High Schools in Kelso School District

The Kelso School District in Washington state is home to three high schools: Kelso High School, Kelso Goal Oriented Learning Design, and Loowit High School. While Kelso High School stands out as the largest and strongest performer, the smaller alternative high schools face significant challenges in terms of graduation rates, academic achievement, and serving high-need student populations.

Kelso High School has the highest four-year graduation rate at 90.9%, but its test scores are below the district and state averages. In contrast, Kelso Goal Oriented Learning Design and Loowit High School struggle with much lower graduation rates (20% and 18.1%, respectively) and higher dropout rates (80% and 54.5%, respectively). These smaller schools also serve a higher-need student population, with a significantly higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

The data reveals a significant disparity in resource allocation, with Loowit High School spending nearly three times more per student than Kelso Goal Oriented Learning Design. This suggests that the Kelso School District may need to re-evaluate its resource distribution to ensure equitable funding and support for all schools, especially those serving high-need populations.