Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 32 schools in district

Desert Hills Middle School

1701 S Clodfelter Rd, KENNEWICK, WA 99338Kennewick School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
889
Students
Total enrolled
$16,581
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 16% vs nat'l
20.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 35% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 889 students in grades 06–08 in KENNEWICK, Washington.
16% above average funding
District spends $16,581 per pupil, 16% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Desert Hills Middle School is a large middle in KENNEWICK, Washington, serving grades 06–08 with 889 students. The district invests $16,581 per student — 16% above the national average of $14,347, with a 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 29% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Desert Hills Middle School

889
Total Students
20.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
29%
Free Lunch
43
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution454 male · 435 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility29%
National avg 52% · 259 students
Student Composition
75%
14%
Asian1%
White75%
Hispanic / Latino14%
Black2%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 530393000598

Academic Outcomes at Desert Hills Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 62th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 99338

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,581Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,581
State avg
$50,309
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,296
Student Support$3,150
Administration$1,990
Operations$2,487
Other$1,658
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,581 spent per student, an estimated $7,346 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
75%
State government
74.5%
Local (property tax)
13.1%
Federal programs
12.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $16,581/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Amistad Elementary SchoolAmon Creek ElementarySage Crest ElementaryFuerza Elementary
+13 more
↓
Middle
Chinook Middle SchoolHorse Heaven Hills Middle SchoolHighlands Middle SchoolPark Middle School
↓
High School
Kamiakin High SchoolKennewick High SchoolSouthridge High SchoolTri-Tech Skills Center
+3 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyBenton County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictKennewick School District →
Phone: (509)222-6600
NCES ID: 530393000598
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in KENNEWICK seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Kennewick School District
High
Kamiakin High School
1,884 students · 09–12
● 45 opp43% FRL
High
Kennewick High School
1,785 students · 09–12
● 45 opp69% FRL
High
Southridge High School
1,641 students · 09–12
● 46 opp55% FRL
Mid
Chinook Middle School
882 students · 06–08
● 46 opp51% FRL
Elem
Amistad Elementary School
866 students · PK–05
● 45 opp94% FRL
Mid
Horse Heaven Hills Middle School
833 students · 06–08
● 40 opp65% FRL
Mid
Highlands Middle School
750 students · 06–08
● 45 opp84% FRL
Elem
Amon Creek Elementary
739 students · PK–05
● 52 opp27% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1701 S Clodfelter Rd, KENNEWICK, WA 99338
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.