Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Summary:

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary is a public elementary school in Yakima, Washington, serving 513 students in grades K-5. The school stands out for its high percentage of Hispanic students (89.28%) compared to nearby schools, as well as its consistently low academic performance, ranking in the bottom 10-15% of elementary schools in the state.

Despite relatively high per-student spending ranging from $16,660 to $19,030, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary struggles to improve student achievement. Its proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Math, and Science are well below the state and Yakima School District averages, often by 20-30 percentage points. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students (over 90%) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Compared to nearby schools like McKinley Elementary, Terrace Heights Elementary, and McClure Elementary, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary consistently performs worse, suggesting unique challenges at this campus. The persistent low performance and widening achievement gaps raise concerns and indicate the need for a comprehensive review of the school's instructional practices, resource allocation, and support systems to address the unique needs of this predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged student population.


Detail:

Public K-5

 2000 S 18th St
       Yakima, WA  98903-3941


(509) 573-1100

District: Yakima School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1106th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,030 Help


Students who attend Martin Luther King Junior Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Lewis & Clark Middle School
High:    Davis High School
    Eisenhower High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  513

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
89.3%
White:
8.8%
African American:
1.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  93.6% Help


 See top rated Washington elementary schools

 Compare Martin Luther King Junior Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Martin Luther King Junior Elementary ranks worse than 94.7% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 13th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Yakima School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.85. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (89.3%), White (8.8%), African American (1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 93.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary is 13.8, which is the lowest among 14 elementary schools in the Yakima School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Martin Luther King Junior Elementary employs 36.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary is $19,030. 10 elementary schools in the Yakima School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Martin Luther King Junior Elementary 1106th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Martin Luther King Junior Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Yakima School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Yakima School District 230th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Martin Luther King Junior Elementary?

