The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Post Middle School
Post Middle School serves grades six through eight in Arlington, Washington, a Snohomish County city that has transformed from a timber and agriculture hub into a suburban community with a growing service and aviation economy. The school sits within the Arlington School District, which in early 2024 narrowly approved a technology levy that funds student devices, classroom technology, and STEM resources through 2028. The district has also adopted a five-year Strategic Plan focused on student achievement, whole-child wellness, and community engagement, and is currently undertaking new curriculum adoptions for elementary English language arts and K-12 science.
The school enrolls roughly 600 students across three grade levels in roughly even distribution. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population as the largest non-white group and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported.
On state assessments, proficiency rates in English language arts and math vary by grade level and subject. In sixth grade, English language arts proficiency sits around the midpoint among tested students, while seventh grade shows a slightly higher share meeting the bar. Eighth grade English language arts proficiency is lower than both earlier grades. In math, sixth and seventh grade proficiency rates are similar to each other and fall below the majority of students, while eighth grade math proficiency is notably lower. Science proficiency, assessed only in eighth grade, is in a similar range to the math results for that grade. Measured against other middle schools across Snohomish County districts, Post Middle School’s overall proficiency index — a composite of all tested subjects and grades — falls below the midpoint of the cohort.
The school operates as a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet school. Title I status was not available in the data provided. The surrounding housing market in Arlington reflects the broader upward pressure common to the region. The typical home value in the area has risen modestly year over year, and rents have also increased, making housing costs a consideration for families moving into the district.
The community of Arlington itself has experienced rapid growth since the 1980s, with suburban housing developments and commercial corridors reshaping the built environment. A traditional downtown sits on a bluff above the Stillaguamish River, but much of daily life plays out in the broader suburban footprint. Major employers include an Amazon distribution center near the municipal airport and the Cascade Industrial Center, a large planned manufacturing and industrial zone between Arlington and Marysville. The city’s population continues to grow, with recent development including new apartment buildings in the Smokey Point area.
For a family considering Post Middle School, the academic picture is mixed. The school offers a standard middle school pathway within a district that is investing in technology and curriculum renewal. The testing numbers suggest that for a parent, it would be worth understanding how the school supports students who are not yet at the proficiency bar, particularly in eighth grade math and science, where the numbers are lower. The school’s overall proficiency standing relative to other Snohomish County schools is a soft spot; a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the specific instructional strategies and supports in place. The district’s new strategic plan does call out closing achievement gaps and increasing graduation rates as priorities, which speaks to an awareness of this challenge. Arlington’s housing costs and growth trajectory mean that the community itself is in flux, which can affect school resources and peer dynamics over time. This is a school that fits a family looking for a midsized suburban middle school within a district that is actively updating its programs, where the academic results are not the strongest in the county but where the district has identified improvement as a clear goal.
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