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Below Average

#2055 of 2,225 schools in WA

Acceleration Academy

High School · Bethel School District

16218 Pacific Ave, Spanaway, WA 98387

Enrollment

405

Student-Teacher

50.6:1

Score

4.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Spanaway

#14 of 14

public schools

Washington high schools

#428 of 476

In district

#29 of 33

Bethel School District

About Acceleration Academy

Acceleration Academy is an alternative high school located in Spanaway, Washington. Serving students from ninth through twelfth grade, the school has a total enrollment of 405 students and employs eight full-time equivalent teachers. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 50.6:1, Acceleration Academy focuses on providing flexible educational options for its diverse student body.

The academic performance at Acceleration Academy currently ranks in the eighth percentile among Washington state schools, with a MySchoolScout Rating of 2.6 out of 10 and an Academic Score of 2.4 out of 10. The school's proficiency rates in ELA/Reading are 25% and in Science they are only 2%, indicating areas where the school is focusing on improvement to better support student development. Situated in a large suburban area, Acceleration Academy serves students from surrounding communities who may benefit from its alternative educational approach.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Acceleration Academy is 50.6:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Partial Profile · 3/4 metrics
Student ProgressNot Available

Requires 2+ years of test data

Academics3.2Fair33%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Overall Proficiency25%
Expected (poverty-adj.)37%
vs. Expected-12.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile14th
College Readiness6.8Above Average40%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.2Significantly Below Average27%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio50.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,195

Acceleration Academy — Students at Acceleration Academy score 25% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

62.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency N/A
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 25.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 3 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

How Acceleration Academy Compares

See how Acceleration Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.1/10
8th percentile in WA
Academic
3.2/10
3.2/10
Environment
1.2/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
63%
Teaching Staff
51:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers

Location

16218 Pacific Ave, Spanaway, WA 98387

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Acceleration Academy may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Gates Secondary School (rated 8.1/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Tacoma), which scores notably higher. Another option is Spanaway Lake High School (rated 5.8/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Washington High School (rated 4.6/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Tacoma), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Spanaway, see our Spanaway schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Spanaway Elementary Spanaway 0.2 mi 5.2
BETHEL HOPE EARLY LEARNING CENTER Spanaway 0.3 mi 4.9
Spanaway Middle School Tacoma 0.6 mi 7.2
Thompson Preschool Tacoma 0.5 mi 5.7
Chester H Thompson Elementary Tacoma 0.5 mi 4.0
Camas Prairie Elementary Spanaway 1.0 mi 9.3
IMAGINATION SCHOOL Tacoma 1.0 mi
Challenger High School Spanaway 1.2 mi 4.2
Spanaway Lake High School Spanaway 1.1 mi 5.8
ST MARY'S ACADEMY Tacoma 1.6 mi 6.4
Evergreen Elementary Spanaway 1.2 mi 4.5
Elmhurst Elementary School Tacoma 1.9 mi 6.9
Brookdale Elementary Tacoma 2.0 mi 6.7
Gates Secondary School Tacoma 2.0 mi 8.1
Cedarcrest Middle School Spanaway 2.0 mi 5.2
PARKLAND LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL Tacoma 2.5 mi 5.6
Early Learning Center Tacoma 2.5 mi 5.2
Perry G Keithley Middle School Tacoma 2.6 mi 5.0
Washington High School Tacoma 2.6 mi 4.6
Collins Elementary Tacoma 2.6 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98387 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,141

Median Home Value

$424,100

Median Rent

$1,837/mo

Population

49,940

College Educated

17.4%

Homeownership

77%

Avg Commute

37.7 min

Poverty Rate

7.7%

Median Age

34.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Acceleration Academy has a median household income of $101,141. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $424,100, with a median rent of $1,837/month. The local poverty rate of 7.7% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Adna Middle/High School Adna, WA 4.1
Chimacum Junior/Senior High School Chimacum, WA 4.0
New Horizons High School Pasco, WA 4.0
Challenger High School Spanaway, WA 4.2
Toutle Lake High School Toutle, WA 4.2
Napavine Jr Sr High School Napavine, WA 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Acceleration Academy

What grades does Acceleration Academy serve?

Acceleration Academy serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Acceleration Academy?

Acceleration Academy has an enrollment of approximately 405 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Acceleration Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Acceleration Academy is 50.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Acceleration Academy rank in WA?

Acceleration Academy is ranked #2055 out of 2,225 schools in WA.

What is Acceleration Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Acceleration Academy has a composite rating of 4.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Acceleration Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Acceleration Academy has 25.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Acceleration Academy a charter school?

No, Acceleration Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Acceleration Academy a Title I school?

No, Acceleration Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Acceleration Academy?

62.5% of students at Acceleration Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Elevated (763/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
405
Student-Teacher Ratio
50.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Free/Reduced Lunch
62.5%
Type
alternative
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Pierce County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Bethel School District
District Enrollment
21,539
Schools in District
39
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,370
District Rank
#29 of 33

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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