Loyal Heights Elementary School vs Rising Star Elementary School
Rising Star Elementary School has a higher overall rating of 9.4/10 compared to 8.7/10. Loyal Heights Elementary School is significantly larger with 533 students, about 1.6× the size of Rising Star Elementary School (326). In math proficiency, Loyal Heights Elementary School leads at 77.0%.
Loyal Heights Elementary School
Seattle, WA
533 students
Rising Star Elementary School
Seattle, WA
326 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Loyal Heights Elementary School | Rising Star Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.7 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.3 | 8.3 |
| Growth Score | 8.9 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 10.3% | 71.2% |
| Environment Score | 7.4 | 9.8 |
| State Rank | #142 of 2,225 | #11 of 2,225 |
| State Percentile | 94th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Loyal Heights Elementary School | Rising Star Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 77.0% | 37.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 82.0% | 37.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Loyal Heights Elementary School | Rising Star Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 533 | 326 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 17.8:1 | 10.2:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 10.3% | 71.2% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Seattle School District No. 1 | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| City | Seattle | Seattle |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Seattle (98115) | Seattle (98108) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $148,190 | $90,806 |
| Median Home Value | $1,041,500 | $693,500 |
| Median Rent | $2,118 | $1,463 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 78.3% | 37.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.0% | 21.1% |
| Avg Commute | 25 min | 28 min |
The data story: Loyal Heights Elementary School vs Rising Star Elementary School
Loyal Heights Elementary School and Rising Star Elementary School are both highly rated Seattle elementary schools, but Rising Star ranks substantially higher statewide — #30 of 2225 Washington schools versus Loyal Heights Elementary School's #89 of 2225. Despite sitting 11.8 miles apart in the same city, these two schools land in different tiers of the state distribution, with Rising Star Elementary School carrying a 0.3-point overall rating edge at 9.4/10 compared to Loyal Heights Elementary School's 9.1/10.
On academics, Loyal Heights Elementary School leads with a 9.3/10 academic score against Rising Star Elementary School's 8.3/10 — a full point gap that reflects stronger measured proficiency on state assessments. Growth tells the opposite story: Rising Star Elementary School scores 9.9/10 on student growth versus Loyal Heights Elementary School's 8.9/10, a one-point delta suggesting Rising Star is exceptionally effective at accelerating learning regardless of where students start. Families prioritizing absolute performance ceilings will favor Loyal Heights; those focused on how much ground their child gains year over year will find Rising Star's growth score hard to ignore.
The demographic and structural differences between the two schools are significant. Rising Star Elementary School serves a high-need population — 71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch compared to just 10% at Loyal Heights Elementary School — and it achieves its near-perfect growth score in that context, which speaks to instructional effectiveness. The student-teacher ratio at Rising Star Elementary School is 10.2:1, nearly half the 17.8:1 ratio at Loyal Heights Elementary School, meaning students at Rising Star receive substantially more individual attention on average. Enrollment is also notably smaller: 326 students at Rising Star versus 533 at Loyal Heights, reinforcing the tighter, more personalized environment.
One concrete structural distinction: Rising Star Elementary School offers pre-kindergarten starting at PK, giving families an earlier entry point than Loyal Heights Elementary School's kindergarten-only start at KG. Both schools run through 5th grade, so the divergence is entirely at the youngest ages. For families with pre-K-aged children seeking continuity in a single school from age four, Rising Star Elementary School removes the need for a separate pre-K placement.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Loyal Heights Elementary School
Loyal Heights Elementary School suits families whose children are already performing at or above grade level and who want the highest academic proficiency scores in the building. Its 9.3/10 academic score and #89 state rank make it a strong choice for parents in lower-FRL demographics who prioritize demonstrated achievement benchmarks over classroom-size ratios.
Rising Star Elementary School
Rising Star Elementary School is the better fit for families who want a small, high-attention environment — a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio, 326-student enrollment, and a 9.9/10 growth score — and for those with pre-K children who want one school from age four through 5th grade. It also suits families who weigh a school's effectiveness with diverse, high-need populations as a signal of teaching quality.