Ersys Logo Ersys Name

Picture of valves

Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.

  1. Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.

    Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.

  2. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.

    Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.

  3. Direct Employment and Local Spending Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.

    Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.

  4. Reducing Long-Term Public Costs Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.

    Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.

  5. Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.

    Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.

Conclusion

The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.

The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.

Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
 
Union Gap School District
Mabton School District  
Mount Adams School District  
Highland School District  
Naches Valley School District  
Zillah School District  
Granger School District  
Grandview School District  
Wapato School District  
East Valley School District (Yakima)  
Selah School District  
Toppenish School District  
West Valley School District (Yakima)  
Sunnyside School District  
Yakima School District  
Grade Span of Agency
Number of Schools
Total Classroom Teachers
Student/Teachers

    Prekindergarten
    Kindergarten
    Grade 1
    Grade 2
    Grade 3
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
PK thru 12 Students
Ungraded Students
Adult Education and Other Students
Special Ed IEP Students
Total Students

White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Native American
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Undefined or Multiple Races

Prekindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers
Elementary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Ungraded Class Teachers
Total FTE Teachers

Elementary School Counselors
Secondary School Counselors
School Counselors
Total Counselors

School Administrators
School Administrative Support Staff
Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff
Student Support Services Staff
Librarians/media specialists
Library/Media Support Staff
School Psychologists
Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides
Total School Staff

LEA Administrators
LEA Administrative Support Staff
Total LEA Staff

All Other Support Staff
Total Other Staff
PK-12
29
952
16.62

338
959
1,059
1,123
1,080
1,093
1,114
1,097
1,092
1,158
1,258
1,328
1,316
1,530
15,545
0
0
276
15,821

2,223
143
59
12,647
120
16
327

13
71
456
412
0
952

17
30
0
47

59
63
30
43
11
0
24
276
475

21
61
112

328
328
PK-12
9
349
18.08

43
416
420
438
435
451
446
468
452
475
532
547
552
538
6,213
0
0
97
6,310

359
13
13
5,777
11
1
39

2
31
164
152
0
349

9
11
0
20

22
25
31
13
7
0
4
97
168

9
36
76

143
143
PK-12
16
289
19.31

55
421
365
392
379
418
418
425
437
410
467
459
430
444
5,520
0
0
60
5,580

2,876
39
136
2,232
44
2
182

6
22
124
137
0
289

4
9
0
13

17
22
12
3
0
0
6
60
108

6
14
32

114
114
PK-12
9
198
19.77

228
227
235
259
239
266
267
232
286
280
322
316
308
380
3,845
0
0
69
3,914

143
18
6
3,311
317
0
40

1
17
89
91
0
198

4
7
0
11

16
15
7
4
4
0
7
69
115

9
19
35

92
92
PK-12
10
230
16.73

125
258
251
285
256
283
283
294
317
306
297
302
274
267
3,798
0
0
49
3,847

2,195
19
20
1,439
10
3
105

3
23
94
110
0
230

5
7
0
12

15
14
6
8
0
0
3
49
89

7
6
19

80
80
PK-12
5
184
18.79

44
272
224
240
246
276
241
265
290
278
259
280
261
245
3,421
0
0
36
3,457

1,269
39
27
1,940
30
6
103

2
17
90
75
0
184

3
7
0
10

14
10
10
8
0
0
5
36
72

5
11
26

64
64
PK-12
11
205
15.82

33
281
237
247
204
224
263
240
232
237
238
279
205
276
3,196
0
0
47
3,243

59
10
60
2,470
542
2
52

2
20
95
88
0
205

4
7
0
11

14
13
6
3
2
0
0
47
79

9
16
31

82
82
PK-12
7
202
18.28

26
323
239
246
259
241
257
256
296
293
294
280
307
320
3,637
0
0
56
3,693

190
18
3
3,402
3
0
20

1
20
96
85
0
202

3
7
0
10

12
17
18
10
5
0
3
56
103

6
19
43

78
78
PK-12
3
89
16.10

64
103
104
92
104
109
94
92
113
122
98
116
95
99
1,405
0
0
28
1,433

34
2
0
1,324
37
0
8

1
7
38
43
0
89

2
3
0
5

6
8
7
1
1
0
1
28
45

4
8
19

30
30
PK-12
4
73
18.55

5
131
87
94
82
87
94
104
90
118
109
95
116
130
1,342
0
0
12
1,354

457
2
3
786
52
0
42

0
9
30
34
0
73

1
3
0
4

5
5
1
2
0
0
0
12
24

1
4
6

20
20
KG-12
4
79
16.76

13
83
100
93
97
103
105
94
110
92
107
118
97
97
1,309
0
0
15
1,324

911
6
4
332
10
0
41

1
6
34
38
0
79

2
3
0
5

7
5
4
5
0
0
2
15
34

1
5
10

33
33
PK-12
4
62
17.87

19
103
75
80
58
61
78
85
78
91
101
90
88
85
1,092
0
0
16
1,108

243
4
2
830
2
0
10

1
6
26
29
0
62

1
2
0
3

5
6
1
2
0
0
0
16
28

4
4
9

25
25
PK-12
3
66
13.44

19
60
56
61
62
68
70
66
77
64
70
58
67
77
875
0
0
12
887

28
0
0
354
453
0
40

1
4
27
34
0
66

1
1
0
2

5
7
5
1
0
0
1
12
26

3
6
14

27
27
KG-12
3
45
17.44

13
95
39
45
43
61
46
56
54
66
67
63
61
68
777
0
0
8
785

11
0
0
764
1
0
0

0
3
21
21
0
45

1
2
0
3

3
3
3
0
1
0
0
8
15

4
1
8

21
21
PK-08
1
37
15.58

16
76
48
63
55
65
63
61
54
69
0
0
0
0
570
0
0
7
577

75
5
2
475
6
0
7

2
4
23
8
0
37

1
0
0
1

2
4
1
0
0
0
2
7
14

1
0
2

17
17


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus

Advertisers