Best Schools in Federal Way, Washington
37 schools · 21 Elementary · 4 Middle · 9 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Federal Way?
Use this page to compare every school in Federal Way by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Nautilus K-8 School
Elementary · Federal Way School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Adelaide Elementary School
Elementary · Federal Way School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Wildwood Elementary School
Elementary · Federal Way School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Federal Way for 2026 are Nautilus K-8 School (8.8/10), Adelaide Elementary School (7.9/10), and Wildwood Elementary School (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
37
31 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$504,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
37
31 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$504,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.8/10 despite 67% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Federal Way schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Federal Way schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Federal Way
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 27 rated schools; 37 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nautilus K-8 School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Adelaide Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Wildwood Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Enterprise Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Sherwood Forest Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Silver Lake Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Rainier View Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Mirror Lake Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Twin Lakes Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Olympic View Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $93,326
- Median home value
- $504,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 30%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Federal Way compares
Washington rank
#69 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Washington avg (6.3)
Median household income
$93k
105% of Washington median
Schools in this city
33
Federal Way School District runs Federal Way's public schools
31 public schools. Federal Way School District is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Federal Way is a Federal Way School District school (31 of 31).
Among 27 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.0 to 8.8 — the spread is inside Federal Way, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way sits in King County with 29 ranked public schools spanning a performance range that parents should understand before choosing a neighborhood. The district's average score lands at 5.5 out of 10 — a useful anchor for comparison shopping. Only 4 of those 29 schools, or 14%, clear the 7-point threshold, so strong options exist but are concentrated rather than spread evenly across the city.
Federal Way Public Academy leads the ranked schools with a 7.9 out of 10 — the highest score in the city. It serves middle school students, making it a key destination for families with children entering grades 6-8. At the elementary level, Wildwood Elementary scores 7.8, sitting just behind the Academy and giving younger students a strong starting point. Green Gables Elementary and Sherwood Forest Elementary both score 7.2, rounding out the top tier alongside Twin Lakes Elementary at 6.8. These five schools represent Federal Way's upper performance band.
The remaining 24 schools cluster below the 7-point line, with the citywide average of 5.5 reflecting a meaningful split between the top performers and the broader landscape. For parents, that gap matters most when choosing between neighborhoods. Federal Way Public Academy's 7.9 score makes it the single clearest academic draw for middle schoolers in the district. Families targeting strong elementary years should look closely at the attendance zones for Wildwood, Green Gables, and Sherwood Forest, where performance consistently outpaces the district average by more than a full point.
Federal Way gives parents a concrete shortlist to work with. The top-performing schools are identifiable, scores are consistent enough for neighborhood planning, and the 14% share of 7-plus schools means competitive options are available without overwhelming choice. Parents should map attendance boundaries against their target addresses early — in a 29-school district where performance spreads widely around a 5.5 average, where you live determines your starting point.
Elementary Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 469 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 319 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 566 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 424 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 5 | 357 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 381 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 7 | 523 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 8 | 487 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 369 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 10 | 474 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 |
Show all 21 elementary schools in Federal Way
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 618 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 303 students · 6th–10th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 622 students · 5th–8th | 5.6 |
| 4 | 652 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 171 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 2 | 57 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 1,354 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 72 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 5 | 1,413 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
| 6 | 537 students · 6th–12th | 5.2 |
| 7 | 1,645 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
| 8 | 3 students · 11th–12th | — |
| 9 | 12 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 321 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.2 |
| 2 | 391 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 61 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.5 |
Schools in Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington · 37 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$93,326
Median Home Value
$504,300
Median Rent
$1,817/mo
Population
137,844
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
63%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
11.1%
Community Profile
Federal Way has a median household income of $93,326. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $504,300, with a median rent of $1,817/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.1%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 21
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 9
- Other
- 3
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Washington
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Federal Way, Washington
How many schools are in Federal Way, Washington?
Federal Way has 37 schools, including 31 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Federal Way, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Federal Way is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Federal Way, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Federal Way on MySchoolScout is Nautilus K-8 School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Federal Way, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Federal Way on MySchoolScout is Nautilus K-8 School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Federal Way, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Federal Way on MySchoolScout is Lakota Middle School with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What is the best high school in Federal Way, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Federal Way on MySchoolScout is Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418) with a composite score of 6.3/10.
How many school districts serve Federal Way, Washington?
Federal Way is served by 1 school district: Federal Way School District.
What is the education level in Federal Way, Washington?
According to Census data, 30% of adults in Federal Way have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Federal Way, Washington?
The median household income in Federal Way is approximately $93,326 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Federal Way, Washington?
Yes, Federal Way has 6 private schools alongside 31 public schools. The top-rated private school is Brooklake Christian School with a score of 7.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Federal Way, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Federal Way is 16.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Federal Way, Washington?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.