Average
#1162 of 2,228 schools in WA
Shining Mountain Elementary
Elementary School · Bethel School District · Spanaway, WA
A Bethel School District elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
21615 38th Ave E, Spanaway, WA 98387
- Math 37% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 45% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Shining Mountain Elementary score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2018, to 41% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
60.9%
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 Shining Mountain Elementary 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated763/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$101,141
Median home value
$424,100
Median rent
$1,837/mo
College educated
17.4%
Homeownership
77%
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98387; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Plain School of ChoiceEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 575 | Compare → |
| Centennial ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | K–5 | 2.0 mi | 565 | Compare → |
| Bethel Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 2.5 | K–12 | 2.3 mi | 444 | Compare → |
| Pioneer Valley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | K–5 | 2.3 mi | 527 | 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.
Bethel School District
- Schools in district
- 39
- Rank in district
- #19 of 33
- District spending per student
- $15,370NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Shining Mountain Elementary is listed in Bethel School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Shining Mountain Elementary
Shining Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school in Spanaway, WA, part of Bethel School District, serving approximately 626 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,162 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Shining Mountain Elementary
What grades does Shining Mountain Elementary serve?
Shining Mountain Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Shining Mountain Elementary?
Shining Mountain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 626 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Elementary is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Shining Mountain Elementary rank in WA?
Shining Mountain Elementary ranks #1,162 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Shining Mountain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Shining Mountain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Shining Mountain Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Shining Mountain Elementary has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Shining Mountain Elementary a charter school?
No, Shining Mountain Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Shining Mountain Elementary a Title I school?
No, Shining Mountain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shining Mountain Elementary?
60.9% of students at Shining Mountain 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 626
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.7%
- Phone
- (253) 800-5200
- Area population (ZIP 98387)
- 49,940
- Area average commute
- 37.7 min
- Area median age
- 34.1
Official sources & links
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 98387; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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