Best Schools in Tumwater, Washington
13 schools · 4 Elementary · 2 Middle · 7 High
Choosing a school in Tumwater?
Use this page to compare every school in Tumwater 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.
Michael T Simmons Elementary
Elementary · Tumwater School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Esd 113 Consortium Reengagement Program
High · Capital Region Esd 113. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Peter G Schmidt Elementary
Elementary · Tumwater 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 Tumwater for 2026 are Michael T Simmons Elementary (7.6/10), Esd 113 Consortium Reengagement Program (6.9/10), and Peter G Schmidt Elementary (6.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 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
13
in this city
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$462,000
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
13
in this city
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$462,000
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 39% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Tumwater schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tumwater schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tumwater
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael T Simmons Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Esd 113 Consortium Reengagement Program | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Peter G Schmidt Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | New Market High School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Tumwater Middle School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | George Bush Middle School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Tumwater Hill Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Tumwater High School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Cascadia High School | 4.3 / 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $94,717
- Median home value
- $462,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 42%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Tumwater compares
Washington rank
#122 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$95k
106% of Washington median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Tumwater, Washington
Tumwater's public school system runs 10 ranked schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels, all operating within the Tumwater School District. The district serves a mid-size community just south of Olympia, giving families a self-contained set of options without the sprawl of a major metro district. Average performance sits at 5.5 out of 10 across those 10 schools — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks meaningful variation depending on grade level and school.
Elementary options represent the strongest end of the district's range. Michael T Simmons Elementary leads all Tumwater schools with a score of 6.9, nearly a full point and a half above the district average. Peter G Schmidt Elementary follows close behind at 6.6. Both schools give families with young children a concrete performance edge over what they'd find at the district's midpoint. The gap between the top elementary and the district average of 5.5 is significant — parents zoned for Simmons or Schmidt are looking at above-average outcomes before their kids ever reach middle school.
Middle school performance lands closer to the district mean. George Bush Middle School scores 6.0, holding slightly above average, while Tumwater Middle School comes in at 5.7. Neither school is a standout, but both sit within range of the district norm. At the high school level, Cascadia High School scores 5.6 — just above the district average of 5.5, offering a modest but consistent trajectory for students coming through the system.
For parents comparing across the full range, the practical picture is clear: Tumwater's elementary tier punches above the district average, and the performance curve flattens as students advance. Families in the attendance zones for Simmons or Schmidt have the most to gain by staying in-district. Those with middle or high schoolers should weigh the 5.5–6.0 range against neighboring districts — the scores are functional but unremarkable, leaving room for families with options to comparison-shop at those grade levels.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 442 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 586 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 3 | 694 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 |
| 4 | 380 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 633 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 757 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 344 students · 11th–12th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 55 students · 10th–12th | 6.4 |
| 3 | 1,139 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 4 | 116 students · 8th–12th | 4.3 |
| 5 | 792 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 |
| 6 | 13 students · 11th–12th | — |
| 7 | 15 students · 6th–12th | — |
Schools in Tumwater
Tumwater, Washington · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$94,717
Median Home Value
$462,000
Median Rent
$1,628/mo
Population
78,228
College Educated
42%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Community Profile
Tumwater has a median household income of $94,717. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $462,000, with a median rent of $1,628/month. The local poverty rate of 7.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 7
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 Tumwater, Washington
How many schools are in Tumwater, Washington?
Tumwater has 13 schools, including 13 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Tumwater, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Tumwater is 5.8 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 Tumwater, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Tumwater on MySchoolScout is Michael T Simmons Elementary with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tumwater, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tumwater on MySchoolScout is Michael T Simmons Elementary with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Tumwater, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Tumwater on MySchoolScout is Tumwater Middle School with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in Tumwater, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Tumwater on MySchoolScout is Esd 113 Consortium Reengagement Program with a composite score of 6.9/10.
How many school districts serve Tumwater, Washington?
Tumwater is served by 3 school districts: Capital Region Esd 113, Mary M Knight School District, Tumwater School District.
What is the education level in Tumwater, Washington?
According to Census data, 42% of adults in Tumwater have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Tumwater, Washington?
The median household income in Tumwater is approximately $94,717 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tumwater, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Tumwater is 19.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Tumwater, 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.