Pullman School District, WA

Original Research by School Decision on Pullman School District

The Pullman School District serves a student population that reflects a small city anchored by a major university. Enrollment across the PK-12 span is modest for a full-grade district, with slightly larger cohorts in the early elementary and middle school years and a balanced high school. The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian, two-or-more-races, Black, Native American, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners were not available; a parent seeking a fuller picture of the district’s economic and support needs would want to raise these questions directly with the district.

Academically, the district performs well compared with its peers. On Washington’s state assessments, a majority of students in every tested grade met proficiency in math and English language arts, with particularly strong English results in the upper elementary grades. Science proficiency was also solid, especially in fifth grade. The district’s overall proficiency index lands in the top tier among Whitman County’s districts, a clear strength. Chronic absenteeism, a measure that often signals engagement or access challenges, is lower than the county median and also in the top quartile, suggesting that most students attend regularly. These are encouraging signs for families looking for a district where most students are on track academically.

At the same time, the achievement picture is not uniform. Math proficiency dipped slightly in eighth grade, and English proficiency showed a wider spread across grades. The available data covers only a single school year, so no trend is yet observable; a parent with a student entering the district may want to ask school leaders how these results compare with prior years and what interventions are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.

The district’s per-pupil spending places it in the lower range among the county’s districts, which may reflect differences in local funding or economies of scale. A lower spending figure is not inherently a weakness, but it warrants a conversation with the district about how resources are allocated and whether class sizes, support staff, and program offerings meet expectations.

The housing market in the district’s primary zip code, Pullman, shows home values roughly in line with the national median, though they have eased slightly year-over-year. Rents have edged upward. The affordability picture for a typical household is mixed: the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is well above the typical rent, meaning homeownership may be a stretch for many families, while rents as a share of income appear manageable. This economic context is typical of a small college city where the rental market is driven by student demand.

A pair of recent ballot measures points to active investment in the district’s physical and operational infrastructure. In early 2023, voters approved a bond to fund construction of a new elementary school, a direct response to overcrowding. Later that same year, a capital projects levy passed to pay for safety and security upgrades, technology improvements, and new school buses. For a family considering the district, these are concrete, parent-relevant changes: a new elementary school will affect attendance boundaries and class sizes, and the levy-funded improvements address safety and technology that touch every student’s daily experience.

The district operates six schools: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, plus an additional elementary site. No information was available on course offerings, advanced placement or dual-credit programs, career and technical education pathways, or staffing ratios. A parent of a secondary student in particular would want to follow up with the high school directly to understand the breadth of academic and extracurricular options. Similarly, civil-rights data such as discipline rates and equity metrics were not provided; a family with specific concerns about school climate should ask the district for its most recent reports.

Overall, the Pullman School District presents as a solid academic performer within its county, with a majority of students meeting state standards and notably low chronic absenteeism. The recent bonds and levies signal a community willing to invest in its schools. The main gaps in publicly available data are around student economic demographics, special programs, and high school outcomes. Those are the natural next questions for anyone assessing whether this district fits their child’s needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,689

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 16%

Black 3%

White 64%

Asian 7%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

40%

73%

Gr 4

34%

73%

Gr 5

49%

90%

Gr 6

57%

80%

Gr 7

43%

74%

Gr 8

49%

73%

Math

Gr 3

38%

75%

Gr 4

38%

79%

Gr 5

44%

76%

Gr 6

47%

73%

Gr 7

41%

68%

Gr 8

33%

67%

Science

Gr 5

48%

90%

Gr 8

48%

74%

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Franklin Elementary

Jefferson Elementary

Lincoln Middle School

Pullman High School

Sunnyside Elementary

Kamiak Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

58%

Grade 3

62%

Grade 4

64%

Grade 5

63%

Grade 6

59%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

57%

Grade 3

56%

Grade 4

75%

Grade 5

71%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

63%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

74%

Grade 5

63%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$426,372

Year-over-year change-3.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$318K to $430K

vs. state typical0.71x

vs. national typical1.16x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
99163	Pullman	$430K	-3.6%	92.5%
99113	Colton	$401K	-5.6%	5.3%
99111	Colfax	$318K	-1.6%	1.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,320/mo

Year-over-year change+4.6%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,175 to $1,323/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
99163	Pullman	$1,323	+4.6%	92.5%
99111	Colfax	$1,175	—	1.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,151/mo

Home price / national median income5.1x

Annual rent / national median income18.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$831/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.