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Average

#974 of 2,228 schools in WA

Top 44% in state

Foothills Elementary

Elementary School · White River School District

PO Box 2210, Buckley, WA 98321

Enrollment

499

Student-Teacher

17.2:1

Score

6.7

Grades

1st – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Washington schools

#974 of 2,228

In Buckley

#4 of 6

public schools

In district

#5 of 7

White River School District

Academic performance

8.3 / 10

Excellent

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Foothills Elementary

6.7/10

Elementary School in Buckley · grades 1st – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Liberty Ridge Elementary

7.4/10

2.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

White River High School

5.0/10

2.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Foothills Elementary

Foothills Elementary is a public elementary school in Buckley, WA, part of White River School District. Foothills Elementary serves approximately 499 students, and covers grades 1st-5th, and has a 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Foothills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #974 of 2,228 schools in WA.

Structured state assessment records for Foothills Elementary show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.5 pts below district
  • This school 6.7 · Average
  • District avg 7.2
  • WA avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

32% of students at Foothills Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.52 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52.7% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55.1% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg+0.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6.7 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected+7.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
Resources & Environment5.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,365
Chronic Absenteeism32.1%

Foothills Elementary — Students at Foothills Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

48.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 62.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.8% (2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency 62.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
50.2% (2024 SBA)

Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
78%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
74%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
75%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
61%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
58%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
61%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
60%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
61%
ELA
60%
2019
Math
61%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
55.6%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
52.7%
ELA
54.9%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.4/10.

How Foothills Elementary Compares

See how Foothills Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.7/10
56th percentile in WA
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
6.4/10
Average
Environment
5.2/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
49%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

PO Box 2210, Buckley, WA 98321

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Foothills Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Tehaleh Heights Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 4.4 miles away, in nearby Bonney Lake), which scores notably higher. Another option is Mountain Meadow Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Bonney Lake Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Bonney Lake), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Buckley, see our Buckley schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Liberty Ridge Elementary Sumner 2.0 mi 7.4
White River High School Buckley 2.2 mi 5.0
White River Reengagement Program Buckley 2.2 mi
Mountain View Middle School Bonney Lake 2.2 mi 6.8
Bonney Lake High School Bonney Lake 2.5 mi 5.0
White River Early Learning Center Buckley 2.6 mi 4.7
Mountain Meadow Elementary Buckley 2.7 mi 8.9
Victor Falls Elementary Bonney Lake 3.0 mi 7.6
Donald Eismann Elementary Bonney Lake 3.5 mi 7.6
Bonney Lake Elementary Bonney Lake 3.4 mi 8.9
Emerald Hills Elementary Bonney Lake 3.8 mi 8.4
Dieringer Heights Elementary Lake Tapps 4.7 mi 8.6
Lakeridge Middle School Bonney Lake 4.5 mi 7.4
Tehaleh Heights Elementary School Bonney Lake 4.4 mi 9.3
Westwood Elementary School Enumclaw 5.5 mi 8.3
White River Special Ed Services Buckley 4.2 mi
Glacier Middle School Buckley 4.4 mi 6.8
Wilkeson Elementary School Wilkeson 5.3 mi 8.1
Elk Ridge Elementary Buckley 4.7 mi 7.8
North Tapps Middle School Lake Tapps 6.5 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98321 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,081

Median Home Value

$524,300

Median Rent

$1,805/mo

Population

17,601

College Educated

23.6%

Homeownership

88.5%

Avg Commute

36.7 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

40.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Blaine Primary School Blaine, WA 6.7
Captain Strong Battle Ground, WA 6.7
Columbia Ridge Elementary Ephrata, WA 6.7
Eagle Creek Elementary Arlington, WA 6.7
East Farms STEAM School Newman Lake, WA 6.7
East Olympia Elementary Olympia, WA 6.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Foothills Elementary

What grades does Foothills Elementary serve?

Foothills Elementary serves students in grades 1st through 5th.

How many students attend Foothills Elementary?

Foothills Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Foothills Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Foothills Elementary is 17.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Foothills Elementary rank in WA?

Foothills Elementary ranks #974 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Foothills Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Foothills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Foothills Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Foothills Elementary has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Foothills Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Foothills Elementary a Title I school?

No, Foothills Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Foothills Elementary?

48.7% of students at Foothills Elementary 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

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
1st – 5th
Enrollment
499
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
48.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Pierce County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.1%

District

White River School District
District Enrollment
4,500
Schools in District
10
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,365
District Rank
#5 of 7

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