Best Schools in Ellensburg, Washington
12 schools · 6 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Ellensburg?
Use this page to compare every school in Ellensburg by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Valley View Elementary School
Elementary · Ellensburg School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Damman Elementary
Elementary · Damman School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Ellensburg Christian School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Ellensburg for 2026 are Valley View Elementary School (7.8/10), Damman Elementary (7.4/10), and Ellensburg Christian School (5.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$375,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$375,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +8.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ellensburg schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ellensburg
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley View Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Damman Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Ellensburg Christian School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Lincoln Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Mt. Stuart Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Morgan Middle School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Ellensburg High School | 4.1 / 10 |
| 8 | K-12 Ellensburg Learning Center | 3.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $81,226
- Median home value
- $375,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Ellensburg compares
Washington rank
#113 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$81k
91% of Washington median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg's public school system spans 9 ranked schools with a citywide average of 6.2 out of 10. That average masks real variation. One-third of schools — 3 of 9 — score 7 or higher, while the remaining two-thirds cluster below that mark. The spread is wide enough that school selection within Ellensburg carries genuine weight, and understanding it matters before choosing a neighborhood.
The elementary tier holds the city's strongest options. Valley View Elementary leads at 8.8 — the highest score in Ellensburg. Lincoln Elementary follows at 8.3, forming a clear two-school top tier. Ida Nason Aronica Elementary rounds out the 7-plus group at 7.2. All three of the city's above-average performers are elementary schools, meaning families with younger children have the most choices at the top end of the performance range.
Below that threshold, Damman Elementary scores 6.0 and Mt. Stuart Elementary scores 5.9 — both sitting near the 6.2 city average. The gap between the top school (8.8) and the lower elementary tier spans roughly three points. That difference is meaningful, not cosmetic. Attendance zone research is a practical necessity for any family comparing elementary options here.
For parents relocating to Ellensburg, the priority is identifying which schools serve your address and whether open enrollment or transfer options exist. The top two elementary schools outperform the city average by more than two points, so proximity to Valley View or Lincoln is a material factor for families with younger children. For the remaining schools in the nine — including middle and secondary options — individual scores will tell more than the citywide average, since that 6.2 reflects a meaningful spread rather than uniform performance across the district.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 421 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 347 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 44 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 313 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 | ||
| 5 | 337 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Discovery Lab of Ellensburg
Private
15 students · Pre-K–4th | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 773 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 974 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
| 2 | 9 students · 8th–12th | — |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.2 | ||
| 2 | 119 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.8 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Ellensburg Christian School
Private
101 students · Pre-K–10th | 5.9 | ||
Schools in Ellensburg
Ellensburg, Washington · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$81,226
Median Home Value
$375,500
Median Rent
$1,275/mo
Population
40,781
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Community Profile
Ellensburg has a median household income of $81,226. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $375,500, with a median rent of $1,275/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.0%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Washington
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Ellensburg, Washington
How many schools are in Ellensburg, Washington?
Ellensburg has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Ellensburg, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Ellensburg is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Ellensburg, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Ellensburg on MySchoolScout is Valley View Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Ellensburg, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Ellensburg on MySchoolScout is Valley View Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Ellensburg, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Ellensburg on MySchoolScout is Morgan Middle School with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best high school in Ellensburg, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Ellensburg on MySchoolScout is Ellensburg High School with a composite score of 4.1/10.
How many school districts serve Ellensburg, Washington?
Ellensburg is served by 3 school districts: Damman School District, Ellensburg School District, Kittitas School District.
What is the education level in Ellensburg, Washington?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Ellensburg have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Ellensburg, Washington?
The median household income in Ellensburg is approximately $81,226 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Ellensburg, Washington?
Yes, Ellensburg has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Ellensburg Christian School with a score of 5.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ellensburg, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Ellensburg is 15.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Ellensburg, Washington?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.