Best School Districts in Clark County, WA (2026 Rankings)
Camas, Ridgefield, Hockinson, Evergreen, and Vancouver lead the latest rankings. Here’s how Clark County’s school districts compare for the 2026–27 school year, the top-rated public and private schools, and why school districts matter for your home’s value even if you don’t have kids.
“What are the schools like?” is one of the first questions I get from buyers moving to Clark County. And here’s the thing: I hear it from retirees and couples without kids almost as often as I hear it from parents. That’s because school districts don’t just shape your kids’ education. They shape who wants to buy your house when it’s time to sell.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how Clark County’s school districts rank in 2026, what makes each one different, the top-rated individual schools, choice and magnet programs like the arts and STEM schools in Vancouver, private school options, and key dates for the 2026–27 school year. I’ll also show you where to check the data yourself, because rankings are a starting point, not the whole story.
Clark County School District Rankings Compared
Rankings and grades from Niche’s Best School Districts in Clark County. First-day dates from ESD 112’s 2026–27 back-to-school list.
| District | Niche rank & grade | Size | Best for | 2026–27 first day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camas School District | #1 · A | 14 schools · about 7,200 students | Top test scores, strong community feel | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Ridgefield School District | #2 · B+ | 7 schools · about 4,300 students | Newer schools in a fast-growing small town | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Hockinson School District | #3 · B | 3 schools · about 2,100 students | Small, rural, close-knit | Aug 24, 2026 (K & TK Aug 27) |
| Evergreen Public Schools | #4 · B | 39 schools · about 21,600 students | East Vancouver, lots of program options | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Vancouver Public Schools | #5 · B | 43 schools · about 21,800 students | Arts and STEM choice schools | Aug 25–28, 2026 (by grade) |
| Battle Ground Public Schools | B− | 21 schools · about 12,800 students | North county space, CAM Academy | Sept 1, 2026 |
| La Center School District | B− | 4 schools · about 1,800 students | Small-town north county | Sept 1, 2026 |
Why School Districts Matter Even If You Don’t Have Kids
If you don’t have kids, or yours are grown, it’s tempting to skip the school question entirely. I’d gently push back on that. When you buy a home, you’re also buying your future buyer pool, and families shopping for homes filter by school district first.
The research backs this up. A well-known study published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York compared homes on opposite sides of school attendance boundaries and found that parents were willing to pay about 2.5% more for a home zoned to a school with 5% higher test scores. On a $600,000 home, that’s real money at resale.
- Higher demand at resale: Homes in sought-after districts tend to attract more buyers, which helps your home sell faster and hold value in a slower market.
- Retirees, this applies to you too: If you plan to sell later or leave the home to your family, a strong district protects that investment. Washington also offers a senior and disabled persons property tax exemption through the Clark County Assessor. If you’re 61 or older and meet the income limits, it can exempt you from voter-approved levies, including school levies, and freeze your home’s taxable value.
- Investors and future landlords: Good school districts also draw long-term renters, especially families who want to try a neighborhood before buying.
A quick note on fair housing: As a REALTOR®, I can share data and point you to sources, but I can’t tell you which school or neighborhood is “right” for your family. That decision is yours, and I’m happy to help you research it.
Camas School District: #1 in Clark County
The Camas School District earns Niche’s top spot in Clark County with an overall A grade. It serves about 7,200 students across 14 schools in the city of Camas and parts of east county. Camas schools also sweep a lot of the individual school rankings in the county.
- Camas High School: Ranked #1 Best Public High School in Clark County on Niche.
- Middle schools: Odyssey Middle School is ranked #1 public middle school in the county, with Skyridge Middle School at #2 and Liberty Middle School at #3.
- Elementary schools: Grass Valley Elementary is #1 in the county, with Prune Hill, Woodburn, and Lacamas Lake elementary schools also in the top 6.
- Choice high schools: Discovery High School (project-based learning) and Hayes Freedom High School both rank in the county’s top 12.
Good to know: Camas is known for top test scores and a strong small-town community, and home prices here reflect that demand. The 2026–27 school year started August 24, 2026, and the last day of classes is scheduled for June 17, 2027.
Ridgefield School District: #2 in Clark County
The Ridgefield School District ranks #2 in Clark County with a B+ grade, serving about 4,300 students across 7 schools. Ridgefield is one of the fastest-growing communities in the county, so many of its schools are newer.
- Ridgefield High School: Ranked #9 Best Public High School in Clark County.
- Elementary schools: Union Ridge Elementary (#7) and South Ridge Elementary (#8) both rank in the county’s top 10.
- Sunset Ridge Intermediate: Ranked in the county’s top 10 public middle schools.
Good to know: Ridgefield pairs a highly rated district with lots of newer construction, which makes it popular with relocating families. Classes started August 24, 2026.
Hockinson School District: #3 in Clark County
The Hockinson School District in Brush Prairie ranks #3 in Clark County with a B grade. It’s small, with about 2,100 students and just three schools: Hockinson Heights Elementary (TK–5), Hockinson Middle School (6–8), and Hockinson High School (9–12), plus a virtual academy for grades 6–12.
- Small-school feel: Kids typically move through all three schools with the same classmates, which families love.
