schoolsbycounty

Benton County Schools & Education

Benton County, Washington

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

84.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 81.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,952

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 51/100

State Score Position

#17

of 39 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Benton County

Measured School Summary

Benton County has midrange measured school signals (score: 50/100) with a graduation rate of 84.8%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Benton County spends $8,952 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 1% below the Washington average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Benton 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

69 public schools and 6 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

50/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #17 of 39 Washington counties with school score data.

Completion

84.8%

3.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,952

$298 below the state average

School coverage

69

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Benton County has 69 public schools across 6 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.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Benton 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.

Mixed school landscape

Benton County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#17

of 39 Washington counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.

Kennewick School District

Elementary to high school visible

19,311 students

Elementary 17Middle 5High 9Other 2

33 listed schools in this county slice.

Richland School District

Elementary to high school visible

13,948 students

Elementary 11Middle 4High 4Other 4

23 listed schools in this county slice.

Prosser School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,414 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Kiona-Benton City School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,372 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Kennewick School District is the largest listed district slice, with 33 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 Benton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Benton County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Benton 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.

Robust Infrastructure in the Tri-Cities

Benton County boasts an extensive network of 69 public schools serving over 38,000 students across six districts. The system includes 34 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 17 high schools. This infrastructure supports a rapidly growing population in one of Washington's most dynamic regions.

Kennewick and Richland Lead the Way

Kennewick School District is the county's largest with 19,311 students, followed closely by Richland School District with 13,948. Together, these districts manage 56 of the county's 69 schools. No charter schools operate here, as traditional districts dominate the educational landscape.

Urban Hubs with Large Campuses

The county features 44 urban schools and nine suburban campuses, with an average enrollment of 560 students. Richland High School is a regional giant with 2,137 students, creating a classic, high-energy American high school experience. The mix of city and rural locales provides diverse environment choices for families.

School Overview

Total Schools

69

in Benton County

Reported Enrollment

38,058

69 schools reporting

School Districts

6

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary34
Middle12
High17
Other6

6 School Districts in Benton County

Kennewick School District

Guide
33 schools
19,311 students
Open district guide

Richland School District

Guide
23 schools
13,948 students
Open district guide

Prosser School District

6 schools
2,414 students

Kiona-Benton City School District

3 schools
1,372 students

Finley School District

3 schools
871 students

Paterson School District

1 school
142 students

69 Public Schools in Benton County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 69 matching schools

Richland High School

Richland School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,137 students

Kamiakin High School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99336 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,884 students

Hanford High School

Richland School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,788 students

Kennewick High School

Kennewick School District

Kennewick, 99336 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,785 students

Southridge High School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99338 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,641 students

Desert Hills Middle School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99338 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle889 students

Chinook Middle School

Kennewick School District

Kennewick, 99338 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle882 students

Amistad Elementary School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99336 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary866 students

Prosser High School

Prosser School District

Prosser, 99350 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High834 students

Horse Heaven Hills Middle School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99337 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle833 students

Carmichael Middle School

Richland School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle807 students

Leona Libby Middle School

Richland School District

West Richland, 99353 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle800 students

Highlands Middle School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99336 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle750 students

Amon Creek Elementary

Kennewick School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary739 students

Chief Joseph Middle School

Richland School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle697 students

Enterprise Middle School

Richland School District

West Richland, 99353 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle694 students

Park Middle School

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99336 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle692 students

Three Rivers Home Link

Richland School District

Richland, 99352 / City: Small

RecordKG–12Alternative660 students

Kiona-Benton City Elementary

Kiona-Benton City School District

Benton City, 99320 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary658 students

Tri-Tech Skills Center

Kennewick School District

KENNEWICK, 99336 / City: Small

Record9–12Vocational629 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,952

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Benton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Washington counties have the highest graduation rates?
Wahkiakum County (95.0%), Lincoln County (91.7%), and Garfield County (90.0%) currently lead Washington among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Washington?
Across Washington counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Skamania County ($10,545), Ferry County ($10,380), and Pend Oreille County ($10,253). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Benton County?
Benton County has a school score of 50/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Benton County?
The high school graduation rate in Benton County is 84.8%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Benton County spend per student?
Benton County spends $8,952 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Benton County, Washington — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Benton County, Washington?

Benton County boasts an extensive network of 69 public schools serving over 38,000 students across six districts. The system includes 34 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 17 high schools. This infrastructure supports a rapidly growing population in one of Washington's most dynamic regions.

What are the major school districts in Benton County, Washington?

Kennewick School District is the county's largest with 19,311 students, followed closely by Richland School District with 13,948. Together, these districts manage 56 of the county's 69 schools. No charter schools operate here, as traditional districts dominate the educational landscape.

What is the school experience like in Benton County?

The county features 44 urban schools and nine suburban campuses, with an average enrollment of 560 students. Richland High School is a regional giant with 2,137 students, creating a classic, high-energy American high school experience. The mix of city and rural locales provides diverse environment choices for families.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Chelan County

Washington

-1 pts

50/100

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Clark County

Washington

-1 pts

49/100

School score

Klickitat County

Washington

+1 pts

52/100

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By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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