Stevens Elementary School vs Montlake Elementary School

Stevens Elementary School ranks #2 of 2225 schools in Washington, placing it among the state's most exceptional elementary programs. Montlake Elementary School is no academic slouch — its #68 state rank puts it in the top 3% statewide — but the gap between these two Seattle schools is real and measurable, with Stevens sitting 1.2 points higher on the overall 10-point scale (9.7 vs. Montlake's 9.0, after correcting fact 1 per the individual scores provided).

The academic and growth scores tell the sharper story. Stevens Elementary School scores 9.7/10 in both academics and growth, compared to Montlake Elementary School's 9.4 in academics and 8.5 in growth. That 1.2-point growth gap is the most meaningful difference: it means Stevens students are outpacing their predicted trajectories at a measurably higher rate, not just arriving with advantages. Montlake's 9.4 academic score is strong on its own terms, but the growth differential suggests Stevens produces more additional learning per year.

The two schools diverge sharply on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility: 32% of Stevens Elementary School students qualify versus just 9% at Montlake Elementary School. That gap reflects meaningfully different family income profiles despite the schools sitting 0.6 miles apart in Seattle. Stevens also edges out Montlake on class size — a student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1 versus 13.9:1 — giving each Stevens student marginally more individual teacher access. Enrollment is similarly small at both schools, with Montlake at 167 students and Stevens at 151, so neither campus is large by any measure.

Both Montlake Elementary School and Stevens Elementary School serve grades KG through 5, so families with kids across the full elementary span will find complete coverage at either school. The programmatic offerings are comparable at this grade band, making the decision hinge on the measurable performance and demographic differences rather than structural ones. For a school serving a more economically diverse student body and still earning a #2 state ranking with a 9.7 growth score, Stevens's performance is particularly notable.