The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 51% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Middle School
Highland Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grade as a regular public school within the Mead School District in Spokane, Washington. The school is located in the northwestern part of the city, in a residential area west of Hawthorne Road. Spokane itself is the economic and cultural center of the Inland Northwest, a city that has diversified its economy from mining, timber, and agriculture into healthcare, government, education, and logistics. The Spokane River runs through downtown, and the city hosts large-scale events including the Lilac Bloomsday Run and Hoopfest, contributing to a lively civic life even outside the downtown core. The Mead School District voters approved a replacement Educational Programs and Operations levy in 2023, which funds a meaningful portion of the district's operating budget and supports staff, curriculum, technology, athletics, and extracurriculars through 2027, providing stable funding that directly affects Highland's programming.
Academically, Highland Middle School's state assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show a solid profile that sits above the midpoint among districts in Spokane County. On a composite measure of proficiency across tested subjects and grades, the school lands in the top quartile relative to other county districts, which is a clear strength. In English language arts, proficiency rates were reported across all three grade levels, with a combined rate that reflects a strong foundational performance. Mathematics proficiency rates were somewhat lower than English language arts across the board but still showed a range that included a notably higher result for eighth graders. Science proficiency, measured only in eighth grade, was reported at a level that suggests a majority of students are meeting the standard. The school has only a single year of state testing data available in this format, so trends over time cannot yet be assessed. A parent will want to look into the school's approach to math instruction, given the spread between math and reading results, and ask how the school supports students who are below the proficiency bar.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of students who identify as two or more races, a modest Hispanic population, and very small numbers of Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. About a quarter of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is lower than many schools in the region. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in this record, a gap a parent may want to clarify with the school directly to understand the full range of student support services.
Highland sits in a housing market that is relatively more affordable than in western Washington, with median home values and rents that are measured against both state and national benchmarks. The typical home in the school's zip code is priced such that the estimated monthly mortgage payment is higher than the estimated rent for a comparable unit, a dynamic that reflects the spread between buying and renting in this market. The broader national context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate that has been fluctuating in a range that makes housing affordability a live concern for many families, though Spokane remains less expensive than the state average.
The school serves grades six through eight, a typical middle school configuration, and is classified as a regular school with no charter or magnet designation. Title I status was not reported, and data on discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance were all absent from this record. These are meaningful gaps. A family considering Highland will want to ask about class sizes, the range of elective and enrichment offerings available to middle schoolers, and any patterns in disciplinary practices or chronic absenteeism. Similarly, civil rights and outcome data were not available, so questions about equitable access to advanced coursework or disparate discipline rates would need to be directed to the district office or the school itself.
The Mead School District's operational levy was recently renewed by voters with strong support, which signals community backing for educational spending. For a family looking at Highland Middle School, the academic picture is one of above-average results compared to other middle schools in Spokane County, particularly in English language arts, with room for improvement in math. The student population is fairly homogenous racially and economically, and the school sits in a district with stable local funding. The missing data points around staffing, discipline, and special populations are the main areas where a parent would need to do their own digging to get a full sense of the school's environment and day-to-day experience.
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