Needs Improvement
#2178 of 2,228 schools in WA
Sunset Elementary
Elementary School · Cheney School District · Airway Heights, WA
A Cheney School District elementary school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
12824 W 12th St, Airway Heights, WA 99001
- Math 19% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 19% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sunset Elementary score 19% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 15 points since 2018, to 19% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 38% (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
77.3%
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 Sunset Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 44Car-Dependent
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,268/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Airway Heights), 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
$60,182
Median home value
$281,100
Median rent
$1,271/mo
College educated
17.7%
Homeownership
38.4%
Poverty rate
26.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 99001; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Anderson Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–5 | 3.4 mi | 498 | Compare → |
| Great Northern ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–6 | 4.3 mi | 40 | Compare → |
| Phil Snowdon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | PK–5 | 4.3 mi | 545 | Compare → |
| Betz ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | Not available | 531 | 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.
Cheney School District
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #10 of 10
- District spending per student
- $14,596NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Sunset Elementary is listed in Cheney School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sunset Elementary
Sunset Elementary is a public elementary school in Airway Heights, WA, part of Cheney School District, serving approximately 657 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,178 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sunset Elementary
What grades does Sunset Elementary serve?
Sunset Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Sunset Elementary?
Sunset Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 657 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sunset Elementary rank in WA?
Sunset Elementary ranks #2,178 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Sunset Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sunset Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 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 Sunset Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sunset Elementary has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Sunset Elementary a charter school?
No, Sunset Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sunset Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sunset Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sunset Elementary?
77.3% of students at Sunset 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 657
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Spokane County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 38.4%
- Phone
- (509) 559-4600
- Area population (ZIP 99001)
- 8,931
- Area average commute
- 22.8 min
- Area median age
- 32.3
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 99001; 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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