Best Schools in Pasco, Washington

Pasco, Washington has 28 ranked public schools, all within the Pasco School District. The city average sits at 6.0 out of 10 — a baseline that tells parents most schools cluster in the mid-range, with real variation at the top. Seven schools, 25% of the ranked set, score 7 or above, giving families with strong academic priorities several concrete targets to investigate.

The elementary tier holds Pasco's strongest performers. Edwin Markham Elementary leads the city at 9.2 out of 10 — the highest score in Pasco and a substantial gap above the city average. Ruth Livingston Elementary (8.4) and Internet Pasco Academy of Learning (8.1) form a top three that all clear the 8-point mark. Barbara McClintock STEM Elementary and Columbia River Elementary both score 7.2, adding depth to the upper quartile. Every one of Pasco's top five schools is an elementary school, which means the city's strongest academic options concentrate squarely in the K–5 years.

For families with middle- or high-school-age children, the picture is a tighter performance band. The 6.0 city average reflects a landscape where most schools deliver competent but not standout results. Parents researching those grade levels should examine individual school scores rather than leaning on the city average, and weigh program offerings and enrollment requirements alongside the rankings.

Practically, Pasco rewards early research. The 25% of schools at 7 or above is a workable shortlist, but those seven schools won't all align with every family's address or enrollment window. Edwin Markham Elementary's 9.2 score makes it the clearest anchor point for parents of young children. From there, Livingston and Internet Pasco Academy of Learning offer comparable quality with potentially different program profiles. The most efficient path: map your address against attendance boundaries first, then filter by score. That sequence narrows the field quickly and surfaces the schools most likely to be both accessible and academically strong.