Original Research by School Decision on Royal High School
Royal High School serves grades nine through twelve in the small agricultural town of Royal City, located in the Columbia Basin of central Washington. The school is part of the Royal School District, which has invested in its facilities in recent years. A community-backed bond funded modernization projects across the district, including at the high school and its gym, and by the end of 2021 all district buildings were either new or recently remodeled. This means the physical plant a student walks into each day is a relatively recent investment.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a much smaller share of white students and a very small number of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on the share of students with an Individualized Education Program or who are English learners was not available in the source data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education and language support services.
State testing results from the most recent school year show a mixed picture. In English language arts, a majority of students met the proficiency standard. In science, a smaller share met the standard. In math, the proficiency rate was lower, with about a quarter of students meeting the bar. These results represent a single year of data, so there is no trend to examine. A parent may want to discuss math support and intervention with the school.
The school sits in Royal City, a small agricultural community in the Columbia Basin where the economy is driven by farming of apples, cherries, potatoes, onions, wine grapes, and other crops. The town is predominantly Hispanic and has a young median age. The population has been declining in recent years, and employment has also contracted, though median household income has grown. Housing values in the area are well below the state benchmark, making the community more affordable than many parts of Washington. The town is car-dependent, with most residents driving alone to work, and the built environment is low-density.
The Royal School District has invested in its facilities. A bond passed in a recent year funded modernization of the bus garage, middle school, high school, and high school gym, and Red Rock Elementary completed a major remodel. By the end of 2021, all district buildings were either new or recently updated. This means the high school building itself is a point of strength for the district.
The school's academic profile is one where a parent will want to look closely at math outcomes. English language arts proficiency is a relative strength, with a majority of students meeting the standard, while math proficiency is lower. Science proficiency sits between the two. The school serves a high-poverty student population, and the community is predominantly Hispanic. For a family considering Royal High School, the key considerations are the affordable housing market, the small-town agricultural setting, the recently modernized facilities, and the need to understand the school's approach to math instruction and support.
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