Very Good
#435 of 2,225 schools in WA
Top 20% in state
Swift Water Elementary
Elementary School · Peninsula School District
10811 Harbor Hill Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Enrollment
514
Student-Teacher
17.1:1
Score
7.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
514
Student-Teacher
17.1:1
Score
7.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Gig Harbor
#4 of 14
public schools
Washington elementary schools
#381 of 1,202
In district
#5 of 17
Peninsula School District
Equity
8.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Swift Water Elementary
Swift Water Elementary serves 514 students in grades kindergarten through fifth in Gig Harbor, Washington. With 30 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1, providing a manageable classroom environment for elementary learners. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide at #455 out of 2,261 Washington elementary schools.
Students show strong literacy skills, with 69% achieving proficient or above levels in English Language Arts and reading assessments across all grade levels. Swift Water Elementary draws families from the affluent Gig Harbor community, where the median household income reaches $122,869 and over half of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood's low poverty rate of just 3.7% reflects the area's economic stability, with median home values around $648,000 indicating a well-established residential community.
The school benefits from its location in Pierce County's large suburban setting, where families have chosen to invest in both their homes and their children's education. Swift Water Elementary serves as an educational anchor in this thriving Gig Harbor neighborhood, where community resources and family engagement help support student achievement.
Score Breakdown
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Swift Water Elementary — Students at Swift Water Elementary score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
16.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)
Based on 11 test records from WA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.1/10.
How Swift Water Elementary Compares
See how Swift Water Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 69% (2022) to 60% (2024).
Location
10811 Harbor Hill Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Swift Water Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Harbor Heights Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 4.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Purdy Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Olalla Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Port Orchard), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Gig Harbor, see our Gig Harbor schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Ridge Middle School Gig Harbor | 1.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Pioneer Elementary School Gig Harbor | 1.5 mi | 5.5 |
| Henderson Bay Alt High School Gig Harbor | 1.6 mi | 7.4 |
| Discovery Elementary School Gig Harbor | 1.7 mi | 8.2 |
| Gig Harbor High Gig Harbor | 1.8 mi | 6.8 |
| ST NICHOLAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Gig Harbor | 2.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Purdy Elementary School Gig Harbor | 2.2 mi | 9.0 |
| Peninsula High School Gig Harbor | 2.4 mi | 5.1 |
| HARBOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Gig Harbor | 2.7 mi | — |
| Harbor Heights Elementary School Gig Harbor | 4.4 mi | 9.2 |
| BURLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Port Orchard | 4.2 mi | 5.9 |
| Goodman Middle School Gig Harbor | 4.5 mi | 7.0 |
| Artondale Elementary School Gig Harbor | 4.4 mi | 6.7 |
| LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gig Harbor | 4.6 mi | 5.4 |
| MONTESSORI FARMHOUSE Port Orchard | 5.0 mi | — |
| GIG HARBOR ACADEMY Gig Harbor | 5.1 mi | 6.5 |
| Olalla Elementary School Port Orchard | 5.4 mi | 8.8 |
| Science and Math Institute Tacoma | 5.0 mi | 6.6 |
| Voyager Elementary Gig Harbor | 4.9 mi | 7.2 |
| Kopachuck Middle School Gig Harbor | 5.1 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 98332 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$122,827
Median Home Value
$686,900
Median Rent
$2,373/mo
Population
19,784
College Educated
52.4%
Homeownership
82.3%
Avg Commute
32.2 min
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Median Age
48.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Swift Water Elementary has a median household income of $122,827. It is a well-educated community where 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $686,900, with a median rent of $2,373/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 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 |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Rush Elementary Redmond, WA | 7.8 |
| Carl Cozier Elementary School Bellingham, WA | 7.8 |
| Connell Elem Connell, WA | 7.8 |
| Cougar Ridge Elementary Bellevue, WA | 7.8 |
| Custer Elementary School Lakewood, WA | 7.8 |
| Discovery Elementary Issaquah, WA | 7.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Swift Water Elementary
What grades does Swift Water Elementary serve?
Swift Water Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Swift Water Elementary?
Swift Water Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 514 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Swift Water Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Swift Water Elementary is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Swift Water Elementary rank in WA?
Swift Water Elementary is ranked #435 out of 2,225 schools in WA.
What is Swift Water Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Swift Water Elementary has a composite rating of 7.8 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 Swift Water Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Swift Water Elementary has 68.1% math proficiency and 67.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Swift Water Elementary a charter school?
No, Swift Water Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Swift Water Elementary a Title I school?
No, Swift Water Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Swift Water Elementary?
16.7% of students at Swift Water 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gig Harbor). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 514
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 16.7%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Phone
- (253) 530-4900
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Peninsula School District- District Enrollment
- 9,069
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,219
- District Rank
- #5 of 17
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 methodologyRelated reading
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