La Conner School District, WA

Original Research by School Decision on La Conner School District

La Conner School District serves kindergarten through twelfth grade in Skagit County, a small district that sits along the Swinomish Channel and agricultural river valleys of the region. The district comprises three schools: an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. Total enrollment is modest for a K-12 system, and grade-level counts are fairly even through the middle and high school years.

The student body is notably diverse. Just under half of students are White, and roughly a third are American Indian or Alaska Native. Students who identify as two or more races make up a noticeable share of the enrollment, and Hispanic students account for another portion. Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students each represent a very small presence. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and on special education or English learner status was not available in the data provided.

On state assessments from the 2024-25 school year, math proficiency rates across grades three through eight ranged unevenly, with a peak in fourth grade where more than half of students met the bar, and a low point in eighth grade near a fifth of students. English language arts proficiency also varied by grade, with rates generally hovering below half in every tested grade. Science results were reported for fifth and eighth grades; fifth grade showed a stronger outcome, while eighth grade dipped considerably. When placed against other districts in Skagit County, La Conner's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among the six districts with reported data, meaning the district is not the lowest but does not rank among the top performers in this particular county comparison.

Chronic absenteeism is a clear soft spot. The district's chronic absenteeism rate places it in the bottom quartile among Skagit County's districts, by a wide margin. A parent moving into the area may want to ask the school leadership directly about what drives that pattern and what supports are in place to improve daily attendance.

Per-pupil current spending is at the upper range among the county's districts, which is an important financial context. The district spends more per student than most of its neighbors, a figure that may reflect the small scale of operations, concentrated student needs, or a combination of both.

High school graduation rate data was not available in the provided information, so this gap leaves a central question unanswered. Without it, a parent weighing the high school experience will need to seek that figure from the school or the state report card directly. The district's course offerings and academic programs were also not reported here, so the breadth of Advanced Placement, career-technical, or dual-credit pathways is unknown from this data.

The district brief search found no recent major referendum, curriculum overhaul, property-tax change, or pedagogy shift that would register as a lasting-impact event. That does not mean the district is static; it means no publicly reported structural change crossed the threshold of clear significance in the recent window.

Housing in the district area covers several distinct markets. Home values show a wide spread, from a notably higher-priced area in Anacortes to a more moderate range in the town of La Conner itself, with Mount Vernon-area homes in between. Rents follow a similar pattern where data is available. The housing picture suggests a mix of small-town and rural affordability, with the higher-cost edge of Anacortes likely not the typical entry point for a La Conner district family.

For a family considering this district, the picture is one of a small, culturally varied school system with spending that outpaces most nearby districts but academic proficiency that lands around the middle of the county pack. The chronic absenteeism figure is a meaningful concern, and the missing graduation rate is a gap worth filling before making a decision. The absence of program data means any family looking for a particular academic pathway should confirm availability directly with the district. This is a district that likely fits a family looking for a small-scale, rural Skagit Valley setting, with a student body that includes a large American Indian presence that shapes the community character. The academic numbers do not place it among the strongest in the county, but they also do not place it at the bottom, and the spending level suggests resources are not the limiting factor.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

517

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 12%

Black 0%

White 41%

Asian 0%

Two+ 12%

Am. Indian / AK Native 34%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

—

54%

Gr 4

22%

73%

Gr 5

22%

55%

Gr 6

23%

65%

Gr 7

22%

64%

Gr 8

18%

54%

Math

Gr 3

—

69%

Gr 4

33%

—

Gr 5

—

64%

Gr 6

23%

53%

Gr 7

—

64%

Gr 8

—

31%

Science

Gr 5

35%

64%

Gr 8

—

46%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

La Conner Elementary

La Conner High School

La Conner Middle

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

52%

Grade 4

29%

Grade 5

36%

Grade 6

33%

Grade 7

20%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

31%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

44%

Grade 5

26%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$509,074

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$459K to $727K

vs. state typical0.84x

vs. national typical1.38x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
98257	La Conner	$459K	-2.1%	55.6%
98273	Mount Vernon	$570K	+1.8%	44.0%
98221	Anacortes	$727K	+0.6%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,815/mo

Year-over-year change+3.3%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,807 to $2,591/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
98273	Mount Vernon	$1,807	+3.3%	44.0%
98221	Anacortes	$2,591	+3.1%	0.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,569/mo

Home price / national median income6.1x

Annual rent / national median income26.0%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$754/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$604,087 (-0.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.