- Rural setting: Hockinson is known for acreage properties, room to spread out, and a country lifestyle.
- Trade-off: A smaller district can mean fewer elective and club options than the bigger districts.
Good to know: Grades 1–12 started August 24, 2026, and kindergarten and transitional kindergarten started August 27.
Evergreen Public Schools: #4 in Clark County
Evergreen Public Schools ranks #4 with a B grade. It’s one of the largest districts in the county, serving about 21,600 students across 39 schools, mostly in east Vancouver.
- Union High School: Ranked #2 Best Public High School in Clark County, making it a big draw for east Vancouver buyers.
- Program variety: A larger district means more specialty programs, electives, and activities to choose from.
- Location: Covers popular east-side neighborhoods like Fisher’s Landing and Cascade Park. Read my guide to living on the east side of Vancouver.
Good to know: Evergreen’s 2026–27 school year started August 24, 2026.
Vancouver Public Schools: #5 in Clark County
Vancouver Public Schools ranks #5 with a B grade and is the largest district in the county, with about 21,800 students across 43 schools. It covers central and west Vancouver, plus neighborhoods like Salmon Creek, Felida, and Hazel Dell.
- Columbia River High School: Ranked #4 Best Public High School in Clark County.
- Skyview High School: A popular north Vancouver high school with a B+ Niche grade.
- Choice schools: Vancouver is home to the county’s best-known arts and STEM schools (more on those below).
Good to know: Vancouver staggers its first days. For 2026–27, grades 1–5, 6, and 9 started August 25; grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 started August 26; and kindergarten started August 28.
Battle Ground and La Center School Districts
North Clark County has two more districts worth knowing, both with a B− overall grade on Niche.
- Battle Ground Public Schools: About 12,800 students across 21 schools. CAM Academy is ranked #8 Best Public High School in Clark County, and Prairie High School in Brush Prairie is another popular choice. Classes started September 1, 2026.
- La Center School District: A small district of about 1,800 students and 4 schools, popular with buyers who want a small-town feel. Classes started September 1, 2026.
Arts and Science Choice Schools in Vancouver, WA
Some of the most talked-about schools in Clark County aren’t tied to a neighborhood at all. These are tuition-free public choice schools run by Vancouver Public Schools.
- Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (VSAA): A grades 6–12 public school that blends a rigorous academic program with six art forms: dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts, and moving image arts. It has an A− Niche grade. Admission is by lottery, and students don’t need to already be skilled artists to apply. Middle school applicants must live within Vancouver Public Schools boundaries, while high school applicants from outside the district are invited to apply.
- Vancouver iTech Preparatory: A STEM-focused grades 6–12 public school operated by Vancouver Public Schools. It sits within the Battle Ground district boundary, and 10% of enrollment is reserved for Battle Ground students.
- Discovery High School (Camas): A project-based public high school in the Camas School District with a B+ Niche grade.
Parent tip: Application windows for choice schools usually open in winter for the following school year, so check each school’s site early if you’re planning a move.
Best Private Schools in Clark County, WA
Clark County also has a strong mix of private schools, many of them faith-based. A few of the most popular:
- Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School (Vancouver): A small Catholic high school of about 230 students with an A grade on Niche. It’s ranked #10 Best Catholic High School in Washington.
- King’s Way Christian Schools (Vancouver): A PreK–12 Christian school with about 1,000 students and an A− Niche grade. It’s ranked among the best private high schools in Washington.
- St. Joseph Catholic School (Vancouver): A long-running PreK–8 Catholic school.
Tuition, admissions, and financial aid vary widely, so contact each school directly. Niche’s private school rankings for Clark County are an easy way to compare options side by side.
How to Research Schools Before You Buy a Home
Rankings are a great starting point, but every site measures schools differently. I always recommend checking more than one source:
- Niche.com: Combines test scores, graduation rates, and teacher data with parent and student reviews. This is where the rankings in this post come from.
- GreatSchools.org: Rates individual schools on a 1–10 scale using test scores, student progress, and equity data.
- Washington State Report Card (OSPI): The official state source for test scores, graduation rates, enrollment, and demographics for every Washington school.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Federal data on enrollment, staffing, and student-teacher ratios.
- ESD 112: The regional educational service district for Southwest Washington, with district links and back-to-school dates.
Always verify school boundaries. A home’s mailing address doesn’t always match its school district. A “Vancouver” address might be in Evergreen, Battle Ground, or even Camas. Before you write an offer, confirm the assigned schools directly with the district’s boundary lookup tool, since boundaries can change as districts grow.
More Guides for Moving to Clark County
Clark County School Districts: Common Questions
What is the best school district in Clark County, WA?
What is the best high school in Clark County, WA?
When did the 2026–27 school year start in Clark County?
Does a good school district matter if I don’t have kids?
Do retirees in Washington have to pay school levies?
Is there an arts high school in Vancouver, WA?
What are the best private schools in Vancouver, WA?
How do I find out which school district a home is in?
Ready to Find a Home in the Right School District? 🏫
Whether you’re moving with kids, planning for resale, or settling in for retirement, I’ll help you compare districts, neighborhoods, and homes so you can make a confident decision.
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Cassandra Marks
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764