Can I use Island County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Island County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Island County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Island County?

Start with the 26 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Island County Schools & Education

Name: Island County, Washington Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Island County, Washington

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

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 81.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,045

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 51/100

State Score Position

of 39 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Island County

Measured School Summary

Island County performs at an average level with a school score of 58/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.7%.

Funding Context

Island County spends $9,045 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 14% above the Washington average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Island 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

26 public schools and 3 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

58/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #7 of 39 Washington counties with school score data.

Completion

87.7%

6.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,045

$205 below the state average

School coverage

3 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

Island County has 26 public schools across 3 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 Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Island 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

Island 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

of 39 Washington counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points above 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.

Oak Harbor School District

Elementary to high school visible

5,730 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 2Other 3

12 listed schools in this county slice.

South Whidbey School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,202 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Coupeville School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,055 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 4Other 1

7 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Oak Harbor School District is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Island County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Island 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 Island 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.

Comprehensive Education Across Three Districts

Island County provides education for 8,629 students through 26 public schools managed by three primary districts. The county’s facilities include 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 8 high schools. Specialized needs are met by 5 alternative schools and 3 special education centers.

Oak Harbor Dominates the Island

Oak Harbor School District is the largest by far, serving 5,730 students across 12 different schools. South Whidbey and Coupeville districts manage the rest of the island’s student population with 1,202 and 1,055 students respectively. Charter schools do not currently operate within the county.

A Blend of Towns and Rural Beauty

The county’s schools are split between 14 town locations and 12 rural settings, offering a quintessential island experience. The average school size is 360 students, though Oak Harbor High School stands out with 1,566 students. This allows for both small-community feels and larger, comprehensive high school experiences.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Island County

Reported Enrollment

8,629

26 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10

Middle4

High8

Other4

3 School Districts in Island County

Oak Harbor School District

South Whidbey School District

5 schools

1,202 students

Coupeville School District

7 schools

1,055 students

26 Public Schools in Island 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 data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 26 matching schools

Public schools in Island County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Oak Harbor High School	Profile	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	9–12	High	1,566
Oak Harbor Intermediate School	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	5–6	Middle	768
North Whidbey Middle School	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	7–8	Middle	721
South Whidbey Elementary	Record	South Whidbey School District	Langley, 98260Rural: Distant	KG–6	Primary	571
Hillcrest Elementary	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–4	Primary	502
Coupeville Elementary School	Record	Coupeville School District	Coupeville, 98239Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	491
Crescent Harbor Elem	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–4	Primary	481
Olympic View Elem	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–4	Primary	443
South Whidbey High School	Record	South Whidbey School District	Langley, 98260Rural: Distant	9–12	High	384
Broad View Elementary	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–4	Primary	380
Oak Harbor Elementary	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	PK–4	Primary	369
Elger Bay Elementary	Record	Stanwood-Camano School District	CAMANO ISLAND, 98282Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	355
Coupeville High School	Record	Coupeville School District	Coupeville, 98239Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	289
Utsalady Elementary	Record	Stanwood-Camano School District	CAMANO ISLAND, 98282Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	287
Special Education	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	PK	Special Education	248
Coupeville Middle School	Record	Coupeville School District	Coupeville, 98239Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	216
South Whidbey Middle	Record	South Whidbey School District	Langley, 98260Rural: Distant	7–8	Middle	204
Homeconnection	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–12	Alternative	124
Oak Harbor Virtual Academy	Record	Oak Harbor School District	Oak Harbor, 98277Town: Distant	KG–12	Alternative	109
Open Den	Record	Coupeville School District	Coupeville, 98239Rural: Fringe	9–12	Alternative	57

Oak Harbor High School

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,566 students

Oak Harbor Intermediate School

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

Record5–6Middle768 students

North Whidbey Middle School

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

Record7–8Middle721 students

South Whidbey Elementary

South Whidbey School District

Langley, 98260 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary571 students

Hillcrest Elementary

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary502 students

Coupeville Elementary School

Coupeville School District

Coupeville, 98239 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary491 students

Crescent Harbor Elem

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary481 students

Olympic View Elem

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary443 students

South Whidbey High School

South Whidbey School District

Langley, 98260 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High384 students

Broad View Elementary

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary380 students

Oak Harbor Elementary

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary369 students

Elger Bay Elementary

Stanwood-Camano School District

CAMANO ISLAND, 98282 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary355 students

Coupeville High School

Coupeville School District

Coupeville, 98239 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High289 students

Utsalady Elementary

Stanwood-Camano School District

CAMANO ISLAND, 98282 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary287 students

Special Education

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordPKSpecial Education248 students

Coupeville Middle School

Coupeville School District

Coupeville, 98239 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle216 students

South Whidbey Middle

South Whidbey School District

Langley, 98260 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle204 students

Homeconnection

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Alternative124 students

Oak Harbor Virtual Academy

Oak Harbor School District

Oak Harbor, 98277 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Alternative109 students

Open Den

Coupeville School District

Coupeville, 98239 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative57 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,045

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Island 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 Island County?

Island County has a school score of 58/100, 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 Island County?

The high school graduation rate in Island County is 87.7%, which is above 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 Island County spend per student?

Island County spends $9,045 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 Island County, Washington — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Island County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Jefferson County

Washington

-1 pts

57/100

School score

Pend Oreille County

Washington

+1 pts

59/100

School score

Kittitas County

Washington

-2 pts

56/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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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