Very Good
#434 of 2,225 schools in WA
Top 20% in state
Palouse High School
High School · Palouse School District
600 East Alder Street, Palouse, WA 99161
Enrollment
49
Student-Teacher
7:1
Score
7.8
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
49
Student-Teacher
7:1
Score
7.8
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palouse
#1 of 4
public schools
Washington high schools
#34 of 476
In district
#1 of 3
Palouse School District
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Palouse High School
Palouse High School serves 49 students in grades 9-12 in the small rural community of Palouse, Washington. This intimate school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7:1 with seven full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention that clearly shows in academic results. The school's performance is remarkable, earning an 8.3 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking 27th out of 2,261 schools statewide, placing it in the 99th percentile.
With an academic score of 8.8 out of 10, Palouse High School demonstrates strong educational outcomes, including 75% of students achieving proficient or above levels in English Language Arts and Reading across grade levels. The school draws from a well-educated community where 54% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median household income reaches $89,167. The low poverty rate of just 2.7% reflects the area's economic stability, with median home values around $271,000.
Located at 600 East Alder Street in Whitman County, Palouse High School operates in a remote rural setting that fosters close-knit relationships between students, families, and educators. This small-town environment, combined with the school's impressive academic achievements, creates an educational experience where every student can receive individual attention while being challenged to excel.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 49 students, Palouse High 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.
With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, Palouse High School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Palouse High 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
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Palouse High School — Students at Palouse High School score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
42.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)
Based on 7 test records from WA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.
How Palouse High School Compares
See how Palouse High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 30% (2019) to 21.4% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 69.5% (2019) to 71.4% (2024).
Location
600 East Alder Street, Palouse, WA 99161
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Palouse High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Pullman High School (rated 8.3/10, 12.6 miles away, in nearby Pullman), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Garfield at Palouse High School (rated 7.2/10), with a comparable rating. Additionally, MOSCOW HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.3/10, 13.0 miles away, in nearby Moscow), a more accessible option. 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 Elementary Palouse | 0.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Palouse at Garfield Middle School Palouse | 0.0 mi | 5.3 |
| 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 High 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 |
|---|---|
| Emerson High School Kirkland, WA | 7.8 |
| Choice Academy Kingston, WA | 7.7 |
| Creston Jr-Sr High School Creston, WA | 7.7 |
| Alan T. Sugiyama High School Seattle, WA | 7.9 |
| EXPLORATIONS ACADEMY Bellingham, WA | 7.9 |
| Leaders In Learning Monroe, WA | 8.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Palouse High School
What grades does Palouse High School serve?
Palouse High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Palouse High School?
Palouse High School has an enrollment of approximately 49 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palouse High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palouse High School is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palouse High School rank in WA?
Palouse High School is ranked #434 out of 2,225 schools in WA.
What is Palouse High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Palouse High School has a composite rating of 7.8 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 High School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Palouse High School has 24.3% math proficiency and 71.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Palouse High School a charter school?
No, Palouse High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palouse High School a Title I school?
No, Palouse High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palouse High School?
42.9% of students at Palouse High 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 49
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 7
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 42.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Whitman County
- Phone
- (509) 878-1921
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Palouse School District- District Enrollment
- 178
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,530
- District Rank
- #1 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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