Best Schools in Graham, Washington
9 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Graham?
Use this page to compare every school in Graham 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.
North Star Elementary
Elementary · Bethel School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Rocky Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Bethel School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Graham Elementary
Elementary · Bethel School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Graham for 2026 are North Star Elementary (8.4/10), Rocky Ridge Elementary (8.0/10), and Graham Elementary (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
9
in this city
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$471,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
9
in this city
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$471,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Graham schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Graham schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Graham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Star Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Rocky Ridge Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Graham Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Centennial Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Nelson Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Kapowsin Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Cougar Mountain Middle School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Frontier Middle School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Graham Kapowsin High School | 3.9 / 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
- 6.8/10
- Median household income
- $112,788
- Median home value
- $471,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19%
- Avg commute
- 41 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 84%
44% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Graham compares
Washington rank
#49 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$113k
126% of Washington median
Schools in this city
9
About Schools in Graham, Washington
Graham, Washington has 9 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.3 out of 10. The landscape skews elementary — four of the five named schools serve younger grades, and the elementary tier is clearly where Graham's strongest options cluster. Cougar Mountain Middle School represents the only ranked middle school in the data, landing exactly at the city average with a 6.3.
Performance across those 9 schools spans a meaningful range. Three schools, or 33%, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold — a mark that signals consistently solid academic outcomes relative to Washington peers. North Star Elementary leads the city at 8.0, a score that puts it well above the local average and makes it the standout option for families with elementary-age children. Graham Elementary (7.5) and Nelson Elementary (7.4) follow closely, forming a strong top tier that gives parents real choices at the grade school level. Centennial Elementary sits at 6.8 — above average for the city but below that 7-point line.
For families with elementary-age children, Graham offers more competitive options than its small size might suggest. North Star, Graham Elementary, and Nelson all rank meaningfully above the city mean, and the gap between the top school (8.0) and the city average (6.3) is wide enough that school choice within Graham genuinely matters. Parents should confirm attendance boundaries early — in communities this size, address-to-school assignment can determine whether a child lands at an 8.0-rated school or one rated closer to average.
The middle school picture is thinner. With only Cougar Mountain in the rankings at 6.3, families looking at grades 6–8 have limited in-city comparisons to draw on. Parents approaching that transition should research neighboring districts and consider whether any school choice or open-enrollment options apply. Overall, Graham's elementary schools give families a solid foundation to work with, and the concentration of higher-rated options at that level makes early research the highest-leverage move for anyone deciding where to put down roots.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 463 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 441 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 596 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 4 | 565 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 5 | 739 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 351 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 605 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 624 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,105 students · 9th–12th | 3.9 |
Schools in Graham
Graham, Washington · 9 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$112,788
Median Home Value
$471,800
Median Rent
$1,889/mo
Population
32,726
College Educated
19%
Homeownership
84%
Avg Commute
41 min
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Community Profile
Graham has a median household income of $112,788. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $471,800, with a median rent of $1,889/month. The local poverty rate of 6.9% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 41 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
Resources
School District
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 Graham, Washington
How many schools are in Graham, Washington?
Graham has 9 schools, including 9 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Graham, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Graham is 6.8 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 Graham, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Graham on MySchoolScout is North Star Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Graham, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Graham on MySchoolScout is North Star Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Graham, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Graham on MySchoolScout is Cougar Mountain Middle School with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What is the best high school in Graham, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Graham on MySchoolScout is Graham Kapowsin High School with a composite score of 3.9/10.
How many school districts serve Graham, Washington?
Graham is served by 1 school district: Bethel School District.
What is the education level in Graham, Washington?
According to Census data, 19% of adults in Graham have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Graham, Washington?
The median household income in Graham is approximately $112,788 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Graham, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Graham is 18.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Graham, 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.