Rank History for Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 3.76 1010th 1026 1.6%
2005 4.80 1007th 1031 2.3%
2006 5.84 1028th 1051 2.2%
2007 4.09 1048th 1069 2.0%
2008 3.82 1050th 1067 1.6%
2009 9.53 1022nd 1072 4.7%
2010 4.19 1076th 1088 1.1%
2011 3.91 1079th 1092 1.2%
2012 6.02 1076th 1097 1.9%
2013 3.78 1097th 1106 0.8%
2015 14.62 958th 1067 10.2%
2016 5.34 1023rd 1053 2.8%
2017 2.58 1048th 1056 0.8%
2018 11.03 978th 1054 7.2%
2019 12.82 1023rd 1130 9.5%
2021 7.64 1075th 1107 2.9%
2022 16.30 1022nd 1169 12.6%
2023 14.99 1043rd 1169 10.8%
2024 8.85 1106th 1168 5.3%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.94 189th 333 43.2%
2019 25.70 203rd 248 18.1%
2022 34.81 136th 213 36.2%
2023 27.80 184th 254 27.6%
2024 22.32 265th 320 17.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.72 570th 637 10.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.04 668th 835 20.0%
2019 26.51 803rd 979 18.0%
2021 15.37 805th 854 5.7%
2022 28.85 801st 1019 21.4%
2023 27.70 804th 1013 20.6%
2024 15.67 940th 1024 8.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.10 44th 61 27.9%
2019 49.86 25th 64 60.9%
2022 58.31 13th 45 71.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.01 919th 1004 8.5%
2019 18.94 912th 1068 14.6%
2021 6.88 994th 1008 1.4%
2022 15.06 981st 1100 10.8%
2023 21.18 892nd 1094 18.5%
2024 11.00 1026th 1093 6.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.07 926th 999 7.3%
2019 10.36 1012th 1075 5.9%
2021 8.63 988th 1025 3.6%
2022 17.79 963rd 1113 13.5%
2023 8.84 1061st 1099 3.5%
2024 7.05 1066th 1099 3.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 34.55 484th 697 30.6%
2021 18.28 449th 501 10.4%
2022 32.89 474th 694 31.7%
2023 26.99 493rd 633 22.1%
2024 16.66 588th 651 9.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Open Quote Currently a Junior at A.C. Davis high school. Looking back at my Elementary years 1st- 5th grade. I say at least all the teachers I had were excellent. They did their job correctly. I may have not been the BEST student but that's my fault because I slacked somewhat. The lowest number I ever got there was a 3, the rest were mainly 4's and 5's :). So maybe it's the students? Back then, we were in the top three elementary schools. Also, most of the kids in that area are Hispanics/ Mexicans. It can be difficult when you're parents speak complete Spanish at home or broken English. Than going to school where you learn a complete different language. Also, I say education is based on what moves you. Maybe these kid's don't have enough motivation. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 129 21 2 130 8 n/a n/a 0 290
1989 191 35 4 184 10 n/a n/a 0 424
1990 185 31 2 193 8 n/a n/a 0 419
1991 217 28 1 230 5 n/a n/a 0 481
1992 213 20 1 257 3 n/a n/a 0 494
1993 186 34 2 220 7 n/a n/a 0 449
1994 212 18 6 239 11 n/a n/a 0 486
1995 183 16 2 232 11 n/a n/a 0 444
1996 183 16 2 232 11 n/a n/a 0 444
1997 145 9 2 263 14 n/a n/a 0 433
1998 139 7 2 304 17 n/a n/a 0 469
1999 126 9 3 311 12 n/a n/a 0 461
2000 123 14 2 334 6 n/a n/a 0 479
2001 133 11 3 333 6 n/a n/a 0 486
2002 112 6 3 395 12 n/a n/a 0 528
2003 112 6 3 395 12 n/a n/a 0 528
2004 96 11 3 406 14 n/a n/a 0 530
2005 94 9 2 392 14 n/a n/a 0 511
2006 71 7 2 380 16 n/a n/a 0 476
2007 77 10 2 381 12 n/a n/a 0 482
2008 69 12 1 377 10 n/a n/a 0 469
2009 68 13 1 426 12 n/a n/a 0 520
2010 58 12 0 482 13 n/a n/a 0 565
2011 48 8 0 498 6 0 8 0 568
2012 49 4 0 521 7 0 7 0 588
2013 46 5 1 525 0 0 9 0 586
2014 40 7 1 521 3 0 5 0 577
2015 42 2 0 555 3 0 4 0 606
2016 39 3 0 551 3 0 5 0 601
2017 39 3 0 558 4 0 6 0 610
2018 38 4 0 572 8 0 4 0 626
2019 40 5 2 528 6 0 3 0 584
2020 49 2 0 535 3 2 6 0 597
2021 41 2 0 527 3 0 5 0 578
2022 30 4 0 495 1 0 3 0 533
2023 45 5 0 458 0 0 5 0 513

