The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Willapa Valley Middle-high
Willapa Valley Middle-High is a small, rural combined school serving grades six through twelve in Raymond, Washington. It is a regular public school within the Willapa Valley School District, and it sits in a town whose economy has long relied on logging and fishing, with a more recent addition of cannabis-related businesses. For a parent considering this school, the picture that emerges is one of a tight-knit academic setting where most families are white and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and where the school’s academic performance on state assessments places it among the strongest in Pacific County.
The school’s enrollment is small, which means students move through the grades in a close community. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest proportion of Hispanic students and a small number of multiracial and Native American students. About two-fifths of students come from low-income households, a share that is substantial but not out of line for a rural coastal town. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data provided.
On state assessments administered in the 2024–25 school year, Willapa Valley Middle-High showed proficiency rates that varied by grade and subject. In English language arts, roughly half to just over two-thirds of students met the bar, with the highest performance in eighth grade. In math, proficiency was lower overall, though it climbed from the sixth grade level to a little over half in eighth grade. Science results for eighth graders fell above the midpoint of possible outcomes. When combined across all tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index is among the highest of the districts in Pacific County, a point of comparative strength. The data covers only a single year, so there is no multi-year trend to examine.
The school does not have a reported graduation rate in this data set. That is a notable gap for a school that serves grades eleven and twelve. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its graduation outcomes and what supports are in place for students completing high school. Similarly, there was no information available on chronic absenteeism, course access, staffing, or discipline. The absence of these details does not signal a problem, but it means a family should follow up with the school to understand the learning environment more fully.
The town of Raymond is small and rural, situated along the Willapa River near Willapa Bay. Its historic downtown includes the Raymond Theatre, a sculpture corridor along the Willapa Hills Trail, and a handful of museums. Residential areas surround a modest commercial core. The population has grown slowly in recent years, and the median home value has climbed from a lower base, though no major new housing developments were identified. For families moving into the area, housing is generally affordable relative to state averages, and the school is the only secondary option within the district.
No recent district-level changes, such as boundary shifts or major program overhauls, were found in available records. The district brief turned up little of lasting impact, so it was left out rather than guessed.
Willapa Valley Middle-High offers a small-school environment in a rural setting where a family’s child will likely be known by staff across multiple grade levels. Its academic performance, especially in literacy and science, is a relative strength within the county, while math proficiency is more uneven. The missing graduation rate and the lack of details on course access and student supports are the main points a parent would want to clarify before enrolling. For a family that values a close-knit, low-key school in a town with a working waterfront and a growing cannabis sector, this could be a fitting choice. For those who want to see a fuller picture of postsecondary readiness and program depth, the school itself is the best source of answers.
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