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Very Good

#458 of 2,225 schools in WA

Top 21% in state

Samantha Smith Elementary

Elementary School · Lake Washington School District

23305 NE 14th St, Sammamish, WA 98074

Enrollment

571

Student-Teacher

19:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Sammamish

#6 of 10

public schools

Washington elementary schools

#398 of 1,202

In district

#25 of 53

Lake Washington School District

Equity

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Samantha Smith Elementary

Samantha Smith Elementary serves 571 students in grades kindergarten through fifth in Sammamish, Washington. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19:1 with 30 full-time equivalent teachers, providing a solid foundation for elementary education in this thriving suburban community. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranking #106 out of 2,261 schools statewide, placing it in the 95th percentile.

With an impressive academic score of 9.8 out of 10, students consistently perform well, with 88% achieving proficient or above levels in English Language Arts and reading across all grade levels. Samantha Smith Elementary sits in the heart of an affluent, highly educated community where 79% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding 98074 ZIP code area has a median household income of $229,104 and a median home value of $1,113,700, with only a 4.6% poverty rate among its 31,026 residents.

This educational environment reflects the community's strong commitment to academic achievement. Located on NE 14th Street in this large suburban setting, Samantha Smith Elementary benefits from being part of a prosperous neighborhood that values education and provides students with extensive resources for learning and growth.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.17 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency86.1%
Reading/ELA Proficiency86.3%
Math vs. State Avg+34.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+37.9 pts
Overall Proficiency86%
Expected (poverty-adj.)75%
vs. Expected+11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile93th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,269

Samantha Smith Elementary — Students at Samantha Smith Elementary score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 75%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

1.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 87.3%
School
State
45.8%
ELA Proficiency 87.6%
School
State
50.2%

Based on 13 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
91%
ELA
93%
2022
ELA
88%
2024
Math
86.4%
ELA
86.1%

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

How Samantha Smith Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.7/10
80th percentile in WA
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
7.8/10
Above average
Environment
4.6/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
2%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers

Location

23305 NE 14th St, Sammamish, WA 98074

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Samantha Smith Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Christa Mcauliffe Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Challenger Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Issaquah), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Cedar Trails Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Sammamish, see our Sammamish schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Eastlake High School Sammamish 0.5 mi 7.3
Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning Sammamish 0.5 mi 5.2
Christa Mcauliffe Elementary Sammamish 0.6 mi 9.2
Inglewood Middle School Sammamish 0.5 mi 5.1
Rachel Carson Elementary Sammamish 0.6 mi 8.4
Skyline High School Sammamish 1.5 mi 7.2
ARBOR SCHOOLS Sammamish 1.5 mi 7.1
TLC MONTESSORI Sammamish 1.2 mi
Margaret Mead Elementary Sammamish 1.3 mi 8.1
Louisa May Alcott Elementary Redmond 1.9 mi 8.6
Nikola Tesla STEM High School Redmond 2.0 mi 8.1
Discovery Elementary Issaquah 2.2 mi 7.8
Pine Lake Middle School Sammamish 2.8 mi 7.3
Sunny Hills Elementary Sammamish 2.8 mi 8.8
LAKESIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Issaquah 2.9 mi
Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary Sammamish 2.2 mi 7.5
Creekside Elementary Sammamish 2.5 mi 8.3
Beaver Lake Middle School Issaquah 3.0 mi 7.9
Challenger Elementary Issaquah 3.2 mi 9.0
Cedar Trails Elementary Sammamish 3.7 mi 8.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98074 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$234,013

Median Home Value

$1,211,700

Median Rent

$2,685/mo

Population

30,850

College Educated

79.4%

Homeownership

84.3%

Avg Commute

30.1 min

Poverty Rate

4.9%

Median Age

38.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Samantha Smith Elementary has a median household income of $234,013. It is a well-educated community where 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,211,700, with a median rent of $2,685/month. The local poverty rate of 4.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 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
Badger Mountain Elementary Richland, WA 7.7
Cascade Elementary Marysville, WA 7.7
Cascade View Elementary Snohomish, WA 7.7
Central Emerson Elementary Snohomish, WA 7.7
Columbia Valley Garden Elem Schl Longview, WA 7.7
Cottonwood Elementary Kennewick, WA 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Samantha Smith Elementary

What grades does Samantha Smith Elementary serve?

Samantha Smith Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Samantha Smith Elementary?

Samantha Smith Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 571 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Samantha Smith Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Samantha Smith Elementary is 19:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Samantha Smith Elementary rank in WA?

Samantha Smith Elementary is ranked #458 out of 2,225 schools in WA.

What is Samantha Smith Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Samantha Smith Elementary has a composite rating of 7.7 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 Samantha Smith Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Samantha Smith Elementary has 87.3% math proficiency and 87.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Samantha Smith Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Samantha Smith Elementary a Title I school?

No, Samantha Smith Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

1.6% of students at Samantha Smith 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
46 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
30 Some Transit
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (570/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
571
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
1.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
King County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Lake Washington School District
District Enrollment
30,882
Schools in District
57
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,053
District Rank
#25 of 53

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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