These Klickitat County School Districts Received the Lowest Overall Grades

Four Klickitat County public school districts received the lowest overall grades in Niche’s county listing, with marks ranging from B− to C−. Two districts tied at B−, bringing four districts into the group.

Niche’s district methodology combines measures such as academic results, teacher data and feedback from students and parents.

The letter grades come from Niche. The reading and math percentages come from Washington’s 2024–25 state testing program, as reported on the district profiles.

Trout Lake School District — Overall Niche Grade B−

Food earned an A+ on Niche’s Trout Lake report card, while college prep earned a C+. The district serves kindergarten through 12th grade in Trout Lake. Niche lists 209 students.

Reading Proficiency Was 21 Points Above Math

Niche reports 54% reading proficiency and 33% math proficiency for Trout Lake. The district’s 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio is about one student per teacher below the 2023–24 national public-school benchmark of 15.2 to 1.

A districtwide staffing ratio can give families a sense of scale. Class sizes can differ by grade and subject.

A K–12 School Community

The Trout Lake School District website gives families a single place to find school calendars, athletics and student information across grade levels.

For families looking ahead to high school, the C+ in college prep is a reason to ask which advanced courses are available in a given year and how students build a schedule around them.

White Salmon Valley School District — Overall Niche Grade B−

College prep, diversity and sports each earned a B on Niche’s White Salmon Valley report card. Resources and facilities received a D+, the lowest category grade on the profile.

The White Salmon-based district serves kindergarten through 12th grade, and Niche lists 1,078 students.

Math Proficiency Reached 40%

Niche reports 49% reading proficiency and 40% math proficiency for White Salmon Valley. Its 18-to-1 student-teacher ratio is about three students per teacher above the national public-school benchmark.

An Alternative to the Traditional School Schedule

Through White Salmon Academy, the district offers a flexible alternative learning option.

The district describes how the program works and how families can inquire about enrollment. For students considering a different schedule, it’s worth checking how much work happens independently and what contact with teachers looks like in a typical week.

Goldendale School District — Overall Niche Grade C

Goldendale’s A− for diversity and B+ for administration stand out on Niche’s Goldendale report card, which gives the district a C for academics and a B for college prep.

Niche lists the district as serving preschool through 12th grade, with 3,013 students across its listings. The district’s school roster includes an online academy, a distinction that matters when reading districtwide numbers.

Districtwide Staffing Includes More Than the Local Campuses

Niche reports 38% reading proficiency and 26% math proficiency for Goldendale. It lists a 25-to-1 student-teacher ratio, about 10 students per teacher above the national public-school benchmark.

Families looking at a local campus should check that school’s figures separately, especially given the mix of in-person and online schools in the district.

Local Schools and an Online Option

Goldendale’s school directory lists its primary, middle and high schools alongside Washington Connections Academy. That gives families two different questions to ask of the district’s report card.

If they’re considering a local campus, they can look up its own test results and staffing figures. If they’re considering the academy, the daily routine and access to teacher support are more useful starting points.

Lyle School District — Overall Niche Grade C−

Food and resources and facilities both earned B+ on Niche’s Lyle report card, while academics earned a C−. The district serves kindergarten through 12th grade, and its schools include Dallesport Elementary. Niche lists 196 students.

A Lower Staffing Ratio Alongside Low Test Proficiency

Niche reports 28% reading proficiency and 26% math proficiency for Lyle. Its 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio is about three students per teacher below the national public-school benchmark and is the lowest of the four districts featured here.

The figures measure different things. Families can use the proficiency results to ask where students need support and the staffing figure to start a conversation about how that support is delivered.

Start With the Elementary Campus

The district’s Dallesport Elementary page is the starting point for families with younger children.

A useful follow-up to the districtwide academics grade is to look at the elementary school’s own results and ask how staff identify reading or math difficulties early in the year, what extra help looks like and how families hear about progress.

A Tie at the Cutoff in a Five-District Listing

Niche’s Klickitat County listing gives Glenwood a B, Trout Lake and White Salmon Valley a B−, Goldendale a C and Lyle a C−. The tie for the third-lowest grade is why both B− districts appear here. The comparison covers the five districts Niche lists for the county.

Enrollment also changes how families can use the districtwide figures. Trout Lake and Lyle each have about 200 students in their Niche profiles, while Goldendale’s listing includes an online school as well as local campuses.

In a small district, it’s worth checking how many students took the test before reading much into a change from one year to the next.

In a district with several kinds of schools, start by pulling up the individual campus in the Washington State Report Card. Then look at the grade your child is entering and the programs they could actually use.

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