Cowlitz County Schools

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. 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.

Colleges and Universities

Lower Columbia College

Private Schools

Columbia Heights Christian School 3609 Columbia Heights Road Longview, WA 98632 (360) 425-1251	Kelso Christian Academy 403 Academy Kelso, WA 98626 (360) 423-8740
Kelso-Longview Adventist School 96 Garden Street Kelso, WA 98626 (360) 423-9250	Longview Christian School 2610 Ocean Beach Highway Longview, WA 98632 (360) 423-4510
St. Rose Catholic School 727 25th Longview, WA 98632 (360) 577-6760

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
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)