Original Research by School Decision on Waits River Union High District #36
Waits River Union High District #36 is a small, rural Vermont district serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from a single school, Waits River Valley Union School. The enrollment is modest for a district spanning that many grade levels, and the student body is almost entirely white, with only a handful of students identifying as Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. Class sizes shrink considerably in the upper grades, with the smallest cohorts in the final years of high school. That pattern is typical of a small community school where some families may transition older students to other options as they approach graduation.
State assessment results were not available in the data we reviewed. The district's academic performance summary and multi-year trend sections were both empty, so we cannot characterize how students are performing on standardized tests. The same applies to the four-year graduation rate, which was also missing. For a district serving high school grades, a parent may want to ask the school directly about both assessment results and graduation outcomes, since neither was reported in the available data.
Chronic absenteeism, by contrast, was reported, and it sits above the midpoint among Orange County's districts. The district's rate is lower than the county median but still on the higher side relative to the full range of peers. Per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range, slightly below the county median among the districts where spending was reported.
Free and reduced-price lunch data was missing, as were IEP and English learner figures. Without these, it is hard to characterize the level of economic need or the share of students receiving special education or language support services. A parent whose child receives or may need these services should contact the district directly.
The district covers parts of several Orange County communities, with housing values concentrated in the Corinth and Topsham zip codes. Home values in the district run below both the Vermont state benchmark and the national benchmark, which positions the area as relatively affordable compared with the state as a whole. Estimated monthly mortgage costs reflect the current rate environment, and the price-to-income ratio sits below levels seen in many parts of the country. Rental data was not available. The broader economic picture includes a national unemployment rate that has held steady, and median household income figures that have edged upward in recent years.
We searched for recent district-level changes that might matter to parents, including curriculum updates, referendum outcomes, or property tax shifts, but found little of lasting impact that has been publicly reported. Search results turned up directory information, demographic data, and financial statements rather than specific programmatic changes.
No civil rights data was provided, and the school environment and access section, which would cover discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance patterns, was also empty. Without discipline or course-access data, we cannot speak to those dimensions of student experience. Program offerings were not listed, so we cannot describe Advanced Placement, career pathways, dual-credit options, or extracurriculars. A family considering this district should ask the school what courses and programs are available, particularly for upper-grade students given the small high school cohorts.
What the data does show is a small, rural district operating on a single-campus model, serving a tight-knit community where housing is modestly priced relative to the state. The gaps in academic reporting are the most consequential omission here. For a parent weighing this district, the next step is to go directly to the school for assessment results, graduation rates, and program details, since none of those appeared in what we received.
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