Peninsula School District
School District · Gig Harbor, Washington
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
17
10 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,219
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.5:1
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
17
10 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,219
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.5:1
Evaluating Peninsula School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Peninsula School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Discovery Elementary School
Gig Harbor · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Harbor Heights Elementary School
Gig Harbor · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Swift Water Elementary
Gig Harbor · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Washington rank
#39 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.0
above Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,219
$505 vs Washington median
District size
9,069 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Peninsula School District ranks #39 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Peninsula School District's schools with real test data average 7.3/10 across 17 schools. Its top-rated schools are Discovery Elementary School (9.2/10), Harbor Heights Elementary School (9.1/10), and Swift Water Elementary (8.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.2/10 despite 23% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Peninsula School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Peninsula School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Peninsula School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (17 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discovery Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Harbor Heights Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Swift Water Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Purdy Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Vaughn Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Artondale Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Voyager Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Minter Creek Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Evergreen Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Kopachuck Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
See all 17 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Peninsula School District
Peninsula School District is a Gig Harbor, Washington school district serving 17 schools. The district educates 9,069 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.5:1. The district invests $17,219 per student annually.
With an average rating of 7.3/10, Peninsula School District is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Discovery Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.2/10.
In standardized testing, Peninsula School District students show an average math proficiency of 60.4% and ELA proficiency of 70.8%.
The district includes 10 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Peninsula School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Peninsula School District with test data.
Schools in Peninsula School District
17 schools Elementary Schools 10
Middle Schools 4
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Gig Harbor
- Total Enrollment
- 9,069
- Teachers (FTE)
- 491
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Peninsula School District?
Peninsula School District has 17 schools in total — 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Peninsula School District?
The average composite rating for Peninsula School District is 7.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Peninsula School District?
Peninsula School District spends $17,219 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Peninsula School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Peninsula School District is 18.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Peninsula School District?
Discovery Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Peninsula School District with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What are the test scores in Peninsula School District?
Across schools in Peninsula School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 60.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 70.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Peninsula School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Peninsula School District has an average school rating of 7.3/10 across 17 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
- 7.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 60.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 70.8%
Resources
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 Peninsula School District 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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