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Average

#134 of 381 private schools in WA

Top 35% of private schools

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley

Elementary School

36605 PACIFIC HWY S, Federal Way, WA 98003

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on WA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

40

Student-Teacher

6.7:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Federal Way

#1 of 3

public schools

Washington elementary schools

#74 of 231

About Montessori Academy at Spring Valley

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley serves just 40 students from prekindergarten through 8th grade in Federal Way, offering an intimate educational environment with an exceptional 6.7:1 student-teacher ratio. With only six full-time equivalent teachers, this small regular public school provides highly personalized attention that has earned it impressive recognition — ranking #25 out of 381 elementary schools statewide and achieving a strong MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10, placing it in the 94th percentile. The school's Montessori approach combined with its small size creates unique opportunities for individualized learning and multi-age collaboration.

Students benefit from the low teacher-to-student ratio, allowing educators to closely support each child's academic and social development throughout their elementary and middle school years. Located on Pacific Highway South, the academy serves families in the 98003 area, where the median household income is $67,547 and median home values reach $403,200. The surrounding community includes 51,329 residents, with 28% holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley operates within Federal Way's large suburban setting, providing families with a small-school alternative in this diverse King County community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 40 students, Montessori Academy at Spring Valley is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.7:1, Montessori Academy at Spring Valley offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Montessori Academy at Spring Valley operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$22,263
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$18,881
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.85x — At Risk
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
95%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$334,957

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 40 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Montessori Academy at Spring Valley compares to 23 public schools serving similar grades in Federal Way, WA

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.7:1
This School
vs
16.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
40
This School
vs
429
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.8
This School
vs
5.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 35% vs 0%
Asian 35% vs 0%
Black 7.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 5% vs 0%
Montessori Academy at Spring Valley Federal Way Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Montessori Academy at Spring Valley (this school) 6.8
Illahee Middle School 5.6
Enterprise Elementary School 4.7
Federal Way Public Academy 7.5
Panther Lake Elementary School 6.8
Sherwood Forest Elementary School 7.2
Rainier View Elementary School 3.8
Technology Access Foundation Academy at Saghalie 3.8
Federal Way Public School ECEAP 6.2
Support School 5.0
Silver Lake Elementary School 4.4
Brigadoon Elementary School 6.3
Olympic View Elementary School 4.5
Mirror Lake Elementary School 3.8
Lakota Middle School 4.8
Internet Academy 4.0
Lake Grove Elementary School 5.9
Green Gables Elementary School 7.5
Adelaide Elementary School 5.1
Twin Lakes Elementary School 7.2
Sacajawea Middle School 6.2

Showing 20 of 23 schools. View all schools in Federal Way

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in WA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 2.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,080
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 70%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 40
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in WA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 35.0%
Asian 35.0%
Two or More 12.5%
Black 7.5%
Hispanic 5.0%
Native American 5.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

36605 PACIFIC HWY S, Federal Way, WA 98003

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Montessori Academy at Spring Valley may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fife Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby Tacoma), which scores notably higher. Another option is Discovery Primary School (rated 7.7/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Milton), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Sherwood Forest Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Federal Way, see our Federal Way schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Illahee Middle School Federal Way 0.4 mi 5.6
Todd Beamer High School Federal Way 0.7 mi 6.5
Enterprise Elementary School Federal Way 1.1 mi 4.7
Federal Way Public Academy Federal Way 1.2 mi 7.5
Panther Lake Elementary School Federal Way 1.4 mi 6.8
Sherwood Forest Elementary School Federal Way 1.6 mi 7.2
Support School Federal Way 2.1 mi 5.0
Federal Way Running Start Home School Federal Way 2.1 mi
Federal Way Public School ECEAP Federal Way 2.1 mi 6.2
Gateway to College Federal Way 2.1 mi
Discovery Primary School Milton 2.0 mi 7.7
Surprise Lake Middle School Milton 2.1 mi 3.8
Rainier View Elementary School Federal Way 1.6 mi 3.8
Technology Access Foundation Academy at Saghalie Federal Way 2.0 mi 3.8
Lakeland Elementary School Auburn 1.7 mi 6.3
Sequoyah Middle School Auburn 1.9 mi 4.9
Fife Open Doors Tacoma 2.7 mi
Fife Elementary School Tacoma 2.7 mi 8.3
Employment Transition Program Federal Way 2.5 mi 6.1
FAITH BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma 2.0 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98003 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,800

Median Home Value

$428,500

Median Rent

$1,650/mo

Population

52,210

College Educated

27.7%

Homeownership

47.6%

Avg Commute

30.7 min

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Median Age

36.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Montessori Academy at Spring Valley has a median household income of $70,800. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $428,500, with a median rent of $1,650/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
OLYMPIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Olympia, WA 6.7
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN SCHOOL Seattle, WA 6.9
Garfield Elementary Garfield, WA 6.9
West Valley Virtual Learning Center Spokane, WA 6.9
CYPRESS ADVENTIST SCHOOL Lynnwood, WA 6.6
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF YAKIMA Yakima, WA 6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Montessori Academy at Spring Valley

What grades does Montessori Academy at Spring Valley serve?

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Montessori Academy at Spring Valley?

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley has an enrollment of approximately 40 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Montessori Academy at Spring Valley?

The student-teacher ratio at Montessori Academy at Spring Valley is 6.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Montessori Academy at Spring Valley rank in WA?

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley is ranked #134 out of 381 private schools in WA.

What is Montessori Academy at Spring Valley's MySchoolScout rating?

Montessori Academy at Spring Valley has a composite rating of 6.8 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.

Is Montessori Academy at Spring Valley a private school?

Yes, Montessori Academy at Spring Valley is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Montessori Academy at Spring Valley a religious school?

No, Montessori Academy at Spring Valley is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (4,943/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Federal Way). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
40
Gender Split
45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
KING
Data Year
2022–2023

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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