Meridian Elementary School vs Sunrise Elementary School

Meridian Elementary School and Sunrise Elementary School sit 2.2 miles apart in Kent, Washington, yet land at virtually the same overall rating — both score 9.1/10. Their state ranks reflect this near-tie: Meridian Elementary School ranks #76 of 2,225 Washington elementary schools, Sunrise Elementary School ranks #77 of 2,225. For parents weighing the two, the overall rating offers no practical differentiation; the meaningful gaps emerge one layer deeper.

On academics, Sunrise Elementary School holds a clear edge with an academic score of 9.5/10 versus Meridian Elementary School's 8.7/10 — a 0.8-point gap that signals stronger current proficiency outcomes. Meridian Elementary School counters on growth: its growth score of 9.7/10 outpaces Sunrise Elementary School's 9.0/10, meaning students at Meridian are gaining ground at a faster rate relative to expectations. Families prioritizing high absolute achievement today will favor Sunrise; those who want to watch a child accelerate — especially one entering below grade level — will find Meridian's growth trajectory more compelling.

Sunrise Elementary School enrolls 489 students to Meridian Elementary School's 412, and that size difference carries through to the classroom. Meridian's student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1 is notably tighter than Sunrise's 16.3:1, translating to roughly 1.6 fewer students per teacher on average. On the economic equity dimension, Sunrise Elementary School serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students — 48% qualify for free or reduced lunch versus 41% at Meridian Elementary School — suggesting Sunrise draws from a slightly more economically diverse catchment area.

Both schools serve grades PK–05, so there is no difference in grade span for families with children across the elementary years. The two schools' near-identical overall ratings and consecutive state ranks confirm they are genuine peers — the choice ultimately comes down to whether a family places more weight on peak academic proficiency or on year-over-year student growth, and whether smaller class sizes are a priority worth the tradeoff in enrollment diversity.