Alki Elementary School vs Rising Star Elementary School

Rising Star Elementary School holds a significant edge in overall standing, ranking #11 of 2225 schools in Washington — 55 positions higher than Alki Elementary School, which sits at #66 of 2225. That gap translates to a 0.4-point difference in total rating (9.4 vs. 9.0), meaningful when the ceiling is 10. Both schools clear the top 3% of the state, so either represents a strong choice in Seattle's elementary landscape — but Rising Star's position is notably more elite.

The academic picture splits in an unexpected direction. Alki Elementary School scores 9.1/10 on academic proficiency versus Rising Star Elementary School's 8.3/10, an 0.8-point advantage for Alki. Growth scores are closer, with Rising Star edging ahead at 9.9/10 versus Alki's 9.6/10 — suggesting Rising Star is exceptionally effective at accelerating students from wherever they start. The combination of a lower proficiency score but higher growth score at Rising Star points to a school doing real lift work with a diverse incoming population, not simply reflecting its neighborhood demographics.

The demographic contrast between the two schools is sharp. Rising Star Elementary School enrolls 326 students at a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio with 71% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Alki Elementary School enrolls 270 students at an 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio with only 14% on free or reduced lunch. That nearly 8-point difference in student-teacher ratio is the most concrete structural difference between the two schools — Rising Star offers substantially more adult attention per child, which likely contributes directly to its growth score advantage. Alki's much lower FRL rate reflects the affluent West Seattle neighborhood it serves.

Both schools cover the same grade span, PK through 5th grade, and sit 6.5 miles apart in Seattle. There are no notable program-level distinctions visible in the available data. Families choosing between them are weighing Alki's higher academic proficiency baseline and neighborhood demographic profile against Rising Star's exceptional staff-to-student ratio, superior state ranking, and proven ability to accelerate student growth regardless of starting point.