Total enrollment
52,145
-2,283 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
Yakima County
Washington · Public K-12
Public education in Yakima County reaches 52,145 students across 119 schools. Yakima School District is the largest district at 15,488 students. By grade band, the county runs 58 elementary, 19 middle, and 42 high schools.
7-year change in Yakima County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
113
+11 (+11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
20%
was 24%
% Hispanic
73%
was 69%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
119
17 districts
Enrollment
52,145
NCES CCD
Median income
$70,656
Below Washington avg
Free/reduced lunch
77.2%
Above Washington avg
Elementary
58
23,213 students
Middle
19
11,319 students
High
42
17,613 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Yakima School District
15,488 students · 17 districts in Yakima County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Yakima 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+
19.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.3%
civilian labor
Median age
33
28.9% under 18
Test scores in Yakima County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 73 schools ranked. Washington state average: 58.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Highland High School· 80.2%
- Naches Valley High School· 70.3%
- East Valley High School· 67.7%
- West Valley High School· 67.6%
- Zillah High School· 67.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- K-8 Learning Lab· 13.3%
- Adams Elementary· 18.4%
- Artz Fox Elementary· 18.6%
- Mckinley Elementary School· 18.6%
- Pioneer Elementary School· 18.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Detention Center | Yakima | High | 05-12 | 23 | · |
| WEST VALLEY VIRTUAL ACADEMY 7-8 | Yakima | Middle | 07-08 | 21 | · |
| West Valley Open Doors | Yakima | High | 09-12 | 14 | · |
| Yakima Satellite Alternative Programs | Yakima | High | 06-12 | 14 | · |
| Selah Academy Auxiliary | Yakima | High | 06-12 | 13 | · |
| Selah Open Doors | Selah | High | 09-12 | 13 | · |
| Wapato Online Academy 6-8 | Wapato | Middle | 06-08 | 8 | · |
| Wapato Online Academy K-5 | Wapato | Elementary | KG-05 | 6 | · |
| Step to College Open Doors High School | Grandview | High | 09-12 | 5 | · |
| SHS Graduation Alliance | Sunnyside | High | 09-12 | 4 | · |
| Ridgeview Group Home | Yakima | High | 07-12 | 3 | · |
| West Valley Virtual University | Yakima | High | 09-12 | 2 | · |
| Mabton Step Up To College | Grandview | High | 09-12 | 1 | · |
| NACHES VALLEY ESD 105 OPEN DOORS | Yakima | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| SELAH ACADEMY REENGAGEMENT PROGRAM | Selah | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Wapato ESD 105 Open Doors | Yakima | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Yakima Adult Jail | Yakima | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital dba Children's Village | Yakima | Elementary | PK-PK | 0 | · |
| Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center | Yakima | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Yakima County
Yakima49 schoolsWapato10 schoolsSelah9 schoolsGrandview8 schoolsSunnyside8 schoolsToppenish8 schoolsYakima4 schoolsZillah4 schoolsCowiche3 schoolsGranger3 schoolsNaches3 schoolsMabton2 schoolsWhite Swan2 schoolsHarrah1 schoolMoxee1 schoolOutlook1 schoolTieton1 schoolToppenish1 schoolUnion Gap1 school
About Yakima County
In Washington, Yakima County is a sprawling county of about 257,152 residents. 119 public schools across the county hosts about 52,145 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,656, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 11% lower than the Washington median.
On the school-mix side, Yakima County consists of 58 elementary schools (23,213 students), 19 middle schools (11,319), and 42 high schools (17,613).
Yakima School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 15,488 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Yakima County has shrank 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 54,428 students to 52,145. Over that span, Yakima County gained 11 schools, going from 102 to 113. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment grew from 69% to 73%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Yakima County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Yakima County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data