Average
#1637 of 2,225 schools in WA
Palouse at Garfield Middle School
Middle School · Palouse School District
600 E Alder Street, Palouse, WA 99161
Enrollment
39
Score
5.3
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
39
Score
5.3
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palouse
#4 of 4
public schools
Washington middle schools
#226 of 374
In district
#3 of 3
Palouse School District
School environment
7.6 / 10
Very strong
About Palouse at Garfield Middle School
Palouse at Garfield Middle School is a small middle school located in the rural community of Palouse, Washington. Serving students from sixth through eighth grade, the school has an enrollment of just 39 students. With its tight-knit setting, Palouse at Garfield offers a personalized learning environment where teachers can provide individualized attention to each student.
The academic performance of students at Palouse at Garfield is currently in the lower half when compared to other schools in Washington state, ranking 1624th out of 2261 middle schools. The school's MySchoolScout rating of 4.1/10 suggests there’s room for improvement, particularly in math where only 37% of students are proficient or above. However, the school performs better in ELA and science, with proficiency rates at 65% for both subjects.
Palouse at Garfield Middle School is situated in a remote rural area that offers a close-knit community feel, which can be nurturing and supportive for its young learners as they navigate middle school challenges.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 39 students, Palouse at Garfield Middle School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Palouse at Garfield Middle School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Palouse at Garfield Middle School — Students at Palouse at Garfield Middle School score 45% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
38.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)
Based on 11 test records from WA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.3/10.
How Palouse at Garfield Middle School Compares
See how Palouse at Garfield Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 54.5% (2019) to 31.6% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 74.5% (2019) to 57.9% (2024).
Location
600 E Alder Street, Palouse, WA 99161
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Palouse at Garfield Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Pullman High School (rated 8.3/10, 12.6 miles away, in nearby Pullman), which scores notably higher. Another option is WEST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Moscow), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Palouse High School (rated 7.8/10), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Palouse, see our Palouse schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 13.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Garfield at Palouse High School Palouse | 0.0 mi | 7.2 |
| Palouse High School Palouse | 0.0 mi | 7.8 |
| Palouse Elementary Palouse | 0.0 mi | 6.8 |
| WILD ROSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Viola | 4.1 mi | 5.3 |
| Garfield Elementary Garfield | 7.7 mi | 6.9 |
| Garfield Middle School Garfield | 7.7 mi | — |
| POTLATCH JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Potlatch | 7.9 mi | 5.8 |
| POTLATCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Potlatch | 8.3 mi | 6.5 |
| LOGOS SCHOOL Moscow | 12.6 mi | 6.5 |
| WEST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moscow | 12.9 mi | 7.9 |
| J RUSSELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moscow | 12.8 mi | 5.8 |
| ST MARY'S PARISH SCHOOL Moscow | 12.7 mi | 6.8 |
| MOSCOW MIDDLE SCHOOL Moscow | 12.7 mi | 7.2 |
| MOSCOW HIGH SCHOOL Moscow | 13.0 mi | 6.3 |
| MOSCOW CHARTER SCHOOL Moscow | 12.8 mi | 7.3 |
| LENA WHITMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moscow | 13.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Pullman High School Pullman | 12.6 mi | 8.3 |
| A B MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moscow | 13.0 mi | 7.6 |
| PARADISE CREEK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Moscow | 13.6 mi | — |
| Jefferson Elementary Pullman | 13.0 mi | 5.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 99161 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$90,750
Median Home Value
$285,800
Median Rent
$933/mo
Population
1,478
College Educated
47.8%
Homeownership
83.1%
Avg Commute
22.5 min
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Median Age
45.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Palouse at Garfield Middle School has a median household income of $90,750. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $285,800, with a median rent of $933/month. The local poverty rate of 2.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CASCADES MONTESSORI MIDDLE Bellingham, WA | 5.1 |
| Lyle Middle School Lyle, WA | 4.9 |
| SEATTLE JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL Seattle, WA | 6.0 |
| SEATTLE SCHOOL FOR BOYS Seattle, WA | 6.5 |
| SAGEBRUSH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Richland, WA | 4.0 |
| FIDDLEHEAD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Anacortes, WA | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Palouse at Garfield Middle School
What grades does Palouse at Garfield Middle School serve?
Palouse at Garfield Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Palouse at Garfield Middle School?
Palouse at Garfield Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 39 students.
How does Palouse at Garfield Middle School rank in WA?
Palouse at Garfield Middle School is ranked #1637 out of 2,225 schools in WA.
What is Palouse at Garfield Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Palouse at Garfield Middle School has a composite rating of 5.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Palouse at Garfield Middle School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Palouse at Garfield Middle School has 36.6% math proficiency and 65.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Palouse at Garfield Middle School a charter school?
No, Palouse at Garfield Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palouse at Garfield Middle School a Title I school?
No, Palouse at Garfield Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palouse at Garfield Middle School?
38.5% of students at Palouse at Garfield Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Low (85/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 39
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 38.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Whitman County
- Phone
- (509) 635-1331
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Palouse School District- District Enrollment
- 178
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,530
- District Rank
- #3 of 3
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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