Adams County Schools & Education
Adams County, Washington
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
76.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
76.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 81.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,585
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 51/100
State Score Position
#37
of 39 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Adams County
Measured School Summary
Adams County faces educational challenges with a school score of 40/100 and a graduation rate of 76.6%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
Adams County spends $8,585 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 22% below the Washington average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Adams County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
17 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
40/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #37 of 39 Washington counties with school score data.
Completion
76.6%
4.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,585
$665 below the state average
School coverage
17
5 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Adams County has 17 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Adams County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Adams County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#37
of 39 Washington counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Othello School District
Elementary to high school visible
4,751 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Ritzville School District
Elementary to high school visible
362 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Lind School District
Elementary to high school visible
219 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Washtucna School District
Other grade structure
73 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Othello School District is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Adams County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Adams County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Adams County, Washington
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Small but Growing Rural Network
Adams County manages a network of 17 public schools serving 5,410 students across five distinct districts. The infrastructure includes seven elementary, three middle, and five high schools, supported by two alternative learning facilities. This rural setup ensures that education is decentralized across the county's major agricultural hubs.
Othello Leads the County Enrollment
Othello School District is the county's primary educational provider, managing nine schools and 4,751 students. Smaller districts like Ritzville and Lind serve fewer than 400 students each. There are currently no charter schools operating within the county boundaries.
Town Centers and Rural Classrooms
Schools are split between nine rural settings and eight town locations, with an average school size of 318 students. Othello High School is the largest campus with 1,333 students, while local elementary schools maintain a more intimate feel. The district landscape transitions quickly from small-town hubs to vast agricultural expanses.
School Overview
Total Schools
17
in Adams County
Reported Enrollment
5,410
17 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Adams County
Othello School District
GuideRitzville School District
Lind School District
Washtucna School District
Benge School District
17 Public Schools in Adams County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 17 of 17 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othello High School | Profile | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,333 |
| McFarland Middle School | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 720 |
| Scootney Springs Elementary | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 615 |
| Hiawatha Elementary School | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 602 |
| Wahitis Elementary School | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 582 |
| Lutacaga Elementary | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 574 |
| Early Childhood Center | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | PK | Other | 202 |
| Ritzville Grade School | Record | Ritzville School District | Ritzville, 99169Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 154 |
| Lind Elementary School | Record | Lind School District | Lind, 99341Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 116 |
| Ritzville High School | Record | Ritzville School District | Ritzville, 99169Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 114 |
| Desert Oasis High School | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 100 |
| Lind Ritzville Middle School | Record | Ritzville School District | LInd, 99341Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 94 |
| Washtucna Elementary/High School | Record | Washtucna School District | Washtucna, 99371Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 73 |
| Lind-Ritzville Middle School | Record | Lind School District | Lind, 99341Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 53 |
| Lind-Ritzville High School | Record | Lind School District | Ritzville, 99169Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 50 |
| Open Door Re-Engagement | Record | Othello School District | Othello, 99344Town: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 23 |
| Benge Elementary | Record | Benge School District | Benge, 99105Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 5 |
Othello High School
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
McFarland Middle School
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Scootney Springs Elementary
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Hiawatha Elementary School
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Wahitis Elementary School
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Rural: Fringe
Lutacaga Elementary
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Early Childhood Center
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Ritzville Grade School
Ritzville School District
Ritzville, 99169 / Rural: Remote
Ritzville High School
Ritzville School District
Ritzville, 99169 / Rural: Remote
Desert Oasis High School
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Lind Ritzville Middle School
Ritzville School District
LInd, 99341 / Rural: Remote
Washtucna Elementary/High School
Washtucna School District
Washtucna, 99371 / Rural: Remote
Lind-Ritzville Middle School
Lind School District
Lind, 99341 / Rural: Remote
Lind-Ritzville High School
Lind School District
Ritzville, 99169 / Rural: Remote
Open Door Re-Engagement
Othello School District
Othello, 99344 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,585
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Adams County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Washington counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Washington?
How should I read the school score in Adams County?
What is the graduation rate in Adams County?
How much does Adams County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Adams County, Washington — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Adams County, Washington?
Adams County manages a network of 17 public schools serving 5,410 students across five distinct districts. The infrastructure includes seven elementary, three middle, and five high schools, supported by two alternative learning facilities. This rural setup ensures that education is decentralized across the county's major agricultural hubs.
What are the major school districts in Adams County, Washington?
Othello School District is the county's primary educational provider, managing nine schools and 4,751 students. Smaller districts like Ritzville and Lind serve fewer than 400 students each. There are currently no charter schools operating within the county boundaries.
What is the school experience like in Adams County?
Schools are split between nine rural settings and eight town locations, with an average school size of 318 students. Othello High School is the largest campus with 1,333 students, while local elementary schools maintain a more intimate feel. The district landscape transitions quickly from small-town hubs to vast agricultural expanses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.