Is Spanaway Elementary a good school?

Spanaway Elementary ranks in the bottom 21.1% of Washington elementary schools.

How many students attend Spanaway Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 364 students attended Spanaway Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Spanaway Elementary?

Students at Spanaway Elementary are 37% White, 27% Hispanic, 18% Two or more races, 9% African American, 5% Pacific Islander, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Spanaway Elementary attend?

Students who attend Spanaway Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Spanaway Middle School High : Spanaway Lake High School

Spanaway Elementary

Summary:

Spanaway Elementary is a public elementary school in Spanaway, Washington, serving 364 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Bethel School District, which is ranked 141 out of 247 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Spanaway Elementary has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (26.92%) and Pacific Islander (5.22%) students. However, the school consistently underperforms the district and state in standardized test scores, with only 37.43% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 33.91% in math, compared to 49.89% and 36.67% in the district, respectively. The school's student groups, such as female, male, and White students, are ranked in the bottom half of Washington elementary schools, though the school's English Language Learner (ELL) students perform relatively well, ranking in the top 17%.

Spanaway Elementary is located near several other elementary schools within the Bethel School District, including Clover Creek Elementary, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary, Camas Prairie Elementary, and Evergreen Elementary, which generally outperform Spanaway Elementary in academic measures. The school's spending per student has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from $12,601 to $21,727, but this does not appear to translate into improved academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public K-5

412 165th St S
Spanaway, WA 98387-8624

(253) 800-5300

District: Bethel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
922^nd of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,727

Students who attend Spanaway Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Spanaway Middle School
High:	Spanaway Lake High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.0

Number of students: 364

Racial breakdown:

White:

36.8%

Hispanic:

26.9%

Two or more races:

18.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 69.8%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Spanaway Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Spanaway Elementary ranks worse than 78.9% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 17^th among 18 ranked elementary schools in the Bethel School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.63. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Spanaway Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (36.8%), Hispanic (26.9%), two or more races (18.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 69.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Bethel School District. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Spanaway Elementary is 14, which is the 5^th best among 18 elementary schools in the Bethel School District. (See more...)

Compare Spanaway Elementary employs 25.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Spanaway Elementary is $21,727, which is the highest among 20 elementary schools in the Bethel School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Spanaway Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Spanaway Elementary 922^nd of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Spanaway Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Bethel School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bethel School District 141^st of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Spanaway Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	54.49	468^th	1026	54.4%
2005	41.74	650^th	1031	37.0%
2006	36.90	724^th	1051	31.1%
2007	35.26	743^rd	1069	30.5%
2008	49.23	575^th	1067	46.1%
2009	40.49	689^th	1072	35.7%
2010	15.53	989^th	1088	9.1%
2011	14.77	995^th	1092	8.9%
2012	19.01	967^th	1097	11.9%
2013	24.89	905^th	1106	18.2%
2015	38.67	679^th	1067	36.4%
2016	40.93	650^th	1053	38.3%
2017	28.40	780^th	1056	26.1%
2018	27.82	791^st	1054	25.0%
2019	36.03	748^th	1130	33.8%
2021	19.27	895^th	1107	19.2%
2022	26.71	869^th	1169	25.7%
2023	33.59	785^th	1169	32.8%
2024	23.63	922^nd	1168	21.1%

See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	21.64	175^th	212	17.5%
2019	27.13	245^th	303	19.1%
2022	24.39	206^th	252	18.3%
2023	31.98	146^th	194	24.7%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	75.84	54^th	320	83.1%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	41.48	514^th	835	38.4%
2019	63.92	299^th	979	69.5%
2021	34.28	582^nd	854	31.9%
2022	37.06	669^th	1019	34.3%
2023	51.22	481^st	1013	52.5%
2024	43.80	601^st	1024	41.3%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	18.81	854^th	1004	14.9%
2019	35.17	743^rd	1068	30.4%
2021	19.22	846^th	1008	16.1%
2022	20.63	918^th	1100	16.5%
2023	31.13	766^th	1094	30.0%
2024	22.05	879^th	1093	19.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	41.99	578^th	999	42.1%
2019	39.28	679^th	1075	36.8%
2021	20.67	837^th	1025	18.3%
2022	33.38	739^th	1113	33.6%
2023	34.68	712^th	1099	35.2%
2024	25.19	842^nd	1099	23.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	39.04	329^th	540	39.1%
2019	74.73	129^th	697	81.5%
2021	43.11	247^th	501	50.7%
2022	47.59	321^st	694	53.7%
2023	55.69	260^th	633	58.9%
2024	46.79	350^th	651	46.2%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Spanaway Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2019	33.69	748^th	1027	27.2%
2021	12.66	876^th	943	7.1%
2022	23.29	850^th	1031	17.6%
2023	29.58	764^th	1011	24.4%
2024	28.28	760^th	1009	24.7%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, May 22, 2015

