Best Public Schools in Zip Code 99349

This analysis covers six public schools in the Wahluke School District serving approximately 2,300 students in grades K-12 in Mattawa, WA, an area where economic need is high across all schools.

Among these schools, Wahluke High School stands out for its stronger performance, with a graduation rate above the state average and the highest test scores in the district, showing consistent improvement in recent years. In contrast, the elementary and middle schools, including Wahluke Junior High, Saddle Mountain Elementary, and Morris Schott Elementary, have significantly lower proficiency rates in core subjects compared to state averages. Sentinel Technical Alt School, a small alternative school, has very different metrics, including a high dropout rate and an exceptionally high student-teacher ratio.

Overall, the Wahluke School District faces the challenge of low standardized test scores district-wide, but Wahluke High School demonstrates that positive outcomes like high graduation rates are achievable. There is a notable disconnect between school spending and academic results, with the highest-spending school having the lowest proficiency. The district's improvement at the high school level offers a potential model for strengthening earlier grades.