Chehalis School District

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Coordinates: 46°39′4″N 122°57′1″W / 46.65111°N 122.95028°W / 46.65111; -122.95028
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Chehalis School District No. 302
Address
310 SW 16th Street
Chehalis
, Lewis, Washington, 98532
Coordinates46°39′4″N 122°57′1″W / 46.65111°N 122.95028°W / 46.65111; -122.95028
District information
GradesPre-K through 12
SuperintendentDr. Christine Moloney
Deputy superintendent(s)Dr. Brian D. Fox
Schools6
Budget$46,843,371[1]
NCES District ID5301170[2]
Students and staff
Students3,259[3]
Teachers167[3]
Staff77[3]
Student–teacher ratio17.92[3]
District mascotBearcats
Other information
Websitechehalisschools.org

Chehalis School District No. 302 is a public school district in Lewis County, Washington, United States and serves the city of Chehalis. Chehalis is on the I-5 corridor, half way between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

History[edit]

The previous primary schools, Cascade (built 1922), R.E. Bennet (opened 1928), and Olympic (built 1960)[4] were replaced by the current elementary schools which were built simultaneously in 2018 and fully opened to all students in 2019.[5]

Due to age and structural issues in and outside of both Cascade and R.E. Bennet,[6] the school district first proposed a bond measure to fund replacing Cascade and modernizing R.E. Bennett in 2011.[7] The measure, tallying less than 53% of the vote, failed to pass due to a lack of a supermajority.[8] In 2014, Chehalis resident Gail Shaw betrothed the district with 43 acres of land near the Chehalis Middle School. Valued at $1.9 million, the land was meant to be used as the location of a new school to replace Cascade Elementary.[9]

By February 2015, Chehalis voters, by a 62% margin, approved a $35.9 million bond for the schools.[10] The following year, the school board voted to name the two new elementary schools, which would replace R.E. Bennett, Cascade and Olympic, in honor of James W. Lintott and Orin C. Smith. The campus was named for the Shaw family.[11]

Schools[edit]

High schools[edit]

Middle Schools[edit]

  • Chehalis Middle School

Elementary schools[edit]

Previously, elementary students in the public school system in Chehalis attended Cascade Elementary School for kindergarten and first grade, R.E. Bennett Elementary School for second and third grades, and Olympic Elementary School for fourth and fifth grades.[12]

James W. Lintott Elementary[edit]

Pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade.

Orin C. Smith Elementary School[edit]

Opened in 2019 for students between the 3rd and 5th grades, the school was named for Orin Smith, former CEO of Starbucks, who made significant financial contributions to Chehalis, Washington education system.[12][13][14] During the 2023-24 school year, there were 47 teachers on staff, with 659 enrolled students. The student population met Washington state standards of 55.8% for science, 49.1% for English language arts and a 47.5% rate for math.[15]

The school mascot is the Cougars, represented by the colors crimson and gray, similar to the high school.[16]

Special schools and educational programs[edit]

  • Green Hill School
  • Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center
  • Turning Point/Lewis County Alternative School
  • VISIONS

Enrollment and graduation rates[edit]

In November 2006, the district had an enrollment of 2,596 students.[citation needed], and 2,791 students in a May 2015 report.[17] The Chehalis School District reported an enrollment of 3,053 students in 2018,[18] with a trend of slightly lower numbers following a register of 3,027 students in 2020 and 2,987 in 2023.[3]

Based on a study initiated by the district, it was reported that only 20% of Chehalis students in the early 2010s were achieving a 4-year college degree.[19] The CSD implemented a plan in 2013–2014, referred to as the Student Achievement Initiative (SAI), that within 8 years of graduating, 60% of the students would receive a degree or certification from a technical training program or college.[20] To achieve the goal, all seniors in high school were to submit an application for acceptance to Centralia College. Coupled with field trips to Centralia College, this allowed the district to achieve high rates of graduation, college admission, and career opportunities for the students. Officials and teachers in elementary and middle schools created programs to emphasize future college and employment opportunities by holding job assemblies, "swag days" for local and state schools of technical and university education, and "college-themed days".[21] In its first three years, the SAI improved the rate of students elegible for a four-year college by 8 percentage points.[19]

The graduation rate for students at W.F. West High School in 2010 was 77%, with 33% of those students achieving admission into a university or training school/[21] In 2018, 73% of seniors who graduated went on to further higher education.[22] A four-year stretch started in 2019 in which 100% of all graduating senior classes were accepted into college.[23] In 2019, the four-year graduation rate was 95%, bettering the state average by 14 points.[22] The rate increased to 96% in 2022.[21]

Student population[edit]

