Background Information
The number of school districts in Cowlitz County has changed considerably over the years. The "History of Cowlitz County, Washington" (Ott and York, p. 19) gives a feel for this evolution:
In 1873, there were 19 school districts, namely: Carrolton, Castle Rock, Cedar Creek, Chelachie, Coweeman, Freeport, Kalama, Lancaster, Lexington, Martin's Bluff, Monticello, Mr. Coffin (Fowler's), Oak Point, Pekin, Pumphrey, Rock Point, Shanghai, Silver Lake and Summit.
By 1876, there were 20 school districts. By 1890, there were 40, and at its peak in 1912-1913, there were 64! Soon after, however, many of these districts consolidated, with the larger ones including Castle Rock and Woodland. Here is a list of school districs that operated during in the 1915-1916 school year.
By 1978, there were only seven - Carrolls, Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Toutle Lake and Woodland. Today, there are six districts within Cowlitz Co. (Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Toutle Lake and Woodland), and one (Green Mountain School District) along the Cowlitz - Clark Co. border.
A map of Cowlitz Co. school districts and other information can be found on the Educational Service District #112 website.
Accredited High Schools, 1913
Source: Babcock, Kendric Charles. "Accredited Secondary Schools in the United States." United States Bureau of Education Bulletin. No. 29, 1913. pp. 61-62.
"LIST OF ACCREDITED SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Giving location, name of institution, and principal"
WASHINGTON
(Accredited by the University of Washington, April, 1913)
Castle Rock: High School - J. H. Rumabugh
Kelso: High School [no principal listed]
Colleges and Universities
Private Schools
Journey Christian School
(formerly Kelso-Longview Adventist School)
96 Garden Street
Kelso, WA 98626
(360) 423-9250
St. Rose Catholic School
727 25th
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 577-6760
- formed in 2004 by merger of Longview Christian School, which is now the elementary school, and Connerstone Community Christian School in Kelso, which is now the secondary school. The Three Rivers Christian School Early Learning Center at the Ridge is located at the site of the former school, Columbia Heights Christian Academy.
Public Schools
Castle Rock School District #401
700 Huntington Avenue S.
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-8311
- By 1952, the Castle Rock School District had incorporated a number of older school districts, including: Leonard School, Pleasant Hill School (Yellow School) or Growler's Hollow, Keatley School or Little Dan, Olequa Schools, Tower School, Tucker School, Sandy Bend School, Jackson School Dist. No. 4 (built on Henry Jackson donation land claim, also included Freels School). (Ott and York, p. 73)
- Starting with the 2007-2008 school year, students from the former Vader School District (in Lewis County) now attend Castle Rock School District.
Green Mountain School District #103
13105 NE Grinnel Road
Woodland, WA 98674
(360) 225-7366
- Green Mountain School District is a one-school district serving grades K-8. This district serves students in both Cowlitz and Clark counties - althougn its mailing address is in Woodland, its school is located in northern Clark Co.
- The first school in Green Mountain was built abt 1897 on the Price Homestead. (Ott and York, p. 129)
Kalama School District #402
548 China Garden Road
Kalama, WA 98625-9746
(360) 673-5225
Kelso School District #458
601 Crawford Street
Kelso, WA 98626
(360) 577-2400
- Kelso High School Yearbook - "Tamahnawus" for 1925 - index and scanned images of some pages
Longview School District #122
2715 Lilac Street
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 577-2700
Toutle Lake School District #130
5050 Spirit Lake Highway
Toutle, WA 98649
(360) 274-6182
- The predecessor to Toutle Lake School District was Toutle River District No. 30, organized in 1883 on William Gardner's homestead. (Ott and York, p. 129)
Woodland School District #404
800 Third Street
PO Box 370
Woodland, WA 98674-0370
(360) 225-9451
- The Woodland School District was formed in 1901. At its formation, it incorporated the following schools: Butte Hill, Caples Landing, Clover Valley, Etna (above Clover Creek), Ferndale, Finn Hill, Hayes, Johnson Creek, Kenyon, and Pekin (Ott and York, p. 114)
Public Schools (historic)
Little Mountain Public School, District #78
- This small school distrct operated in the early 1910s; it is not on the list of public school districts in 1916. Byrdee (Poland) Watson taught school to 5 students here in 1915.