High Schools in Wapato School District

The Wapato School District in Washington state is home to three high schools: Wapato High School, Pace Alternative High School, and Wapato Online Academy 9-12. These schools serve a predominantly low-income and minority student population, with significant socioeconomic and academic challenges.

Wapato High School, the largest in the district with 874 students, has a diverse student body but consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Washington high schools. While its graduation rate is higher than the district and state averages, its academic performance is significantly below state standards, with only 39.34% proficient in ELA and 9.43% in Math for 10th grade. In contrast, Pace Alternative High School, with just 86 students, has an extremely low graduation rate of 43.3% and a high dropout rate of 50%, despite its significantly higher spending per student.

The data also reveals stark differences in the educational experiences of students across the district. Wapato Online Academy 9-12, the smallest school with 23 students, has a majority Hispanic and significant Native American enrollment, and its 10th grade ELA proficiency rate of 35.71% is lower than the district average but higher than the state average. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and a deeper examination of the underlying factors contributing to the disparities in academic performance, graduation rates, and resource allocation within the Wapato School District.