Middle Schools in Walla Walla Public Schools

The Walla Walla Public Schools district in Washington state is home to two middle schools: Pioneer Middle School and Garrison Middle School. While both schools serve students in grades 6-8, the data reveals notable differences in their academic performance and student demographics.

Garrison Middle School stands out as the higher-performing of the two, consistently ranking higher in the statewide SchoolDigger rankings and outperforming Pioneer Middle School and the Walla Walla Public Schools district in various academic areas, including English Language Arts, Math, and Science proficiency rates. In contrast, Pioneer Middle School has a higher percentage of students from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds and a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which may contribute to its lower academic performance compared to its counterpart.

The data also suggests that while Pioneer Middle School spends more per student, this higher spending does not translate into better academic outcomes. Additionally, the demographic differences between the two schools, with Garrison Middle School having a higher percentage of White students and Pioneer Middle School having a higher percentage of Hispanic students, may also play a role in the observed performance disparities.