Total enrollment
38,191
+608 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
Benton County
Washington · Public K-12
Across 69 public schools, Benton County, Washington serves roughly 38,191 K-12 students, roughly 1 in 6 residents. By grade band, the county runs 36 elementary, 12 middle, and 17 high schools.
7-year change in Benton County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
66
+6 (+10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
51%
was 59%
% Hispanic
39%
was 32%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
69
6 districts
Enrollment
38,191
NCES CCD
Median income
$89,874
Above Washington avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.5%
Below Washington avg
Elementary
36
16,405 students
Middle
12
8,218 students
High
17
11,970 students
Combined / other
4
1,598 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Kennewick School District
18,826 students · 6 districts in Benton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Benton County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
33.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
36
26.1% under 18
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland High School | Richland | High | 09-12 | 2,218 | · |
| Hanford High School | Richland | High | 09-12 | 1,959 | · |
| Kamiakin High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 1,956 | · |
| Kennewick High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 1,921 | · |
| Southridge High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 1,612 | · |
| Chinook Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 950 | · |
| Desert Hills Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 906 | · |
| Amistad Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 878 | · |
| Prosser High School | Prosser | High | 09-12 | 877 | · |
| Horse Heaven Hills Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 856 | · |
| Leona Libby Middle School | West Richland | Middle | 06-08 | 805 | · |
| Carmichael Middle School | Richland | Middle | 06-08 | 791 | · |
| Three Rivers Home Link | Richland | Combined | KG-12 | 756 | · |
| Enterprise Middle School | West Richland | Middle | 06-08 | 745 | · |
| Highlands Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 745 | · |
| Park Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 688 | · |
| Chief Joseph Middle School | Richland | Middle | 06-08 | 659 | · |
| White Bluffs Elementary School | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 653 | · |
| Fuerza Elementary | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 629 | · |
| Kiona-Benton City Elementary | Benton City | Elementary | PK-05 | 620 | · |
| Badger Mountain Elementary | Richland | Elementary | KG-05 | 605 | · |
| Amon Creek Elementary | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 594 | · |
| Orchard Elementary | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 594 | · |
| Housel Middle School | Prosser | Middle | 06-08 | 529 | · |
| Jason Lee Elementary School | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 518 | · |
| Cascade Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 509 | · |
| Sage Crest Elementary | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 509 | · |
| Mid-Columbia Parent Partnership | Kennewick | Combined | KG-12 | 503 | · |
| William Wiley Elementary School | West Richland | Elementary | KG-05 | 493 | · |
| Cottonwood Elementary | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 474 | · |
| Sacajawea Elementary | Richland | Elementary | KG-05 | 474 | · |
| Lewis & Clark Elementary School | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 471 | · |
| Ridge View Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 471 | · |
| Eastgate Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 468 | · |
| Marcus Whitman Elementary | Richland | Elementary | KG-05 | 467 | · |
| Tapteal Elementary School | West Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 458 | · |
| Desert Sky Elementary | West Richland | Elementary | KG-05 | 441 | · |
| Kiona-Benton City High School | Benton City | High | 09-12 | 435 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 427 | · |
| Westgate Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 426 | · |
| Jefferson Elementary | Richland | Elementary | PK-05 | 418 | · |
| Hawthorne Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 417 | · |
| Southgate Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 416 | · |
| Prosser Heights Elementary | Prosser | Elementary | KG-05 | 412 | · |
| Sunset View Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 411 | · |
| Vista Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 409 | · |
| Keene-Riverview Elementary | Prosser | Elementary | PK-02 | 407 | · |
| Washington Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 405 | · |
| Edison Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 378 | · |
| Finley Elementary | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-05 | 367 | · |
| Canyon View Elementary School | Kennewick | Elementary | KG-05 | 347 | · |
| Kiona-Benton City Middle School | Benton City | Middle | 06-08 | 340 | · |
| Pacific Crest Online Academy | West Richland | Combined | KG-12 | 325 | · |
| River View High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 321 | · |
| Richland School District Early Learning Center | Richland | Elementary | PK-PK | 301 | · |
| Whitstran Elementary | Prosser | Elementary | KG-05 | 261 | · |
| Rivers Edge High School | Richland | High | 09-12 | 245 | · |
| Finley Middle School | Kennewick | Middle | 06-08 | 204 | · |
| Legacy High School | Kennewick | High | 06-12 | 193 | · |
| Keewaydin Discovery Center | Kennewick | Elementary | PK-PK | 143 | · |
| Paterson Elementary School | Paterson | Elementary | KG-08 | 134 | · |
| Endeavor High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 93 | · |
| Phoenix High School | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 58 | · |
| Prosser Opportunity Academy | Prosser | High | 09-12 | 48 | · |
| Benton/Franklin Juvenile Justice Center | Kennewick | High | 06-12 | 34 | · |
| Special Programs | West Richland | Combined | PK-12 | 14 | · |
| Benton County Jail | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Tri-Tech Skills Center | Kennewick | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Twin Rivers Group Home | Richland | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Benton County
About Benton County
Benton County is a mid-sized county of about 212,905 residents in Washington. Its public-school system hosts approximately 38,191 students across 69 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $89,874, about 33% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% above the Washington median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Benton County comprises 36 elementary schools (16,405 students), 12 middle schools (8,218), 17 high schools (11,970), and 4 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Benton County is Kennewick School District, which alone enrolls about 18,826 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 37,583 students in SY 2017-18 versus 38,191 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 60 to 66 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 59% to 51%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Benton County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Benton County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data