Best Schools in Lakewood, Washington
25 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 Middle · 8 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Lakewood?
Use this page to compare every school in Lakewood 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.
Idlewild Elementary School
Elementary · Clover Park School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Tyee Park Elementary School
Elementary · Clover Park School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Tillicum Elementary School
Elementary · Clover Park School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lakewood for 2026 are Idlewild Elementary School (8.6/10), Tyee Park Elementary School (8.3/10), and Tillicum Elementary School (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 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
25
23 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$414,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
25
23 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$414,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 92% 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 Lakewood schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lakewood schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lakewood
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 17 rated schools; 25 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idlewild Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Tyee Park Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Tillicum Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | General William H. Harrison Preparatory School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Lakeview Hope Academy | 7.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Thomas Middle School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Lochburn Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Lake Louise Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Lakes High School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Four Heroes Elementary | 6.3 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $76,691
- Median home value
- $414,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lakewood compares
Washington rank
#92 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below Washington avg (6.3)
Median household income
$77k
86% of Washington median
Schools in this city
20
Clover Park School District runs Lakewood's public schools
23 public schools. Clover Park School District is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Lakewood is a Clover Park School District school (23 of 23).
Among 17 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.0 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Lakewood, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood's public school system spans 18 ranked schools with a citywide average of 5.5 out of 10 — a midfield result that splits the district roughly into two tiers. Four schools, 22% of ranked options, score 7.0 or above. The remaining 14 fall below that mark. The spread is wide enough that where a family lives in Lakewood matters considerably.
Elementary education carries the city's strongest numbers. Custer Elementary leads all 18 ranked schools with a 7.4 out of 10 — the top score in Lakewood. Lake Louise Elementary (7.3) and Four Heroes Elementary (7.2) sit just behind it, giving the city a concentrated cluster of high-performing elementary campuses. Park Lodge Elementary rounds out the top five at 6.8. Families with elementary-age children should prioritize researching these four schools and their attendance zones early.
The single high school in the top five is General William H. Harrison Preparatory School, which scores 7.0. That result sits at the exact threshold separating Lakewood's upper tier from the rest of the field. The preparatory designation signals a structured, college-focused curriculum, which suits some students and families better than others. Parents of incoming middle schoolers should assess fit early rather than defaulting to the nearest campus.
For parents arriving in Lakewood from outside the district, the practical takeaway is clear: school quality here varies significantly, and the strongest options concentrate at the elementary level. The city average of 5.5 is a rough guide only. With just 22% of schools clearing 7.0, attendance boundaries carry real weight. Mapping your prospective address against the top elementary feeders before choosing a neighborhood is the most direct lever families have over their child's school assignment.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 435 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 336 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 3 | 268 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 541 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 503 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 528 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 7 | 280 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 306 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 355 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 10 | 313 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 |
Show all 13 elementary schools in Lakewood
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 980 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 467 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 586 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 745 students · 6th–12th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 1,195 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 1,137 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 247 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
| 5 | 21 students · 11th–12th | — |
| 6 | 5 students · 9th–12th | — |
| 7 | 11 students · 5th–12th | — |
| 8 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 190 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.0 |
Schools in Lakewood
Lakewood, Washington · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$76,691
Median Home Value
$414,100
Median Rent
$1,525/mo
Population
62,634
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
48%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Community Profile
Lakewood has a median household income of $76,691. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $414,100, with a median rent of $1,525/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.7%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 13
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 8
- Other
- 1
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 Lakewood, Washington
How many schools are in Lakewood, Washington?
Lakewood has 25 schools, including 23 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lakewood, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lakewood is 6.2 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 Lakewood, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Lakewood on MySchoolScout is Idlewild Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lakewood, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lakewood on MySchoolScout is Idlewild Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Lakewood, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Lakewood on MySchoolScout is Thomas Middle School with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best high school in Lakewood, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Lakewood on MySchoolScout is General William H. Harrison Preparatory School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Lakewood, Washington?
Lakewood is served by 1 school district: Clover Park School District.
What is the education level in Lakewood, Washington?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Lakewood have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lakewood, Washington?
The median household income in Lakewood is approximately $76,691 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lakewood, Washington?
Yes, Lakewood has 2 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Frances Cabrini School with a score of 5.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lakewood, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lakewood is 18.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lakewood, 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.