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About Our District

wwps logoAnnual Report

School Board

The district is governed by a five-member school board, each elected to a four-year term:

  • Kathy Mulkerin, Vice President, Position #1 (Term Expires – 2025)
  • Terri Trick, Position #2 (Term Expires – 2025)  
  • Ruth Ladderud, Position #3 (Term Expires – 2023)
  • Eric Rindal, Position #4 (Term Expires - 2023)
  • Derek Sarley, President, Position #5 (Term Expires – 2023)

Learn more about our School Board >

Organizational Chart

District Staffing 

Walla Walla Public Schools continues to be committed to hiring and retaining teachers and para-educators who meet all requirements of The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Based on 2021-2022 School Year Data:

  • Certificated Administrators - 26
  • Classified Administrators - 10
  • Classified Staff - 380
  • Certificated Staff – 398
    • Master's Degrees - 291
  • TOTAL STAFF - 814

District Enrollment

2021-2022 School Year

(Student counts based on “Head Count”)

  • Student Total - 5512
  • Special Education Students - 782
  • Bilingual Services - 770

Schools 

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS:

  • Preschool (Walla Walla Center for Children & Families) - 1
  • Elementary Schools - 5
  • Middle Schools - 2
  • High Schools - 2
  • SEATech Skills Center - 1
  • Walla Walla Online - 1 
  • Other Programs (Opportunity) - 1

OUR SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS:

  • Walla Walla Center for Children and Families (Birth-to-Five)
  • Berney Elementary (K-5)
  • Edison Elementary (K-5)
  • Green Park Elementary (K-5)
  • Prospect Point Elementary (K-5)
  • Sharpstein Elementary (K-5)
  • Garrison Middle School (6-8)
  • Pioneer Middle School (6-8)
  • Lincoln High School (9-12)
  • Walla Walla High School (9-12)
  • SEATech Skills Center (11-12)
  • Walla Walla Online (K-12)

Ethnic Diversity

Data: 2021-22

  • American Indian/Alaskan Native - less than 1%
  • Asian - 1.2%
  • Pacific Islander - less than 1%
  • African American - less than 1%
  • Hispanic - 41.8%
  • White - 52.0%
  • Multi-Racial - 3.5%

Socioeconomic 

  • Receiving Free or Reduced-Cost Meals:
    • 2021-22: 55%
    • 2020-21: 55.9%
(Based on income, percent of students who qualify for free/reduced price meals)

Walla Walla Public Schools At A Glance

Students

Walla Walla Public Schools educates a diverse population nearly 5,600 students. The district is comprised of two high schools, two middle schools, five elementary schools, the Walla Walla Center for Children and Families (Birth-to-Five services), SEATech Skills Center, Walla Walla Online and Opportunity Program.

Programs

A broad range of course offerings and programs that are aligned with the Washington State Learning Goals are offered to students at all grade levels.

Staffing

Our district employs over 800 staff members - excluding substitutes and part-time coaches. Approximately 398 certificated staff are employed -- 73 percent of whom hold master’s degrees. Each year more than 1,000 volunteers team to provide learning opportunities for students.

Local Levy Support

In 2020, Walla Walla Public Schools received a 72 percent YES vote on its replacement levy. Not only was the levy approval rating the highest in Walla Walla in 26 years, it was also the strongest approval rating statewide for All DISTRICTS of similar size and larger, setting the highest of bar for some 145 enrichment levy votes that were on the ballot statewide. Levy approval secures local funding for essential district programs and staff.

District Programs

Secondary

Walla Walla High School supports a four-year, comprehensive program. Core curriculum, a vocational program, Advanced Placement, English acquisition, special education and fine arts courses are offered. Running Start to earn college credits is also available. Lincoln High School offers students a small school experience. Staff are highly skilled in trauma-informed practices to meet the social and emotional needs of students. SEATech Skills Center provides advanced-level Career and Technical Education programs based on rigorous academic and industry standards, preparing students for post-secondary education and successful entry into high-skill, high-demand careers and employment.

