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2008-1019-01-Ellensburg01Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Ellensburg · Ellensburg School District

Ellensburg’s public schools outscore 55% of Washington districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Ellensburg, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Washington, not nationally.

#154of 285 Washington townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Washington state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
47%
▼ 6 pts vs WA 53%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▼ 2 pts vs WA 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85%
▲ 1 pts vs WA 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.6K
▼ 10% vs WA $18.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.4
WA 17.7
Schools in town
11
3,168 students on the public path
In brief

Ellensburg’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 138 Washington towns with household incomes within a quarter of Ellensburg’s, its schools beat 70%, higher than their 55% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 38% in math, against 53% and 40% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,572 per student, against $18,444 across Washington (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Morgan Middle School, then Ellensburg High School. Enrollment is up 5% since 2022–23. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Ellensburg Christian School (private) and Discovery Lab of Ellensburg (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ellensburg’s grade

B− Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 55% of Washington school districts, #154 of 285 Washington towns. Graduation is above the Washington average; test scores are below it.

Washington school districts we grade (289)Better than 55%
Lower resultsHigher results
Washington towns with similar household incomes (138)Better than 70%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,646 test results and a graduating class of 250 could put Ellensburg anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Ellensburg’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,638 in math, 1,655 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ellensburg, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8Morgan Middle SchoolEllensburg School DistrictNo scores
9–12Ellensburg High SchoolEllensburg School DistrictNo scores

Ellensburg’s public schools are run by Ellensburg School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Ellensburg School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 3,408 students, up 5% since 2022–23 · 17.4 per teacher (WA 17.7)
$16,572WA $18,444 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 53.4% · 1655 students tested
Math38%
State average 40.1% · 1638 students tested

Ellensburg vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Washington towns that share Ellensburg’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
EllensburgBEllensburg

Every school in Ellensburg

11 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Washington’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Ellensburgby address
Valley View Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
408 students16:1Rate it →
Ida Nason Aronica Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
361 students15:1Rate it →
Mt. Stuart Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
336 students13:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
334 students16:1Rate it →
Morgan Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
772 students19:1Rate it →
Ellensburg High School
High · Grades 9–12
957 students21:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
54 students22:1Rate it →
Ellensburg Choice Schools
Grades K–12
Alternative Education
148 studentsRate it →
Ellensburg Open Doors
High · Grades 11–12
Alternative Education
38 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Ellensburg Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
183 students11:1Rate it →
Discovery Lab of Ellensburg
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
25 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Ellensburg’s schools

Are Ellensburg’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Washington: the public schools Ellensburg children attend outscore 55% of Washington’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #154 of 285 Washington towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ellensburg in?

Ellensburg School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,408 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Ellensburg kids go to high school?

Ellensburg High School, with 957 students.

What is Ellensburg’s graduation rate?

85% of the class of 2023 in Ellensburg School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington.

How much does Ellensburg spend per student?

$16,572 in Ellensburg School District (FY2024), against $18,444 across Washington. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Ellensburg?

Yes: Ellensburg Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 183 students) and Discovery Lab of Ellensburg (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 25 students).

Parents talk

What Ellensburg families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ellensburg → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Washington. Stars are from neighbors.