Spanaway Lake High School

Summary:

Spanaway Lake High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Spanaway, Washington, with a diverse student population of over 1,500 students. While the school is part of the Bethel School District, which is ranked 141 out of 247 districts in the state, Spanaway Lake High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Washington high schools, with a 1-2 star rating from SchoolDigger.

Spanaway Lake High School faces several key challenges, including lower academic performance, higher dropout rates, and socioeconomic disadvantages among its student population. The school's four-year graduation rate ranges from 81.7% to 89.7%, which is lower than the state average and the graduation rates of nearby high schools like Bethel High School (91.3%) and Gov John Rogers High School (91.9%). Additionally, Spanaway Lake High School has a relatively high dropout rate, ranging from 4.8% to 9.4% in recent years, which is higher than the dropout rates of nearby high schools.

Despite these challenges, Spanaway Lake High School has a diverse student population, with significant representation of minority groups. However, the school's performance on various subgroups suggests that it may not be effectively addressing the unique needs of these diverse student populations. Nonetheless, the school has shown some signs of improvement in recent years, with its statewide ranking and rating gradually increasing from the lowest levels, indicating that there may be opportunities for the school to continue improving its performance with the right strategies and support.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1305 168th Street East
       Spanaway, WA  98387-5906


(253) 800-5600

District: Bethel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
304th of 437 Washington High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,062 Help


Feeder schools for Spanaway Lake High School:

Elementary:    Camas Prairie Elementary
    Chester H Thompson Elementary
    Clover Creek Elementary
    Evergreen Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Cedarcrest Middle School
    Spanaway Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  23.7 Help
Number of students:  1,817

Racial breakdown:

White:
29.1%
Hispanic:
24.9%
Two or more races:
15.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  63.8% Help


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 Compare Spanaway Lake High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Spanaway Lake High School ranks worse than 69.6% of high schools in Washington. It also ranks 2nd among 4 ranked high schools in the Bethel School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.46. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Spanaway Lake High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Spanaway Lake High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (29.1%), Hispanic (24.9%), two or more races (15.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 63.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Spanaway Lake High School is 23.7, which is the 3rd best among 4 high schools in the Bethel School District. (See more...)
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Compare Spanaway Lake High School employs 76.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Spanaway Lake High School is $17,062, which is the 3rd highest among 4 high schools in the Bethel School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Spanaway Lake High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Spanaway Lake High School 304th of 437 Washington public high schools. (See Spanaway Lake High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
Pacific Islander students:
White students:


Bethel School District:

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


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Your rating for Spanaway Lake High School?

Rank History for Spanaway Lake High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 43.32 246th 390 36.9%
2005 52.97 220th 394 44.2%
2006 42.12 263rd 395 33.4%
2007 40.48 281st 399 29.6%
2008 49.57 240th 396 39.4%
2009 42.81 264th 402 34.3%
2010 44.49 262nd 423 38.1%
2011 32.79 306th 440 30.5%
2012 37.23 308th 450 31.6%
2013 36.44 329th 454 27.5%
2015 60.89 107th 341 68.6%
2016 49.31 181st 306 40.8%
2017 39.90 207th 301 31.2%
2018 41.67 217th 315 31.1%
2019 31.23 307th 417 26.4%
2021 32.27 307th 455 32.5%
2022 23.45 338th 434 22.1%
2023 27.00 320th 442 27.6%
2024 32.46 304th 437 30.4%
See the entire list of Washington High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 17.39 146th 163 10.4%
2021 29.58 147th 195 24.6%
2022 4.64 178th 179 0.6%
2023 13.07 156th 166 6.0%
2024 16.79 145th 161 9.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.62 49th 65 24.6%
2019 72.81 18th 69 73.9%
2023 43.36 19th 44 56.8%
2024 31.32 45th 68 33.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 19.07 121st 128 5.5%
2021 29.88 151st 212 28.8%
2022 14.68 124th 130 4.6%
2023 22.19 96th 110 12.7%
2024 13.30 108th 110 1.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.51 157th 227 30.8%
2019 38.23 229th 344 33.4%
2021 44.81 206th 392 47.4%
2022 33.00 254th 370 31.4%
2023 31.10 267th 362 26.2%
2024 40.14 217th 356 39.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 51.53 20th 43 53.5%
2021 36.67 29th 45 35.6%
2024 71.31 4th 24 83.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.90 175th 243 28.0%
2019 36.56 245th 358 31.6%
2021 32.28 267th 390 31.5%
2022 19.42 316th 368 14.1%
2023 30.93 252nd 357 29.4%
2024 26.75 266th 347 23.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 15.42 29th 31 6.5%
2021 57.52 18th 47 61.7%
2022 18.69 32nd 38 15.8%
2023 17.54 27th 31 12.9%
2024 46.51 21st 34 38.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.42 181st 254 28.7%
2019 23.52 288th 355 18.9%
2021 32.11 281st 395 28.9%
2022 22.42 290th 363 20.1%
2023 18.53 300th 358 16.2%
2024 31.96 250th 362 30.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.63 64th 87 26.4%
2019 29.55 93rd 121 23.1%
2021 37.76 84th 136 38.2%
2022 19.11 108th 124 12.9%
2023 35.02 77th 118 34.7%
2024 33.17 74th 113 34.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.14 27th 54 50.0%
2019 41.33 46th 86 46.5%
2021 34.63 76th 111 31.5%
2022 31.01 62nd 89 30.3%
2023 14.63 72nd 78 7.7%
2024 44.39 43rd 70 38.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.55 53rd 156 66.0%
2019 61.28 77th 241 68.0%
2021 37.90 170th 278 38.8%
2022 44.85 137th 261 47.5%
2023 37.93 150th 249 39.8%
2024 35.53 162nd 248 34.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 30.94 15th 18 16.7%
2021 48.03 16th 33 51.5%
2022 55.00 8th 17 52.9%
2023 34.10 9th 9 0.0%
2024 24.76 8th 8 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Spanaway Lake High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.97 167th 222 24.8%
2019 24.80 316th 382 17.3%
2021 41.67 234th 413 43.3%
2022 23.28 329th 390 15.6%
2023 31.84 277th 379 26.9%
2024 37.33 256th 374 31.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington High 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.

