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City Hall in Yelm, WashingtonPhoto: Rising*From*Ashes · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Yelm · Yelm Community Schools

Yelm’s public schools score below 51% of Washington districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Yelm, 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.

#174of 285 Washington townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Washington state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% 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
49%
▼ 4 pts vs WA 53%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 4 pts vs WA 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
81%
▼ 3 pts vs WA 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.5K
▼ 5% vs WA $18.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
20.2
WA 17.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
3,749 students on the public path
In brief

Yelm’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 49% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 53% and 40% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,480 per student, against $18,444 across Washington (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

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 Yelm’s grade

B Test scoresC− Graduation

B−: better than 49% of Washington school districts, #174 of 285 Washington towns. Both inputs trail the Washington average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Washington school districts we grade (289)Better than 49%
Lower resultsHigher results
Washington towns with similar household incomes (270)Better than 47%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,791 test results and a graduating class of 401 could put Yelm anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Yelm’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,780 in math, 2,802 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
9–12Yelm High School 12Yelm Community SchoolsNo scores

Yelm’s public schools are run by Yelm Community Schools. Parts of Yelm (17% of its land) are served by Rainier instead. 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.

Yelm Community SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 5,671 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 20.2 per teacher (WA 17.7)
$17,480WA $18,444 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 53.4% · 2802 students tested
Math36%
State average 40.1% · 2780 students tested

Yelm vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
YelmB−Yelm

Every school in Yelm

6 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 Yelmby address
Fort Stevens Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
462 students15:1Rate it →
Mill Pond Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
374 students17:1Rate it →
Yelm Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
652 students22:1Rate it →
Ridgeline Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
568 students20:1Rate it →
Yelm High School 12
High · Grades 9–12
1,693 students25:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Yelm Extension School
High · Grades 9–12
Alternative Education
116 students29:1Rate it →

Questions about Yelm’s schools

Are Yelm’s schools good?

On Washington’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Yelm children attend score below 51% of Washington’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #174 of 285 Washington towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 47%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Yelm in?

Yelm Community Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,671 students in 10 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Yelm are served by Rainier.

Where do Yelm kids go to high school?

Yelm High School 12, with 1,693 students.

What is Yelm’s graduation rate?

81% of the class of 2023 in Yelm Community Schools graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington.

How much does Yelm spend per student?

$17,480 in Yelm Community Schools (FY2024), against $18,444 across Washington. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Yelm families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Yelm → 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.