Skip to main content

Very Good

#694 of 2,228 schools in WA

Top 31% in state

Orca K-8 School

Elementary School · Seattle School District No. 1

5215 46 AVE S, Seattle, WA 98118

Enrollment

355

Student-Teacher

15.4:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Washington schools

#694 of 2,228

In Seattle

#75 of 123

public schools

In district

#72 of 106

Seattle School District No. 1

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Orca K-8 School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Orca K-8 School

7.3/10

Elementary School in Seattle · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Seattle Nativity School

6.0/10

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

Rainier Valley Leadership Academy

5.2/10

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

About Orca K-8 School

Orca K-8 School is a public elementary school in Seattle, WA, part of Seattle School District No. 1. Orca K-8 School serves approximately 355 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Orca K-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #694 of 2,228 schools in WA.

Structured state assessment records for Orca K-8 School show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.9 pts below district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.2
  • WA avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

33% of students at Orca K-8 School 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 Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.03 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37.8% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency41.5% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg-14 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.9 pts
Overall Proficiency40% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected-7.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile36th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,806
Chronic Absenteeism32.7%

Orca K-8 School — Students at Orca K-8 School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

47%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 42.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
42.1% (2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency 52.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
49.4% (2024 SBA)

Based on 41 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
43%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
49%
ELA
64%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
66%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
35%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
45%
ELA
54%
2016
Math
49%
ELA
55%
2017
Math
43%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
66%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
66%
2022
Math
42.1%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
34.8%
ELA
38.8%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.

How Orca K-8 School Compares

See how Orca K-8 School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
69th percentile in WA
Academic
5.4/10
Average
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
47%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.7%

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

5215 46 AVE S, Seattle, WA 98118

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Orca K-8 School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hawthorne Elementary School (rated 9.6/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Dearborn Park International School (rated 9.3/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Dunlap Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Seattle, see our Seattle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
SEATTLE NATIVITY SCHOOL Seattle 0.3 mi 6.0
Rainier Valley Leadership Academy Seattle 0.5 mi 5.2
TORAH ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Seattle 0.3 mi
Aki Kurose Middle School Seattle 0.6 mi 7.6
Graham Hill Elementary School Seattle 0.7 mi 7.3
Interagency Open Doors Seattle 0.6 mi 6.9
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Seattle 0.9 mi 7.4
Hawthorne Elementary School Seattle 0.9 mi 9.6
DERECH EMUNAH Seattle 0.9 mi
DERECH EMUNAH DBA SEATTLE JEWISH GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL Seattle 0.9 mi
Dearborn Park International School Seattle 1.0 mi 9.3
THE LAKE AND PARK SCHOOL Seattle 1.5 mi 5.6
John Muir Elementary School Seattle 1.5 mi 7.1
Wing Luke Elementary School Seattle 1.7 mi 7.1
Franklin High School Seattle 1.7 mi 7.2
Rising Star Elementary School Seattle 1.9 mi 7.2
Alan T. Sugiyama High School Seattle 2.0 mi 5.4
Dunlap Elementary School Seattle 2.0 mi 8.6
South Shore PK-8 School Seattle 2.1 mi 6.3
Rainier Beach High School Seattle 2.1 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98118 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$109,085

Median Home Value

$746,400

Median Rent

$1,831/mo

Population

49,560

College Educated

49%

Homeownership

57.5%

Avg Commute

30.7 min

Poverty Rate

11.9%

Median Age

38

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Burley Glenwood Elementary Port Orchard, WA 7.3
Carriage Crest Elementary School Renton, WA 7.3
Central Emerson Elementary Snohomish, WA 7.3
Chautauqua Elementary Vashon, WA 7.3
Deer Park Elementary Deer Park, WA 7.3
E Omak Elementary Omak, WA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Orca K-8 School

What grades does Orca K-8 School serve?

Orca K-8 School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Orca K-8 School?

Orca K-8 School has an enrollment of approximately 355 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Orca K-8 School?

The student-teacher ratio at Orca K-8 School is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Orca K-8 School rank in WA?

Orca K-8 School ranks #694 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Orca K-8 School's MySchoolScout rating?

Orca K-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Orca K-8 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Orca K-8 School has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Orca K-8 School a charter school?

No, Orca K-8 School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Orca K-8 School a Title I school?

No, Orca K-8 School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Orca K-8 School?

47.0% of students at Orca K-8 School 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
72 Very Walkable
Transit Score
50 Good Transit
Bike Score
68 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
355
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Free/Reduced Lunch
47.0%
Type
alternative
Setting
Large City
County
King County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.7%

District

Seattle School District No. 1
District Enrollment
50,770
Schools in District
109
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,806
District Rank
#72 of 106

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.