The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pateros High School
Pateros High School serves roughly a hundred students across grades seven through twelve in a town that is set at the confluence of the Methow and Columbia Rivers. The school is the secondary campus of the Pateros School District, which is the only public school system in this very small, rural community. The town itself is compact, sitting along the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway, and over the past several decades it has endured two major disruptions: the construction of Wells Dam in the 1960s, which flooded the original townsite, and the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire, which destroyed at least 95 homes. The population has declined since the mid-twentieth century, and the area remains oriented around agriculture, recreation, and a modest tourism economy.
Students at Pateros High School are predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of white students and a small number of students who are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Black. A large majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding community.
State testing results from the most recent year show that in eighth-grade math, just over a quarter of students met the proficiency standard, while in seventh-grade math the results were suppressed due to small group size. In English language arts, roughly two out of five seventh graders and about half of eighth graders scored proficient. Eighth-grade science results showed a similar pattern, with proficiency just under half. When all tested grades and subjects are combined into a single index, the school’s overall proficiency places it above the midpoint among districts in Okanogan County. The data covers only one year, so there is no available trend to gauge whether performance has been moving upward or downward.
As a school that includes high school grades, the graduation rate is a standard measure of student outcomes, but no graduation rate was reported in the data. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its four-year completion rate.
The data on programs, course access, and staffing is not available for this school, so it is not possible to describe the breadth of coursework, the availability of Advanced Placement or career and technical education classes, or the student-to-teacher ratio. Parents interested in those specifics would need to speak with the school or visit its website.
No parent-relevant changes, such as a recent bond measure, a curriculum overhaul, or a boundary shift, were found for the Pateros district in the search conducted. The community appears stable, if small, with limited visible development pressure. The school’s role in the town is central by default, as it is the only secondary option for local families.
For a family considering Pateros, the picture is one of a very small, rural school whose student body is economically diverse and predominantly Hispanic. The school serves the full range of secondary grades under one roof, which can offer a close-knit environment but also means a limited number of classmates at each grade level. The academic results, based on the single year of full data, show that proficiency in math, English, and science falls below a majority of students meeting the standard, though the school sits above the median when compared with other districts in this rural county. A parent may want to examine whether the school offers the specific academic pathways, electives, and support programs their child needs, especially given the absence of detailed program information in the available records.
See more original research from School Decision →