I honestly think most of these teachers are setting our children up for failure.. Since my kids have gone to this school they really haven't learned much and in areas my kids are struggling their teachers really haven't even TRIED to explain the lesson in ways they COULD understand. My oldest son comes home angry and frustrated because he is confused with his assignments and gets into trouble if he doesn't finish them! They slap him with EXTREMELY confusing math that I can't even begin to help him with because I dont even understand it (common core) and if he doesn't understand it because the teacher fails to help him with it so that he CAN understand it he wont be able to do the assignments which then leads to him failing math altogether.. Iv numerously heard about kids at that school bullying my oldest son and I have called the school and reported it more then once but it still hasn't been taken care of! I took my younger son out of this school and enrolled him into another and next school year my oldest will no longer go to this school either. I'm fed up! My children will not be set up to fail. Period. This school has GOT to hire teachers that will actually take the time to TEACH our children and HELP them when they are confused instead of ignore their struggles and this school has GOT to get this bullying crap under control cuz the damage it does to our children is completely ridiculous and infuriating! I do NOT recommend enrolling your child/children into this school. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Spanaway Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	452	54	19	22	16	n/a	n/a	563
1989	394	46	12	16	9	n/a	n/a	477
1990	396	41	22	8	14	n/a	n/a	481
1991	427	46	35	29	11	n/a	n/a	548
1992	409	60	27	33	13	n/a	n/a	542
1993	394	56	39	36	14	n/a	n/a	539
1994	338	51	43	37	16	n/a	n/a	485
1995	285	46	27	27	15	n/a	n/a	400
1996	285	46	27	27	15	n/a	n/a	400
1997	272	50	27	19	10	n/a	n/a	378
1998	289	46	21	17	14	n/a	n/a	387
1999	266	63	29	22	10	n/a	n/a	390
2000	249	59	32	33	14	n/a	n/a	387
2001	232	62	35	23	13	n/a	n/a	365
2002	200	54	49	30	19	n/a	n/a	352
2003	200	54	49	30	19	n/a	n/a	352
2004	238	60	55	33	23	n/a	n/a	409
2005	255	53	45	34	20	n/a	n/a	407
2006	242	55	48	43	24	n/a	n/a	412
2007	239	62	46	48	20	n/a	n/a	415
2008	218	61	36	49	18	n/a	n/a	382
2009	230	71	44	66	9	n/a	n/a	420
2010	199	75	34	77	9	n/a	n/a	394
2011	206	61	26	48	8	27	26	402
2012	195	43	21	55	6	13	48	381
2013	184	47	17	68	8	11	69	404
2014	162	44	11	63	2	12	66	360
2015	166	35	11	58	4	13	67	354
2016	162	33	8	56	5	5	68	337
2017	149	31	8	74	5	11	83	361
2018	164	29	6	80	5	16	85	385
2019	147	40	5	114	4	13	87	410
2020	166	39	5	116	3	14	93	436
2021	147	34	5	110	2	11	76	385
2022	127	32	4	110	1	19	71	364
2023	134	34	9	98	3	19	67	364

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Spanaway Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	563	27.0	20.8	0
1989	477	24.0	19.8	n/a
1990	481	23.7	20.2	0
1991	548	25.9	21.1	n/a
1992	542	27.3	19.8	n/a
1993	539	25.3	21.3	n/a
1994	485	23.9	20.3	n/a
1995	400	20.6	19.4	n/a
1996	400	20.6	19.4	n/a
1997	378	19.1	19.8	n/a
1998	387	21.0	18.4	n/a
1999	390	21.7	18.0	n/a
2000	387	24.9	15.5	n/a
2001	365	22.8	16.0	n/a
2002	352	23.6	14.9	51.1
2003	352	23.6	14.9	51.1
2004	409	24.0	17.0	56
2005	407	23.6	17.2	52.1
2006	412	24.1	17.1	51
2007	415	23.5	17.7	53.5
2008	382	21.7	17.6	50
2009	420	21.7	19.4	66.2
2010	394	23.8	16.5	61.7
2011	402	23.2	17.3	45.3
2012	381	23.8	15.9	65.6
2013	404	22.5	17.8	48.3
2014	360	n/a	n/a	60.6
2015	354	26.0	13.6	69.8
2016	337	25.0	13.4	55.8
2017	361	24.0	15.0	75.9
2018	385	24.8	15.4	66.5
2019	410	26.3	15.5	64.6
2020	436	29.8	14.6	65.6
2021	385	31.2	12.3	62.3
2022	364	26.5	13.7	54.4
2023	364	25.8	14.0	69.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Spanaway Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	563	27.0	20.8	0
1989	477	24.0	19.8	n/a
1990	481	23.7	20.2	0
1991	548	25.9	21.1	n/a
1992	542	27.3	19.8	n/a
1993	539	25.3	21.3	n/a
1994	485	23.9	20.3	n/a
1995	400	20.6	19.4	n/a
1996	400	20.6	19.4	n/a
1997	378	19.1	19.8	n/a
1998	387	21.0	18.4	n/a
1999	390	21.7	18.0	n/a
2000	387	24.9	15.5	n/a
2001	365	22.8	16.0	n/a
2002	352	23.6	14.9	51.1
2003	352	23.6	14.9	51.1
2004	409	24.0	17.0	56
2005	407	23.6	17.2	52.1
2006	412	24.1	17.1	51
2007	415	23.5	17.7	53.5
2008	382	21.7	17.6	50
2009	420	21.7	19.4	66.2
2010	394	23.8	16.5	61.7
2011	402	23.2	17.3	45.3
2012	381	23.8	15.9	65.6
2013	404	22.5	17.8	48.3
2014	360	n/a	n/a	60.6
2015	354	26.0	13.6	69.8
2016	337	25.0	13.4	55.8
2017	361	24.0	15.0	75.9
2018	385	24.8	15.4	66.5
2019	410	26.3	15.5	64.6
2020	436	29.8	14.6	65.6
2021	385	31.2	12.3	62.3
2022	364	26.5	13.7	54.4
2023	364	25.8	14.0	69.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

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