Walla Walla Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Walla Walla, Washington - 15 schools

An equity score of 66/100 ranks Walla Walla Public Schools #56 of 239 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,029 per pupil, Walla Walla Public Schools ranks #221 of 311 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

5,599
Total Enrollment
15
Schools
$17,029
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Walla Walla Public Schools operates 15 public schools serving 5,599 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 5 combined, 3 high, 2 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Walla Walla County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,029 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 311 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 11.6% local, 76.2% state, and 12.2% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 66/100, ranked #56 of 239 in Washington against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 15 schools offering Advanced Placement (17 AP courses district-wide), a 301.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 47.0% White, 46.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Walla Walla County Juvenile Detention, with a diversity index of 64.0/100.

Its largest campus is Walla Walla High School, enrolling 1,554 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Walla Walla County Juvenile Detention, at 5 students, a 311x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Walla Walla High School accounts for 27.8% of all Walla Walla Public Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Walla Walla Public Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Walla Walla Public Schools school enrollment varies 311× across entities

Walla Walla Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 5 students (lowest) to 1,554 students (highest), a spread of 1,549 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Walla Walla Public Schools reports 62.4% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Walla Walla Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 302:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Walla Walla Public Schools is typically wider than the Walla Walla Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Walla Walla Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 24.8% — 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 Walla Walla Public Schools is typically wider than the Walla Walla Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.2%
Federal
76.2%
State
11.6%
Local

Funding Equity

66
Equity Score
56 / 239
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 15 schools in Walla Walla Public Schools.

White 47.0%
Hispanic or Latino 46.0%
African American 1.0%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 3.0%
Other 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 52.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Walla Walla Public Schools's schools, about the same as the Washington average of 53.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Walla Walla County Juvenile Detention 64.0
  2. 2 Garrison Middle School 56.5
  3. 3 Walla Walla Center for Children and Families 56.4
  4. 4 Walla Walla High School 56.0
  5. 5 Pioneer Middle School 55.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 15
Schools with AP
17 AP courses total
301.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Walla Walla Public Schools

School Enrollment
Walla Walla High School
1,554
Pioneer Middle School
601
Garrison Middle School
546
Green Park Elementary School
526
Edison Elementary School
464
Prospect Point Elementary
414
Sharpstein Elementary School
340
Berney Elementary School
324
Lincoln High School
186
Head Start
112
Walla Walla Center for Children and Families
108
Walla Walla Open Doors
105
Walla Walla Online
72
Se Area Technical Skills Center
6
Walla Walla County Juvenile Detention
5

How Walla Walla Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Washington districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
University Place School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Cheney School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Yelm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Arlington School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
West Valley School District (Yakima) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Walla Walla Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $21,806/pupil
Compare vs Walla Walla Public Schools →
Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $17,053/pupil
Compare vs Walla Walla Public Schools →
Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $18,334/pupil
Compare vs Walla Walla Public Schools →
Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $19,679/pupil
Compare vs Walla Walla Public Schools →
Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,199/pupil
Compare vs Walla Walla Public Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Walla Walla Public Schools

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

Compare vs Seattle School District No. 1 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Walla Walla Public Schools?

Walla Walla Public Schools has 15 schools, including 3 high, 2 middle, 5 elementary, 5 combined. Total enrollment is 5,599 students.

How much does Walla Walla Public Schools spend per student?

Walla Walla Public Schools spends $17,029 per student. The district has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #56 in Washington.

What is the demographic composition of Walla Walla Public Schools?

Walla Walla Public Schools students are 47.0% White, 46.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, 1.0% African American, averaged across 15 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Walla Walla Public Schools?

Walla Walla Public Schools has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #56 out of 239 districts in Washington.