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Needs Improvement

#2094 of 2,228 schools in WA

Spanaway Lake High School

High School · Bethel School District · Spanaway, WA

A Bethel School District high school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1305 168th St E, Spanaway, WA 98387

  • Math 13% vs WA 36% (2024)
  • Reading 57% vs WA 56% (2024)
  • 5/5 advanced STEM subjects

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.21 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12.6% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.7% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg-18.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.5 pts
Overall Proficiency35% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)40% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected-5.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
College Readiness3.1Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation9.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.3Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.6:1
District spending per student$15,370
Chronic Absenteeism51.4%

Students at Spanaway Lake High School score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 SBA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.

Math Proficiency13%(2024 SBA)
School
State
36%(2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency57%(2024 SBA)
School
State
56%(2024 SBA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2018, to 35% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
24%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
44%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
59%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
79%
2013
Math
68%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
18%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
21%
ELA
73%
2016
Math
29%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
24%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
24%
ELA
62%
2022
ELA
51%
2024
Math
13%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 29 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

58.1%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Spanaway Lake High 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 11Car-Dependent
  • Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Elevated763/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
9.9% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics21sports offered
9 boys'·12 girls'·37 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Acceleration AcademyEnrollment path unverified3.29–121.1 mi405Compare →
Challenger High SchoolEnrollment path unverified2.47–121.2 mi366Compare →
St Mary's AcademyPrivate · tuition6.4privateK–92.3 mi39Compare →
Pierce County Skills CenterEnrollment path unverified4.98–122.6 mi315Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Bethel School District

Schools in district
39
Rank in district
#30 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

Spanaway Lake High School is listed in Bethel School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Spanaway Lake High School

Spanaway Lake High School is a public high school in Spanaway, WA, part of Bethel School District, serving approximately 1,804 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,094 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Spanaway Lake High School

What grades does Spanaway Lake High School serve?

Spanaway Lake High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Spanaway Lake High School?

Spanaway Lake High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,804 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Spanaway Lake High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Spanaway Lake High School is 22.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Spanaway Lake High School rank in WA?

Spanaway Lake High School ranks #2,094 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Spanaway Lake High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Spanaway Lake High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 Spanaway Lake High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Spanaway Lake High School has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Spanaway Lake High School a charter school?

No, Spanaway Lake High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Spanaway Lake High School a Title I school?

No, Spanaway Lake High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Spanaway Lake High School?

58.1% of students at Spanaway Lake High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,804
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
80
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Pierce County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
51.4%
Area population (ZIP 98387)
49,940
Area average commute
37.7 min
Area median age
34.1
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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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