North Thurston Public Schools School District
School District · Lacey, Washington
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
15,197
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
15,197
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
How this district compares
Washington rank
#68 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,096
$628 vs Washington median
District size
15,197 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
North Thurston Public Schools ranks #68 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. North Thurston Public Schools's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 24 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pleasant Glade Elementary (8.7/10), Lacey Elementary (8.4/10), and Lydia Hawk Elementary (8.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.7/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among North Thurston Public Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +21.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among North Thurston Public Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in North Thurston Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (24 of 24). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Glade Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Lacey Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Lydia Hawk Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Seven Oaks Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Horizons Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Woodland Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Chinook Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | South Bay Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Komachin Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Aspire Middle School | 7.0 / 10 |
See all 24 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About North Thurston Public Schools
North Thurston Public Schools is a Lacey, Washington school district serving 24 schools.The district educates 15,197 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18:1. District-level spending was $17,096 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, North Thurston Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pleasant Glade Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.7/10.
In standardized testing, North Thurston Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 48.3% and ELA proficiency of 57.8%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in North Thurston Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in North Thurston Public Schools with test data.
Schools in North Thurston Public Schools
24 schoolsElementary Schools14
Middle Schools5
High Schools4
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Lacey
- Total Enrollment
- 15,197
- Teachers (FTE)
- 846
- District spending per student
- $17,096NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in North Thurston Public Schools?
North Thurston Public Schools has 24 schools in total — 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for North Thurston Public Schools?
The average composite rating for North Thurston Public Schools is 6.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in North Thurston Public Schools?
North Thurston Public Schools's district-level spending was $17,096 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in North Thurston Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in North Thurston Public Schools is 18:1.
What is the top-rated school in North Thurston Public Schools?
Pleasant Glade Elementary is the highest-rated school in North Thurston Public Schools with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What are the test scores in North Thurston Public Schools?
Across schools in North Thurston Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 48.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 57.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does North Thurston Public Schools compare to other districts in Washington?
North Thurston Public Schools has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 24 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 48.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 57.8%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare North Thurston Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Highline School District (43)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Bellingham School District (25)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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