In February 2024, Woodland voters approved a three-year Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy. Thank you, voters.

Woodland voices are at the heart of how levy dollars are used. To ensure our decisions reflect the needs and values of our community, Woodland Public Schools gathered input from stakeholders to shape our Levy Stewardship Framework, guiding how funds are prioritized and allocated across the district.

Our top commitments are:

  • Student-Centered Decision-Making
  • Responsible Resource Management
  • Strategic Fund Allocation

See the impact of levy dollars and the community's investment in Woodland schools

Image: Levy Pie Chart 25-26

Quick Facts:
  • In Woodland, local levy funds provide approximately 13.5% of the district’s overall budget in 2025-26.
  • Did you know? 96% of all districts in Washington state are operating with an active levy in the 2026 calendar year (OSPI).
  • Need: # out of [10] staff are funded by levy
    • Key Staffing Positions:
      • Nurse
      • Para
      • Grounds/Custodians/Maintenance
      • Technology
      • Teachers
In Woodland, local levy funds support programs and services for students, including:

All Athletics, Arts & Clubs

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Image: Female student working on a pottery wheel

Safety, Security & Maintenance

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Image: Locked school office door with voice and camera entry system.

Technology

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Image: Teacher using technology in the classroom

Transportation

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Image: School bus and students in front of a school building

Staff Positions

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Image: Nurse assisting a student

Utilities, Supplies and Materials

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Image: Two students reading a book together in the library

Frequently Asked Questions

By law, school districts can NOT collect more taxes than approved by voters. If assessed property values increase over the life a school levy, the tax rate collected by the school district DECREASES accordingly.

Image: OSPI Per Pupil Cost Comparison OSPI reports Woodland's per-pupil cost as $19.4K. That figure includes transportation funding for the full KWRL bus cooperative, which Woodland manages for Kalama, La Center, Ridgefield, and Woodland. Excluding cooperative transportation funding, Woodland's actual per-pupil cost is $16.9K, well below Washington state's per-pupil average of $19.3K.

FACT:
Woodland Public Schools receive LESS funding than our neighbors.

Washington State provides 6-12% regionalization enhancement funding to every school district in Clark County EXCEPT Woodland Public Schools and Green Mountain School District. Woodland has the SAME COSTS as our neighbors and must attract teaching staff from the SAME POOL OF APPLICANTS, yet Woodland receives with LESS state funds than similar school districts.

Why do we receive less funding? What is "regionalization?"
The state uses a formula they refer to as "regionalization" to calculate how much a district receives based on home values within and just beyond the district's borders.
 
Since Woodland Public Schools service area expands deep into Ariel/Cougar where home values are less than those closer in, the state's regionalization calculation provides less funding to us as our average home values are closer to the statewide average rather than other districts in and around Clark County where average house values are higher than the statewide average.
 
Since we have to pay competitively to the districts in Cowlitz and Clark counties, this miscalculation creates a significant disadvantage for our district. Our Board of Directors has been appealing the state's calculations and has requested a special dispensation similar to what was provided to Washougal School District, and will continue to reach out to the legislature until the state addresses this miscalculation.
 

QUESTION:
Why does my current property tax invoice still list school levies if the EP&O levy expired?

Cowlitz and Clark counties' property tax invoices combine the district's Capital Bonds used to construct Woodland High School with the Educational Programs & Operations Levies as well as the funds collected by the State.

For example, in 2023, the rate for the Educational Programs & Operations Levy rate was $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed property value and the rate for Woodland High School was is $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed property value, equaling a total rate of $3.31 per $1,000 of assessed property value as shown here:
 

Woodland High School Bond Rate: $1.21425 per $1,000 of property value
Educational Programs & Operations Levy Rate: $2.09703 per $1,000 of property value
Total Woodland Public Schools Rate: $3.31128 per $1,000 of property value

 

QUESTION:
How can the School Board guarantee the levy tax rate will not exceed $2.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value?

If the calculated levy rate is over the $2.20 threshold from 2025-2027, Woodland Public Schools' Board of Directors will adopt a resolution certifying the district will collect a lower rate than the authorized collection. This is a local option and can happen at any level below the maximum. RCW 84.52.020 requires school districts to annually certify their budget with the county for the purposes of levying taxes.