Middle School

Pioneer and Garrison Middle Schools offer advanced courses, afterschool programs, athletics, challenging electives, music and arts and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes. Students can take Spanish classes, coding and technology courses and earn high school credits in algebra, geometry and first year Spanish. Sports are free to all students. Attendance at the city’s two middle schools, which serve grades 6-8, is based on the elementary school a student attends. Students from Berney, Green Park and Edison elementary schools attend Pioneer Middle School, while students from Prospect Point and Sharpstein Elementary schools attend Garrison Middle School. Middle school students who are new to the area need to check the district’s boundary map to determine their neighborhood school. Students may open enroll at a school outside their boundary if space is available.

Garrison Middle School Programs 

Pioneer Middle School Programs

Elementary

Elementary schools offer a complete curriculum with a core focus on literacy, mathematics, and social sciences. Bilingual and English acquisition courses are offered. Low class sizes in kindergarten (all day) and first grade are featured.

Preschool

The Walla Walla Center for Children & Families offers a comprehensive Birth-to-Five program.

Online School

Walla Walla Online is a tuition-free, online public school option for students in grades Kindergarten through grade 12.

Special Programs

Special Education

Walla Walla Public Schools provides special education services to students who range in age from birth through 21 and have a documented disability.

Special education provides support to students so they can be successful in an educational setting. Our services include special instruction, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, transportation, counseling, school health services, behavioral support, rehabilitation and recreation services, and parent training.

Our Individualized Educational Program team determines what services and supports are needed to provide an appropriate educational program for each of our approximately 782 students who are currently receiving special education support.

High school students may be eligible for the Community Resource Training Program supported by local businesses. Community job experiences are provided for students in grades 9 through 12. More than 60 local employers provide work sites to help our students enhance their work skills. Students may rotate through eight different vocational placements during their first two years of high school. In their junior and senior years, students advance to more individualized volunteer or paid work experiences. Many times these work positions are supplemented with vocational classes at the high school or community college.

More than 60 special education students are participating in the Community Resource Training class. Special education staff support the students as they learn new job skills and experience the satisfaction of working in the community in real jobs. This program has emphasized the important link between the world of school and the world of work. Our students are learning which career paths match their own personal skills and interests.

Contact the Special Education Department at 509-527-6724.

Learn more about our Special Education services >

District Programs

District Finances

How School Dollars Are Invested

Actual Expenditures: $86,580,025.96

Building Administration: 5.03%

Central Administration: 8.34%

Pupil Transportation: 1.57%

Misc Other: 4.87%

Food Service: 2.57%

Maintenance: 8.27%

Teaching: 69.35%

Source: OSPI Financial Reporting Summary FY 2020-21

District Mission

Walla Walla Public Schools ensures all students receive high quality instruction in an aligned and coherent system while addressing their social and emotional needs in a safe and engaging environment.

Belief Statement

We Believe...

  • in challenging and supporting all students
  • quality instruction is critical to student success
  • in investing in staff to ensure excellence
  • in maximizing the impact of our resources
  • in collaborative and transparent operation
  • in the importance of family and community
  • diversity is a strength

District Vision

Developing Washington’s Most Sought-After Graduates

Strategic Plan Goals and Success Indicators

Goal 1: High Quality Instruction

Goal 2: Aligned and Coherent Systems

Goal 3: Social and Emotional Needs

Goal 4: Safe and Engaging Environment

 

Distance from Walla Walla to...

Seattle, Washington (273 miles northwest) 
Boise, Idaho (254 miles southeast)
Portland, Oregon (248 miles west)
Spokane, Washington (181 miles north)
Yakima, Washington (130 miles northwest)
Lewiston, Idaho (98 miles east)
Tri-Cities, Washington (50 miles northwest)
Pendleton, Oregon (41 miles southwest)

Registration Information

Please visit our Enrollment & Open Enrollment/Choice Transfer page for information.

Boundary Map

 

 
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WALLA WALLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS • 364 South Park St. • Walla Walla, WA 99362 • Phone: 509-527-3000 • Fax: 509.529.7713

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