Yelm School District
School district in Washington, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yelm Community Schools, District No. 2 (YCS), is a public school district in Thurston County, Washington, United States, which serves the city of Yelm.
In the 2025-26 school year, Yelm School District had a student enrollment of 5,524.[1]
Location
Yelm Community Schools covers 193 square miles (499.9 km2) of land in southeastern Thurston County and part of southwestern Pierce County, including nearly all of the City of Yelm.[2][3][4]
History
Establishment
In February of 1951, voters approved the consolidation of Collins School District No. 12 and Yelm School District No. 400 at a special election, forming Yelm School District No. 2 on July 1, 1951.[5] Previous consolidations that composed the former Yelm School District No. 400 were as follows;
- In April of 1910, voters approved the consolidation of Yelm School District No. 13, Willow Lawn School District No. 40, Eureka School District No. 43, Pollard School District No. 66, and Lake Lawrence School District No. 69 at a special election, forming Yelm School District No. 301.[6][7]
- On May 16, 1921, voters approved the consolidation of School Lindstrom School District No. 70 and Yelm School District No. 301 at a special election, forming Yelm School District No. 309 on July 1, 1921.[7]
- In February of 1942, voters approved the consolidation of Lackamas School District No. 305 and Yelm School District No. 309 of Thurston County, and McKenna School District No. 341 of Pierce County at a special election, forming Yelm School District No. 400 on July 1, 1942, becoming the first joint (multi-county) school district within both counties.[7]
- Lackamas School District No. 305 was formed on July 1, 1917 following the voter-approved consolidation of Moorehead School District No. 28, Sherlock School District No. 34, and John Longmire School District No. 53 at a special election held on May 29, 1917.[7] Depending on the source, Bald Hills School District No. 72 may have been a component district that consolidated to form School District No. 305.[8]
Levy failures
In February and April of 2024, voters turned down two separate local school levy measures.[9][10] As a result, the district reduced staffing by more than 200 positions. Class sizes increased across schools, and some student programs became more reliant on fundraising.
In February of 2025, another school levy measure did not pass.[11] District officials cited ongoing funding constraints related to the failed levies. Some parents and community members raised concerns regarding academic performance, budget transparency, and curriculum content.
Schools
| Name | Grade Levels | Established | Enrollment (2025-26) | Mascot | WIAA Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yelm High School | 9-12 | 1920 | 1,622[1] | Tornados | 4A |
| Yelm Extension School | 9-12 | - | 109[1] | - | - |
Other facilities
- District headquarters located at 107 1st Street NE, Yelm, WA 98597.
- Transportation center at 202 Strevens Street NE, Yelm, WA 98597.
- Facility maintenance offices at 16525 100th Way SE, Yelm, WA 98597, adjacent to Fort Stevens Elementary.