Vancouver, U.S.A
Vancouver is a thriving small city in Southwest Washington. We’re just across the beautiful Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.
Schools and programs
We have 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools, an arts school, a STEM school and three additional programs.
23,400 students
Our diverse students have many opportunities to explore their interests; think critically; and prepare for college, careers and life.
3,300 employees
More than 3,300 dedicated professionals make up the VPS team. In a variety of ways, we all work together to help students be successful.
Fast facts
Our district by the numbers
| Enrollment | |
|---|---|
| Number of schools |
|
| Elementary schools (K-5) | 21 |
| Middle schools (6-8) | 6 |
| High schools (9-12) | 5 |
| Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (6-12) | |
| Vancouver iTech Preparatory (6-12) | |
| Fir Grove/Vista (1-12) | |
| Lieser Campus (K-12) | |
| Gateway to Adult Transition Education (18-21) | |
| Scheduled school days |
|
| School days | 180 |
| Size of district |
|
| District size | 58 square miles |
| Average student-teacher ratio |
|
| Districtwide K-12 | 17:1 |
| Student characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Minority student population | 44.5% |
| Number of different languages spoken by students | 70 |
| Students qualifying as low income | 50.6% |
| Students receiving special education services | 14.6% |
| Students in grades 1-5 receiving Highly Capable services | 400 |
| Students enrolled in K-12 language programs, magnets and programs of choice | 3,700 |
| Four-year graduation rate* (class of 2018) *This figure represents only those students who graduated within four years. |
85.5% |
| Five-year graduation rate (class of 2017) | 88.6% |
| Employees | |
| Number of employees | 3,300 |
| Number of classroom teachers | 1,406 |
| Teachers’ average years of experience | 11.3 |
| Teachers with at least a master’s degree | 67.4% |
Vancouver is the best-value town in the West
Sunset magazine named Vancouver one of its 20 best places, citing the strength of the city’s public schools, family-friendly neighborhoods and amenities.
Recent achievements
School Counselor of the Year inspires kindness
Meet Counselor Lisa DiMurro-Johnson, who helps students manage their feelings, develop a growth mindset and be kind to one another.
Graduation rate projected to reach nearly 90%
The district’s graduation rates have demonstrated an upward trend in recent years.
Discovery counselor is among top in the nation
Recently Megan Bledsoe shared her thoughts on working at Discovery Middle School, her role, student social-emotional health and a little bit about herself.
