Best Schools in Port Orchard, Washington
22 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Port Orchard?
Use this page to compare every school in Port Orchard 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.
Olalla Elementary School
Elementary · South Kitsap School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Cedar Heights Middle School
Middle · South Kitsap School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
South Colby Elementary
Elementary · South Kitsap School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Port Orchard for 2026 are Olalla Elementary School (8.9/10), Cedar Heights Middle School (8.7/10), and South Colby Elementary (8.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 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
22
18 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$536,250
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
22
18 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$536,250
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Port Orchard schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Port Orchard schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Port Orchard
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (18 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olalla Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Cedar Heights Middle School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | South Colby Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Mullenix Ridge Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Manchester Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | John Sedgwick Middle School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Orchard Heights Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Sunnyslope Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Burley Glenwood Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Marcus Whitman Middle School | 6.4 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $97,595
- Median home value
- $536,250
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 82%
47% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Port Orchard compares
Washington rank
#52 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$98k
109% of Washington median
Schools in this city
19
About Schools in Port Orchard, Washington
Port Orchard's public school system gives parents real options across a meaningful performance range. The city has 17 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.5 out of 10 — a solid baseline, though the spread matters. Six schools, or 35% of the ranked total, hit 7 or above, meaning parents willing to research attendance zones can land their kids in demonstrably stronger classrooms.
Elementary options lead the city in performance. Olalla Elementary School earns an 8.9 out of 10, the top score in Port Orchard and a standout result by any local benchmark. Mullenix Ridge Elementary follows at 8.1 and Manchester Elementary at 7.3, giving families with younger children three above-average options to consider depending on where they live. The gap between Olalla and the city average of 6.5 is wide enough that proximity to Olalla's attendance zone is a meaningful factor in any home search.
Middle school performance holds up well. Cedar Heights Middle School scores 8.3 out of 10, nearly matching the city's top elementary and placing it among the stronger middle schools parents will find in the area. John Sedgwick Middle School scores 7.4, also above the city average. For families thinking ahead, Port Orchard's middle school pipeline is a genuine asset — both ranked schools clear the 7-point threshold that only 35% of the city's schools reach overall.
For parents comparing Port Orchard to nearby communities, the city's 6.5 average reflects a mixed landscape rather than a uniform one. The strongest schools cluster at the elementary and middle levels among the names listed here. Families prioritizing academic performance should map school boundaries early in the home search, since the difference between a 6.5-average school and an 8.9-rated one can hinge on a few blocks. Port Orchard rewards the parents who look past city-wide averages and target specific campuses — the data shows the ceiling is meaningfully higher than the floor.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 279 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 296 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 384 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 483 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 5 | 550 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 492 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 7 | 481 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 395 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 9 | 483 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 10 | 416 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 |
Show all 13 elementary schools in Port Orchard
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 | 660 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 705 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 654 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 221 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 2 | 2,417 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 4 students · 8th–12th | — |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 91 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 290 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.6 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Burley Christian School
Private
162 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
Schools in Port Orchard
Port Orchard, Washington · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$97,595
Median Home Value
$536,250
Median Rent
$1,671/mo
Population
79,764
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
82%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Community Profile
Port Orchard has a median household income of $97,595. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $536,250, with a median rent of $1,671/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 13
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Port Orchard, Washington
How many schools are in Port Orchard, Washington?
Port Orchard has 22 schools, including 18 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Port Orchard, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Port Orchard is 6.7 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 Port Orchard, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Port Orchard on MySchoolScout is Olalla Elementary School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Port Orchard, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Port Orchard on MySchoolScout is Olalla Elementary School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Port Orchard, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Port Orchard on MySchoolScout is Cedar Heights Middle School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Port Orchard, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Port Orchard on MySchoolScout is Discovery with a composite score of 5.7/10.
How many school districts serve Port Orchard, Washington?
Port Orchard is served by 2 school districts: Olympic Educational Service District 114, South Kitsap School District.
What is the education level in Port Orchard, Washington?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Port Orchard have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Port Orchard, Washington?
The median household income in Port Orchard is approximately $97,595 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Port Orchard, Washington?
Yes, Port Orchard has 4 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is Burley Christian School with a score of 5.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Port Orchard, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Port Orchard is 16.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Port Orchard, 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.