Yakima School District

The Yakima School District in Washington state serves over 16,000 students across 27 schools, including 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 9 high schools. The district faces significant challenges, with most schools performing well below the state average on academic measures, but a few standout schools are demonstrating that success is possible with the right strategies.

Among the high-performing elementary schools are Whitney Elementary and Nob Hill Elementary, which have over 40% of students proficient in English Language Arts and Math. These schools also have relatively low percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement. Another standout is Gilbert Elementary, which has shown significant improvement in recent years, moving from a 0-star to a 2-star rating.

At the high school level, Yakima Online, the district's virtual high school, has the highest ELA proficiency rates, though its Math and Science scores are lower. The district's alternative and virtual schools, such as Stanton Academy and Yakima Open Doors, struggle the most academically, with low test scores, high dropout rates, and poor graduation rates. Overall, the data highlights the significant challenges facing the Yakima School District, particularly in addressing the achievement gap and supporting its most vulnerable student populations.