Wahkiakum School District

Cathlamet, Washington — 2 schools

431
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$20,094
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wahkiakum School District operates 2 public schools serving 431 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 399 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Wahkiakum County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,094 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 15.1% local, 74.3% state, and 10.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $79,267 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 60/100, ranked #75 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 211.7:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 15.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.7% White, 12.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian across the district's schools.

Julius a Wendt Elementary/John C Thomas Middle School accounts for 68.2% of all Wahkiakum School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Wahkiakum School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Wahkiakum School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 54.5% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Wahkiakum School District student-counselor ratio is 212:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Wahkiakum School District chronic absenteeism rate is 15.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Wahkiakum School District is typically wider than the Wahkiakum School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.6%
Federal
74.3%
State
15.1%
Local

Funding Equity

60
Equity Score
75 / 240
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Wahkiakum County county, where this district is located.

$798
Studio/mo
$1,021
1 BR/mo
$1,137
2 BR/mo
$1,581
3 BR/mo
$1,907
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$79,267
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Wahkiakum School District.

White 77.7%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 7.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
211.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Wahkiakum School District

School Enrollment
Julius a Wendt Elementary/John C Thomas Middle School
272
Wahkiakum High School
127

Nearby Districts in Washington

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Seattle School District No. 1
51,238 students · 109 schools · $25,927/pupil
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Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $19,952/pupil
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Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $24,487/pupil
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Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $23,190/pupil
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Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,780/pupil
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Compare Wahkiakum School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Wahkiakum School District?

Wahkiakum School District has 2 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 431 students.

How much does Wahkiakum School District spend per student?

Wahkiakum School District spends $20,094 per student. The district has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #75 in Washington.

What is the average teacher salary in Wahkiakum School District?

The average teacher salary in Wahkiakum School District is $79,267 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Wahkiakum School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wahkiakum County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Wahkiakum School District?

Wahkiakum School District students are 77.7% White, 12.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wahkiakum School District?

Wahkiakum School District has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #75 out of 240 districts in Washington. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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