Park Middle School, Kennewick WA

Original Research by School Decision on Park Middle School

Park Middle School is a regular public school in Kennewick, serving sixth through eighth grade. It sits within the Kennewick School District, part of Washington’s Tri-Cities area. The student body is large for a middle school and strikingly diverse: the majority of students identify as Hispanic, with white students making up the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Asian, Black, multiracial, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A very high proportion of students come from families with low incomes, qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

State testing results are available for math, English language arts, and science. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency is modest across all three grades, with the seventh-grade cohort performing somewhat stronger than the sixth and eighth grades. In English language arts, the school sees a similar pattern: proficiency is highest in seventh grade and lower in sixth and eighth. Science results, which are only reported for eighth graders, show a modest proficiency rate. Compared with other school districts in Benton County, Park Middle School’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint. Because only a single year of assessment data is available, there is no trend to examine; whether these scores represent a typical year or an unusual one is not yet clear.

The school’s academic context is shaped by the community it serves. Kennewick is the most populous city in the Tri-Cities and has a diversified economy that includes manufacturing, food processing, retail, and services, with employers such as Amazon and Lamb Weston maintaining a presence. The area is growing steadily, described as having the fastest-growing population in Washington State. Housing values in the school’s zip code area are below the statewide median but slightly above the national median. Rents are moderate relative to incomes, and the broader market shows a typical affordability picture for the region. The city itself offers riverfront recreation, a convention center undergoing expansion, sports and event facilities, and a regional airport in nearby Pasco.

The Kennewick School District funds its capital projects and ongoing programs through local bonds and levies, which voters decide. Bonds require a supermajority to pass and finance new buildings and major improvements, while levies support day-to-day operations and programs. The district uses a Facility Study Committee to recommend projects based on enrollment growth and funding. No information was publicly available about recent specific ballot measures or their outcomes.

Several pieces of information are missing that would give a fuller picture. Data on students with disabilities and English learners is not reported. There are no discipline or chronic absenteeism figures, and no detail on course access, staffing, or program offerings such as advanced courses, extracurriculars, or support services. Because Park Middle School is a regular school serving only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. A parent wanting to understand academic supports, special education services, or enrichment options would need to contact the school or the district directly. The school’s testing outcomes suggest that a family focused on strong academic proficiency scores would want to look into what additional help is available and how the school is working to raise achievement, particularly in math and science, where results are lower.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 624%

School 24% · District 31% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 729%

School 29% · District 32% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 31% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 632%

School 32% · District 44% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 745%

School 45% · District 51% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 46% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Science

Grade 817%

School 17% · District 34% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

This schoolKennewick School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income23%Higher-income54%31 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income30%Higher-income50%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income42%Higher-income67%25 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income32%Higher-income50%19 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income10%Higher-income31%21 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income36%14 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income27%Higher-income48%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income16%Higher-income27%11 pp gap