Spanaway Lake High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.5)
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50%

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50%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Open Quote This school has a lot of diversity and has many introductions to many different cultures. This school may not have the best academics scores, but the people here are very nice and this school has a safe friendly environment. Also, many students here work hard and really focus on their academics even if they may not be doing the best. This school takes the students academics very seriously and at the same time we have lots of fun here. Furthermore, the teachers here are awesome because they don;t be too strict or too easy. They truly care about their students and have a bond with them. They make sure that we fully understand what we're learning and is always open to any questions asked. I really love how compared to other schools, the people here don't judge you and there is so much diversity that I see lots of people go in groups with completely different ethnicity. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Spanaway Lake High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 760 67 102 29 27 n/a n/a 0 985
1989 695 82 128 29 24 n/a n/a 0 958
1990 667 79 130 25 23 n/a n/a 0 924
1991 637 101 145 31 17 n/a n/a 0 931
1992 632 112 143 35 15 n/a n/a 0 937
1993 677 126 139 44 20 n/a n/a 0 1006
1994 663 142 147 52 17 n/a n/a 0 1021
1995 716 132 137 56 20 n/a n/a 0 1061
1996 716 132 137 56 20 n/a n/a 0 1061
1997 752 139 168 56 19 n/a n/a 0 1134
1998 827 162 184 63 22 n/a n/a 0 1258
1999 877 192 199 68 26 n/a n/a 0 1362
2000 982 224 217 80 30 n/a n/a 0 1533
2001 979 245 241 81 22 n/a n/a 0 1568
2002 1010 237 260 92 32 n/a n/a 0 1631
2003 1010 237 260 92 32 n/a n/a 0 1631
2004 1025 287 277 124 52 n/a n/a 0 1765
2005 1036 308 286 132 57 n/a n/a 0 1819
2006 839 265 228 107 48 n/a n/a 0 1487
2007 718 238 222 101 45 n/a n/a 0 1324
2008 650 232 201 134 40 n/a n/a 0 1257
2009 616 232 196 150 56 n/a n/a 0 1250
2010 566 206 190 172 28 n/a n/a 0 1162
2011 605 210 167 161 26 39 12 0 1220
2012 554 201 149 161 25 57 40 0 1187
2013 768 293 195 224 29 76 77 0 1662
2014 773 314 196 242 31 82 101 0 1739
2015 709 314 168 258 26 85 105 0 1665
2016 723 273 153 322 33 91 120 0 1715
2017 672 254 132 298 22 85 124 0 1587
2018 671 251 130 303 26 81 123 0 1585
2019 575 207 114 302 23 91 188 0 1500
2020 537 202 103 338 18 102 217 0 1517
2021 529 208 98 340 19 107 239 0 1540
2022 492 248 109 413 23 135 270 2 1692
2023 529 266 111 453 18 153 283 4 1817