A Civil Rights Data Collection report from the Department of Education for the district's 2020–2021 school year listed that over 70% of the student body was classified as being White, almost 21% as Latino or of Hispanic heritage, less than 2% were Black students, and below 1% each for Native American, Pacific Islander, and Asian enrollees. Less than 3% of pupils were held back a grade and no reports of bullying, harassment, or students with disabilites being restrained. The report also states that there is one counselor for every 444 students. The collection for the district, which begins in 2011, has shown a slight but noticeable increase in inclusivity and lower ratios of students to staff.[24]

Education programs[edit]

The CSD offers an education program, known as VISIONS, for students with various disabilities between the ages of 18 and 21. The program, begun in the early 1990s,[25] is considered an extension of the high school curriculum and provides continuing education and experiences so that participants can be better equipped for independence in adulthood. Operating under the district, it partners with school districts in the county as well as other educational projects and initiatives. The students officially receive their high school diploma at completion of the program.[26] Students are given vocational training which includes education on social interactions, employment and job tasks, and practical living skills. The VISIONS program partners with staffing services to provide students, both enrolled and graduated, a match with local jobs and living facilities best suited for them.[25]

Funding[edit]

The SAI was originally funded by donations from the community via the Chehalis Foundation. It included several large contributions made by hometown citizens of note,[19] and a $10 million contribution from Orin C. Smith, who graduated from the high school in 1960.[27] Originally, the early funding was meant for scholarships, but concerns that college assistance was not enough, the foundation and the SAI turned to a more comprehensive plan to prepare students for college based on education, experience, and preparedness.[19] The fund is perpetual, and is able to pay out $500,000 per year.[27][28]

The district, in 2022, was awarded a grant of over $1,000,000 from the Washington Student Achievement Council. The funds are to be used to reach out to parents and young children, particularly at-risk students.[20]

Funding for Green Hill School is provided in full by the state of Washington.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "CSD Performance Report 2018-2019" (PDF). chehalisschools.org. Chehalis School District.
  2. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Chehalis School District". nces.ed.gov. National Center For Educational Statistics. December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "About CSD". Chehalis Schools. Chehalis School District. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Hayes, Katie (March 22, 2019). "Chehalis' Orin Smith Elementary Almost Finished". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Bennett, Cascade Eventually Will Need Modernization". The Daily Chronicle. December 11, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Will Voters Retire Aging Schools?". The Daily Chronicle. April 8, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Lewis County April 26, 2011 Special Election". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Chronicle, The (November 14, 2014). "Family of Gail Shaw Donates $1.9 Million Property to Chehalis School District". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Lewis County February 10, 2015 Special Election". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  11. ^ staff, The Chronicle (January 17, 2024). "Chehalis School Board to consider naming W.F. West tennis courts after Jack State". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Hayes, Katie (March 22, 2019). "Chehalis' Orin Smith Elementary Almost Finished". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Baide, Matt (December 29, 2017). "Former Starbucks CEO Orin Smith Giving $10 Million to Chehalis Foundation for Schools". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Sudermann, Hannelore. "Orin Smith, 1942-2018: Soft-spoken CEO's philanthropy spoke volumes". University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "Report Card - Washington State Report Card". washingtonstatereportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  16. ^ "About Orin C. Smith Elementary". Orin C. Smith Elementary (3-5). Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Annual Performance Report School Year 2014-2015" (PDF). Chehalis Schools. Chehalis School District. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  18. ^ "Miseducation - Chehalis School District". ProPublica. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d Long, Katherine (June 2, 2017). "Just 20% of kids got 4-year degrees, so Chehalis schools changed everything". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  20. ^ a b The Chronicle Staff (December 16, 2022). "Chehalis School District Awarded $1.05M Grant for Student Achievement Initiative". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Zylstra, Matthew (September 29, 2022). "'This Doesn't Just Happen by Chance': How the Chehalis School District Became a Jewel in Public Education". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Long, Katherine (June 6, 2020). "Small towns find new ways to celebrate high-school graduation amid coronavirus restrictions". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "Every Graduating W.F. West Senior Has Been Accepted Into College, District Announces". The Chronicle. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Civil Rights Data Collections - Chehalis School District". Civil Rights Data. U.S. Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights. 2020–2021. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  25. ^ a b VanTuyl, Aaron (June 24, 2006). "Visions program prepares students for real life". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  26. ^ Getchman, Sarah (February 2, 2005). "Beating the odds, one student at a time". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  27. ^ a b The Chronicle Editorial staff (March 6, 2018). "Our Views: Orin Smith's Legacy Will Last for Generations". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Baide, Matt (December 29, 2017). "Former Starbucks CEO Orin Smith Giving $10 Million to Chehalis Foundation for Schools". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  29. ^ The Chronicle staff (February 13, 2024). "Election night tally indicates Chehalis School District's levy proposal will likely pass". The Chronicle. Retrieved February 21, 2024.

External links[edit]

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