Newcastle Elementary School vs Hazelwood Elementary School
Newcastle Elementary School and Hazelwood Elementary School are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, Newcastle Elementary School leads at 79.0%.
Newcastle Elementary School
Newcastle, WA
460 students
Hazelwood Elementary School
Newcastle, WA
462 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Newcastle Elementary School | Hazelwood Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.8 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 15.2% | 19% |
| Environment Score | 7.9 | 7.1 |
| State Rank | #23 of 2,225 | #29 of 2,225 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Newcastle Elementary School | Hazelwood Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 79.0% | 69.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 77.0% | 69.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Newcastle Elementary School | Hazelwood Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 460 | 462 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 15.3:1 | 17.1:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 15.2% | 19.0% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Issaquah School District | Renton School District |
| City | Newcastle | Newcastle |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Newcastle (98059) | Newcastle (98056) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $134,336 | $108,596 |
| Median Home Value | $809,800 | $726,300 |
| Median Rent | $2,230 | $1,992 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 50.7% | 44.1% |
| Poverty Rate | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| Avg Commute | 31 min | 29 min |
The data story: Newcastle Elementary School vs Hazelwood Elementary School
Newcastle Elementary School and Hazelwood Elementary School are separated by just 1.4 miles in Newcastle, Washington, yet their state rankings tell a meaningful story: Newcastle Elementary sits at #23 of 2,225 Washington elementary schools while Hazelwood Elementary lands at #29 of 2,225 — both placing in the top 1.5% statewide. Both schools share an identical overall rating of 9.2/10, making the choice between them one of specific priorities rather than overall quality.
On academic proficiency, Newcastle Elementary School edges ahead with a 9.6/10 academic score versus Hazelwood Elementary School's 9.5/10 — a narrow but consistent margin. The dynamic reverses on growth: Hazelwood Elementary School scores 9.8/10 on growth versus Newcastle Elementary School's 9.5/10, a three-tenths gap that reflects how effectively Hazelwood moves students forward regardless of starting point. Families who prioritize year-over-year learning gains will find Hazelwood's growth trajectory meaningfully stronger.
Newcastle Elementary School enrolls 460 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1, while Hazelwood Elementary School serves 462 students at a ratio of 17.1:1 — nearly two additional students per teacher. That 1.8-student gap translates to measurably more individualized attention time at Newcastle. On economic diversity, Newcastle Elementary's free and reduced-price lunch rate is 15% compared to Hazelwood Elementary's 19%, indicating a modestly higher share of lower-income households served at Hazelwood.
Both schools serve grades KG–05 with no difference in grade span, so families with children entering kindergarten or currently in elementary school face identical program structures at each campus. The deciding factors come down to classroom density and which performance dimension matters most: Newcastle Elementary leads on academics and class size, while Hazelwood Elementary leads on student growth and holds a slightly more economically diverse student body within the same high-performing tier.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Newcastle Elementary School
Newcastle Elementary School suits families who want the smallest possible class sizes at this level — its 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio is noticeably lower than Hazelwood's 17.1:1 — and who prioritize raw academic proficiency scores. It's also the stronger state-rank pick at #23 versus #29.
Hazelwood Elementary School
Hazelwood Elementary School is the better fit for families who value student growth over static proficiency — its 9.8/10 growth score outpaces Newcastle Elementary's 9.5/10, suggesting stronger instructional momentum. It also serves a slightly more economically diverse student body, which can benefit social development for children across income backgrounds.