District Profile
The Yakima School District is the heartbeat of a vibrant, resilient community that thrives on sunshine, culture, and connection. Just as the Yakima Valley is known for more than 300 days of sunshine each year, we bring light and opportunity into the lives of our students. Surrounded by fertile farmland that produces world-class wine grapes, hops, and produce, our district reflects the Valley’s spirit of abundance—nurturing talent, growing dreams, and cultivating pathways to success.
We serve over 15,000 students, more than 80 percent of whom are Hispanic/Latino, 86.8 percent from low-income households, and over one-third multilingual learners. These demographics aren’t challenges to overcome—they are our greatest strengths. They define who we are as a system and push us to lead with equity, innovation, and inclusion. From dual-language programs in nearly every elementary school to trailblazing college access initiatives that allow students to graduate with an associate’s degree without leaving their high school campuses, Yakima is proving what is possible when equity is not a slogan but a lived commitment. Our leadership has been recognized at the highest levels, with the Yakima School Board named the 2024 Large District School Board of the Year—a distinction that underscores the district’s vision, governance, and measurable impact on student success.
In Yakima, innovation is not about chasing trends but about listening deeply and co-creating solutions with families, ensuring change is done with them, not to them. Our online programs, alternative learning models, and Parent Partnership Program are national exemplars of flexibility and responsiveness, transforming financial challenges into sustainable opportunities. Our Handle With Care initiative, in partnership with the Yakima Police Department, ensures no child begins their day unseen, extending compassion to students who experience trauma at home. Our consistent advocacy for equitable state funding has also positioned Yakima as a leading voice for justice in public education.
Like the Valley itself, our district is rich with possibility. The same qualities that make Yakima a world-renowned agricultural hub—resilience, innovation, diversity, and pride—define the Yakima School District. We are not just educating students; we are building futures, dismantling barriers, and proving that equity and excellence are not competing goals, but shared outcomes. Yakima is more than a school district. We are a system built with our community, for our community, and powered by the belief that every student can shine.
Dr. Trevor Greene, Superintendent