Needs Improvement
#2187 of 2,228 schools in WA
Panther Lake Elementary School
Elementary School · Federal Way School District · Federal Way, WA
A Federal Way School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
34424 1ST AV S, Federal Way, WA 98003
- Math 21% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 29% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Panther Lake Elementary School score 25% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 45 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 25% recently.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
87.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Panther Lake Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Seattle map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 50Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,943/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Federal Way), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,800
Median home value
$428,500
Median rent
$1,650/mo
College educated
27.7%
Homeownership
47.6%
Poverty rate
14.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98003; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 424 | Compare → |
| Sherwood Forest Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 357 | Compare → |
| Federal Way Public School EceapEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK | 0.9 mi | 321 | Compare → |
| Support SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–12 | 0.9 mi | 61 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Federal Way School District
- Schools in district
- 46
- Rank in district
- #40 of 41
- District spending per student
- $17,898NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Panther Lake Elementary School is listed in Federal Way School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Panther Lake Elementary School
Panther Lake Elementary School is a public elementary school in Federal Way, WA, part of Federal Way School District, serving approximately 422 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #2,187 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Panther Lake Elementary School
What grades does Panther Lake Elementary School serve?
Panther Lake Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Panther Lake Elementary School?
Panther Lake Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 422 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Panther Lake Elementary School rank in WA?
Panther Lake Elementary School ranks #2,187 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Panther Lake Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Panther Lake Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Panther Lake Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Panther Lake Elementary School has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Panther Lake Elementary School a charter school?
No, Panther Lake Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Panther Lake Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Panther Lake Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Panther Lake Elementary School?
87.7% of students at Panther Lake Elementary 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 422
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- King County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.6%
- Phone
- (253) 945-3600
- Area population (ZIP 98003)
- 52,210
- Area average commute
- 30.7 min
- Area median age
- 36.4
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 98003; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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