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 290 12.0 24.1 0
1989 424 27.0 15.7 n/a
1990 419 29.9 14.0 0
1991 481 30.2 15.9 n/a
1992 494 30.0 16.4 n/a
1993 449 34.1 13.2 n/a
1994 486 33.1 14.7 n/a
1995 444 31.7 14.0 n/a
1996 444 31.7 14.0 n/a
1997 433 32.7 13.2 n/a
1998 469 29.4 16.0 n/a
1999 461 26.5 17.4 n/a
2000 479 26.6 18.0 n/a
2001 486 26.9 18.1 n/a
2002 528 31.1 17.0 89.6
2003 528 31.1 17.0 89.6
2004 530 32.0 16.6 90.9
2005 511 32.1 15.9 93.2
2006 476 30.6 15.6 95.4
2007 482 30.9 15.6 92.1
2008 469 32.5 14.4 93.2
2009 520 32.5 16.0 96
2010 565 30.6 18.4 97.3
2011 568 32.2 17.6 84.3
2012 588 32.8 17.9 94.2
2013 586 32.4 18.0 97.6
2014 577 n/a n/a 96.4
2015 606 39.0 15.5 90.4
2016 601 35.0 17.1 93.5
2017 610 36.2 16.8 87.7
2018 626 34.8 17.9 81.6
2019 584 34.1 17.1 79.6
2020 597 33.2 17.9 92.1
2021 578 34.8 16.5 89.6
2022 533 37.0 14.3 91
2023 513 36.9 13.8 93.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 290 12.0 24.1 0
1989 424 27.0 15.7 n/a
1990 419 29.9 14.0 0
1991 481 30.2 15.9 n/a
1992 494 30.0 16.4 n/a
1993 449 34.1 13.2 n/a
1994 486 33.1 14.7 n/a
1995 444 31.7 14.0 n/a
1996 444 31.7 14.0 n/a
1997 433 32.7 13.2 n/a
1998 469 29.4 16.0 n/a
1999 461 26.5 17.4 n/a
2000 479 26.6 18.0 n/a
2001 486 26.9 18.1 n/a
2002 528 31.1 17.0 89.6
2003 528 31.1 17.0 89.6
2004 530 32.0 16.6 90.9
2005 511 32.1 15.9 93.2
2006 476 30.6 15.6 95.4
2007 482 30.9 15.6 92.1
2008 469 32.5 14.4 93.2
2009 520 32.5 16.0 96
2010 565 30.6 18.4 97.3
2011 568 32.2 17.6 84.3
2012 588 32.8 17.9 94.2
2013 586 32.4 18.0 97.6
2014 577 n/a n/a 96.4
2015 606 39.0 15.5 90.4
2016 601 35.0 17.1 93.5
2017 610 36.2 16.8 87.7
2018 626 34.8 17.9 81.6
2019 584 34.1 17.1 79.6
2020 597 33.2 17.9 92.1
2021 578 34.8 16.5 89.6
2022 533 37.0 14.3 91
2023 513 36.9 13.8 93.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201698.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%99.0%99.0%98.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%
201793.6%0.0%2.1%4.3%0.0%96.8%95.7%95.7%96.8%96.8%96.8%
201893.7%0.0%2.1%1.1%0.0%95.8%94.7%97.9%94.7%94.7%94.7%
201991.1%0.0%0.0%3.3%0.0%98.9%98.9%96.7%93.3%96.7%98.9%
202096.9%0.0%2.1%0.0%0.0%96.9%96.9%100.0%96.9%96.9%96.9%96.9%96.9%96.9%
2021100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%
202299.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%100.0%99.0%100.0%100.0%99.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%99.0%
2023100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%
202490.9%2.6%0.0%2.6%0.0%94.8%94.8%96.1%92.2%94.8%94.8%94.8%94.8%94.8%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201996.7%0.0%0.0%0.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,110 (7.3%) $14,103 (92.7%) $15,213
2020 $793 (7.8%) $9,316 (92.2%) $10,109
2021 $1,369 (8.2%) $15,292 (91.8%) $16,660
2022 $3,135 (16.5%) $15,895 (83.5%) $19,030

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1023rd of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 1043rd of 1169 Elementary schools
 1.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)38.437.6
 0.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Yakima School District)41.727.2
 14.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)42.446.8
 4.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Yakima School District)45.228.4
 16.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)45.216.7
 28.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Yakima School District)40.726.7
 14%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)33.313.1
 20.2%
   4th Grade Math (Yakima School District)39.526.9
 12.7%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)28.627.9
 0.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Yakima School District)41.731.6
 10.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)21.417.4
 4%
   5th Grade Math (Yakima School District)32.420.5
 11.9%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)19.418.6
 0.8%
   5th Grade Science (Yakima School District)32.327.8
 4.6%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)37.227.8
 9.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Yakima School District)42.133.6
 8.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)32.426.5
 5.9%
   All Grades Math (Yakima School District)33.520.3
 13.2%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Martin Luther King Junior Elementary)19.418.6
 0.8%
   All Grades Science (Yakima School District)3429.9
 4%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students584513
 12.2%
African American55
American Indian60
 100%
Asian20
 100%
Hispanic528458
 13.3%
Pacific Islander00
White4045
 12.5%
Two or More Races35
 66.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients79.6%93.6%
 13.9%


Schools Near Martin Luther King Junior Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Martin Luther King Junior Elementary

Martin Luther King Junior Elementary ranks in the bottom 5.3% of Washington elementary schools.

Students who attend Martin Luther King Junior Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lewis & Clark Middle School
High : Davis High School
High : Eisenhower High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 513 students attended Martin Luther King Junior Elementary.

Students at Martin Luther King Junior Elementary are 89% Hispanic, 9% White.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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