outcomes are the main priorities suggested by the data.