Kelso School District
School District · Kelso, Washington
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
13
6 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
4,949
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
13
6 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
4,949
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
Evaluating Kelso School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Kelso School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Lexington Elementary
Kelso · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Butler Acres Elementary
Kelso · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Carrolls Elementary
Carrolls · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Washington rank
#139 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,984
$740 vs Washington median
District size
4,949 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Kelso School District ranks #139 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Kelso School District's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Lexington Elementary (9.0/10), Butler Acres Elementary (7.0/10), and Carrolls Elementary (6.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 71% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 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 Kelso School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Kelso School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Kelso School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Butler Acres Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Carrolls Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Barnes Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Rose Valley Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Huntington Middle School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Wallace Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Coweeman Middle School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Kelso High School | 3.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Kelso Virtual Academy | 3.4 / 10 |
See all 13 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Kelso School District
Kelso School District is a Kelso, Washington school district serving 13 schools.The district educates 4,949 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1. District-level spending was $16,984 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Kelso School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Lexington Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Kelso School District students show an average math proficiency of 42.0% and ELA proficiency of 54.3%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Kelso School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Kelso School District with test data.
Schools in Kelso School District
13 schoolsElementary Schools6
Middle Schools2
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Kelso
- Total Enrollment
- 4,949
- Teachers (FTE)
- 299
- District spending per student
- $16,984NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 12.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Kelso School District?
Kelso School District has 13 schools in total — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Kelso School District?
The average composite rating for Kelso School District is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Kelso School District?
Kelso School District's district-level spending was $16,984 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kelso School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Kelso School District is 16.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Kelso School District?
Lexington Elementary is the highest-rated school in Kelso School District with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Kelso School District?
Across schools in Kelso School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 42.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Kelso School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Kelso School District has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 13 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 42.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.3%
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 rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare Kelso School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Highline School District (43)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Bellingham School District (25)
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.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.