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 Lake High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 985 45.0 21.8 0
1989 958 42.0 22.8 n/a
1990 924 42.0 22.0 0
1991 931 45.2 20.5 n/a
1992 937 49.8 18.8 n/a
1993 1006 43.9 22.9 n/a
1994 1021 46.2 22.1 n/a
1995 1061 46.0 23.1 n/a
1996 1061 46.0 23.1 n/a
1997 1134 48.9 23.2 n/a
1998 1258 55.4 22.7 n/a
1999 1362 64.8 21.0 n/a
2000 1533 68.4 22.4 n/a
2001 1568 71.8 21.8 n/a
2002 1631 73.8 22.1 22.7
2003 1631 73.8 22.1 22.7
2004 1765 78.0 22.6 30.7
2005 1819 77.9 23.4 27.2
2006 1487 67.6 22.0 32
2007 1324 59.8 22.1 35.8
2008 1257 57.3 21.9 39.2
2009 1250 57.3 21.8 39.8
2010 1162 59.9 19.4 41.1
2011 1220 52.4 23.2 28.3
2012 1187 50.4 23.5 49.1
2013 1662 70.0 23.7 48.3
2014 1739 n/a n/a 53.9
2015 1665 73.0 22.8 57.1
2016 1715 69.0 24.8 53.3
2017 1587 72.1 21.9 61.9
2018 1585 69.2 22.8 54.7
2019 1500 71.1 21.0 57.5
2020 1517 71.4 21.2 57.7
2021 1540 71.6 21.4 55.7
2022 1692 73.6 22.9 56.3
2023 1817 76.6 23.7 63.8

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 Lake High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 985 45.0 21.8 0
1989 958 42.0 22.8 n/a
1990 924 42.0 22.0 0
1991 931 45.2 20.5 n/a
1992 937 49.8 18.8 n/a
1993 1006 43.9 22.9 n/a
1994 1021 46.2 22.1 n/a
1995 1061 46.0 23.1 n/a
1996 1061 46.0 23.1 n/a
1997 1134 48.9 23.2 n/a
1998 1258 55.4 22.7 n/a
1999 1362 64.8 21.0 n/a
2000 1533 68.4 22.4 n/a
2001 1568 71.8 21.8 n/a
2002 1631 73.8 22.1 22.7
2003 1631 73.8 22.1 22.7
2004 1765 78.0 22.6 30.7
2005 1819 77.9 23.4 27.2
2006 1487 67.6 22.0 32
2007 1324 59.8 22.1 35.8
2008 1257 57.3 21.9 39.2
2009 1250 57.3 21.8 39.8
2010 1162 59.9 19.4 41.1
2011 1220 52.4 23.2 28.3
2012 1187 50.4 23.5 49.1
2013 1662 70.0 23.7 48.3
2014 1739 n/a n/a 53.9
2015 1665 73.0 22.8 57.1
2016 1715 69.0 24.8 53.3
2017 1587 72.1 21.9 61.9
2018 1585 69.2 22.8 54.7
2019 1500 71.1 21.0 57.5
2020 1517 71.4 21.2 57.7
2021 1540 71.6 21.4 55.7
2022 1692 73.6 22.9 56.3
2023 1817 76.6 23.7 63.8

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.

Immunization Rates

Spanaway Lake High School

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YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201991.7%0.5%0.9%2.7%98.7%98.3%98.4%97.3%98.9%98.5%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Spanaway Lake High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $765 (5.7%) $12,761 (94.3%) $13,526
2020 $463 (4.6%) $9,710 (95.4%) $10,174
2021 $677 (4.1%) $15,680 (95.9%) $16,357
2022 $1,278 (7.5%) $15,783 (92.5%) $17,062

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Spanaway Lake High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 307th of 417 High schoolsRanks 320th of 442 High schools
 1.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Spanaway Lake High School)63.355.9
 7.4%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Bethel School District)64.857.3
 7.5%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)72.865.9
 6.9%
10th Grade Math (Spanaway Lake High School)22.615.7
 6.9%
   10th Grade Math (Bethel School District)3018.6
 11.3%
   10th Grade Math (Washington)42.433.3
 9.1%
11th Grade Science (Spanaway Lake High School)42.537.9
 4.6%
   11th Grade Science (Bethel School District)3640.2
 4.2%
   11th Grade Science (Washington)5050.5
 0.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Spanaway Lake High School)63.355.9
 7.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bethel School District)58.948.7
 10.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Spanaway Lake High School)22.615.7
 6.9%
   All Grades Math (Bethel School District)46.835.4
 11.4%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Spanaway Lake High School)42.537.9
 4.6%
   All Grades Science (Bethel School District)44.141.5
 2.6%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students15001817
 21.1%
African American207266
 28.5%
American Indian2318
 21.7%
Asian114111
 2.6%
Hispanic302453
 50%
Pacific Islander91153
 68.1%
White575529
 8%
Two or More Races188283
 50.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients57.5%63.8%
 6.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Spanaway Lake High School

Spanaway Lake High School ranks 304th of 437 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Spanaway Lake High School are 29% White, 25% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 15% African American, 8% Pacific Islander, 6% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,817 students attended Spanaway Lake High School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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