Best Schools in Yelm, Washington
11 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Yelm?
Use this page to compare every school in Yelm 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.
Fort Stevens Elementary
Elementary · Yelm School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Mckenna Elementary
Elementary · Yelm School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Mill Pond Elementary School
Elementary · Yelm 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 Yelm for 2026 are Fort Stevens Elementary (7.1/10), Mckenna Elementary (7.0/10), and Mill Pond Elementary School (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 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
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$423,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$423,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.5/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.0 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 Yelm schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Yelm schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Yelm
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Stevens Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Mckenna Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Mill Pond Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Yelm Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Ridgeline Middle School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Yelm Prairie Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Eagle View Christian School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Yelm High School 12 | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Southworth Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Lackamas Elementary | 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $92,120
- Median home value
- $423,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 23%
- Avg commute
- 36 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 80%
18% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Yelm compares
Washington rank
#120 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$92k
103% of Washington median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Yelm, Washington
Yelm, Washington has 10 ranked public schools, spread across elementary and middle grades. The city average sits at 6.4 out of 10 — a functional baseline, but the spread matters. Where your child lands in the system depends heavily on which school serves your address.
The top of the range belongs to Mill Pond Elementary School, rated 8.5 out of 10 — the highest score in the city. Fort Stevens Elementary follows at 7.8. Those two schools are the only ones in Yelm clearing the 7-point mark, representing 20% of the city's ranked schools. Both are elementary level, which means families with young children have the clearest shot at the high-performing tier — if their address falls within the right attendance zone. That boundary check is worth doing before you commit to a neighborhood.
The rest of the elementary schools cluster near the city average. Yelm Prairie Elementary scores 6.6 and McKenna Elementary lands at 6.5, both within a tenth of a point of the mean. Ridgeline Middle School, the only ranked middle school in the city, scores 6.7 — modestly above average but well short of the top tier. Students moving from a mid-range elementary into Ridgeline can expect continuity rather than a meaningful step up.
For parents comparing options, the practical read is this: Yelm has a top school that genuinely stands out. Mill Pond Elementary's 8.5 score is more than two full points above the city average — a meaningful gap by any measure. But strong performance is concentrated at the elementary level, and only in two schools. Families prioritizing academics should verify their attendance zone before committing. If Mill Pond or Fort Stevens is within reach, it represents the clearest academic advantage the city offers.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 491 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 387 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 397 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 4 | 438 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 669 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
| 6 | 290 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.8 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 683 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 578 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,677 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 128 students · 9th–12th | 3.3 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle View Christian School
Private
145 students · Pre-K–11th | 5.9 |
Schools in Yelm
Yelm, Washington · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$92,120
Median Home Value
$423,200
Median Rent
$1,441/mo
Population
26,431
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
80%
Avg Commute
36 min
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Community Profile
Yelm has a median household income of $92,120. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $423,200, with a median rent of $1,441/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 36 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
- 2
- Other
- 1
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 Yelm, Washington
How many schools are in Yelm, Washington?
Yelm has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Yelm, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Yelm is 5.8 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 Yelm, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Yelm on MySchoolScout is Fort Stevens Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Yelm, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Yelm on MySchoolScout is Fort Stevens Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Yelm, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Yelm on MySchoolScout is Yelm Middle School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Yelm, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Yelm on MySchoolScout is Yelm High School 12 with a composite score of 5.8/10.
How many school districts serve Yelm, Washington?
Yelm is served by 1 school district: Yelm School District.
What is the education level in Yelm, Washington?
According to Census data, 23% of adults in Yelm have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Yelm, Washington?
The median household income in Yelm is approximately $92,120 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Yelm, Washington?
Yes, Yelm has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Eagle View Christian School with a score of 5.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Yelm, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Yelm is 18.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Yelm, 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.