Summary:
ZIP code 99349 has two high schools serving grades 9–12 at Wahluke High School and grades 6–12 at Sentinel Technical Alt School, with 786 students combined in an area where both schools serve communities with very high economic need.
Wahluke High School is the larger traditional high school, enrolling about 750 students. Its strongest results are in keeping students on track to graduate: the 2024–2025 graduation rate was 90.3%, above both the Wahluke School District rate of 87.2% and the Washington rate of 82.6%. Its dropout rate was also lower than both comparisons. Academically, Wahluke performed above the district in English language arts, math, and science, but remained below the state in all three subjects. Proficiency was particularly low in math and science, and results declined from the prior year in every tested subject. Parents may want to ask about tutoring, academic interventions, advanced coursework, and preparation for college or career training.
Sentinel Technical Alt School is a much smaller alternative school with 36 students in grades 6–12. Its reported 60% science proficiency rate was higher than both district and state results, although the small enrollment means a few students can significantly affect the percentage. English language arts and math results were not publicly reported, so they should not be assumed to be zero. Sentinel’s main concern is student completion: its graduation rate was 62.5%, while its dropout rate was 20.8%, substantially weaker than the district, state, and Wahluke. Families considering Sentinel should ask about credit recovery, attendance support, individualized instruction, and graduation planning. Overall, Wahluke shows stronger completion outcomes, while Sentinel’s most promising reported area is science.
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