Is Pioneer Valley Elementary a good school?

Pioneer Valley Elementary ranks 400 th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pioneer Valley Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 527 students attended Pioneer Valley Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Valley Elementary?

Students at Pioneer Valley Elementary are 40% White, 23% Hispanic, 18% Two or more races, 8% African American, 7% Pacific Islander, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Pioneer Valley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pioneer Valley Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Liberty Middle School High : Graham Kapowsin High School

Pioneer Valley Elementary

Summary:

Pioneer Valley Elementary is a public elementary school in Spanaway, Washington, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Bethel School District. This high-performing school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic measures, with particularly strong results among Hispanic and African American students.

Pioneer Valley Elementary's academic performance is impressive, with 55.39% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 60.97% in math, compared to the district and state averages. The school also stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of non-White students than many nearby schools. Additionally, Pioneer Valley has a relatively high percentage of students from low-income backgrounds, with 50.98% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, yet it continues to excel academically.

While some nearby schools within the Bethel School District, such as Centennial Elementary and Clover Creek Elementary, also demonstrate strong academic performance, Pioneer Valley's consistent success across all student subgroups makes it a standout in the region. The school's higher per-student spending and focus on supporting underserved populations suggest that it is effectively utilizing its resources to provide a high-quality education for all students.

Detail:

Public K-5

7315 Eustis Hunt Road
Spanaway, WA 98387-5305

(253) 800-8900

District: Bethel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
400^th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,050

Students who attend Pioneer Valley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Liberty Middle School
High:	Graham Kapowsin High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.3

Number of students: 527

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.0%

Hispanic:

22.8%

Two or more races:

18.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 54.3%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Pioneer Valley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pioneer Valley Elementary ranks better than 65.8% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 3^rd among 18 ranked elementary schools in the Bethel School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.54. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Pioneer Valley Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (40%), Hispanic (22.8%), two or more races (18.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 54.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pioneer Valley Elementary is 16.3. 12 elementary schools in the Bethel School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Pioneer Valley Elementary employs 32.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pioneer Valley Elementary is $19,050. 11 elementary schools in the Bethel School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pioneer Valley Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Pioneer Valley Elementary 400^th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Pioneer Valley Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American 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 Pioneer Valley Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	59.46	390^th	1026	62.0%
2005	66.89	322^nd	1031	68.8%
2006	61.30	397^th	1051	62.2%
2007	64.95	363^rd	1069	66.0%
2008	61.42	423^rd	1067	60.4%
2009	48.00	594^th	1072	44.6%
2010	33.34	791^st	1088	27.3%
2011	41.17	675^th	1092	38.2%
2012	43.14	677^th	1097	38.3%
2013	52.15	567^th	1106	48.7%
2015	38.80	677^th	1067	36.6%
2016	42.31	629^th	1053	40.3%
2017	53.76	488^th	1056	53.8%
2018	75.91	246^th	1054	76.7%
2019	60.09	451^st	1130	60.1%
2021	64.76	360^th	1107	67.5%
2022	68.11	341^st	1169	70.8%
2023	72.25	302^nd	1169	74.2%
2024	63.54	400^th	1168	65.8%

See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2019	73.06	62^nd	303	79.5%
2021	65.48	34^th	128	73.4%
2022	58.43	111^th	252	56.0%
2023	67.39	60^th	194	69.1%
2024	43.30	113^th	188	39.9%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	28.26	484^th	637	24.0%
2019	59.93	163^rd	566	71.2%
2022	34.01	321^st	478	32.8%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	73.40	137^th	835	83.6%
2019	69.74	207^th	979	78.9%
2021	80.91	83^rd	854	90.3%
2022	78.92	102^nd	1019	90.0%
2023	83.19	86^th	1013	91.5%
2024	74.18	183^rd	1024	82.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	70.39	287^th	1004	71.4%
2019	62.40	401^st	1068	62.5%
2021	58.59	382^nd	1008	62.1%
2022	67.82	323^rd	1100	70.6%
2023	59.50	415^th	1094	62.1%
2024	59.48	405^th	1093	62.9%

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

Rank History for Male students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	79.39	202^nd	999	79.8%
2019	58.68	433^rd	1075	59.7%
2021	67.40	302^nd	1025	70.5%
2022	67.14	333^rd	1113	70.1%
2023	79.51	200^th	1099	81.8%
2024	66.93	339^th	1099	69.2%

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

Rank History for African American students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	70.87	15^th	71	78.9%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	84.15	56^th	540	89.6%
2019	72.42	145^th	697	79.2%
2021	78.11	55^th	501	89.0%
2022	89.22	40^th	694	94.2%
2023	82.94	60^th	633	90.5%
2024	68.39	170^th	651	73.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Pioneer Valley Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	69.04	261^st	833	68.7%
2019	46.20	588^th	1027	42.7%
2021	59.49	351^st	943	62.8%
2022	54.53	457^th	1031	55.7%
2023	63.71	356^th	1011	64.8%
2024	68.80	299^th	1009	70.4%

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
Monday, September 19, 2011

I have recently transferred my kids to this school. They have zero on the communication level. Prior to school starting the only thing I received from the school or district was an application for free lunch. I was told I would be contacted by the school nurse regarding my son's health condition and that never happened either. I don't know if I was spoiled by how great communication was at the old school or if this one is just not up to standards. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Pioneer Valley Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1992	489	25	16	7	1	n/a	n/a	538
1993	608	26	20	4	6	n/a	n/a	664
1994	620	25	11	12	7	n/a	n/a	675
1995	681	25	42	22	12	n/a	n/a	782
1996	681	25	42	22	12	n/a	n/a	782
1997	689	33	55	25	10	n/a	n/a	812
1998	680	26	55	32	20	n/a	n/a	813
1999	712	40	77	52	22	n/a	n/a	903
2000	564	40	72	51	16	n/a	n/a	743
2001	587	52	83	57	18	n/a	n/a	797
2002	616	71	92	62	10	n/a	n/a	851
2003	616	71	92	62	10	n/a	n/a	851
2004	569	72	92	71	22	n/a	n/a	826
2005	520	87	99	69	31	n/a	n/a	806
2006	537	96	89	75	22	n/a	n/a	819
2007	573	104	84	81	20	n/a	n/a	862
2008	600	92	73	100	20	n/a	n/a	885
2009	587	98	80	115	15	n/a	n/a	895
2010	377	79	50	87	18	n/a	n/a	611
2011	375	64	39	71	15	4	12	580
2012	397	54	35	67	10	10	32	605
2013	372	56	28	80	12	15	51	614
2014	282	34	17	63	3	14	56	469
2015	276	30	17	77	4	16	60	480
2016	274	28	14	59	4	20	65	464
2017	242	34	13	66	2	24	76	457
2018	248	17	9	75	2	19	52	422
2019	236	20	12	82	3	23	54	430
2020	261	19	16	100	3	25	76	500
2021	203	22	14	88	2	24	87	440
2022	220	26	17	101	5	28	98	495
2023	213	34	16	121	5	31	92	512
2024	211	44	13	120	4	39	96	527

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 Pioneer Valley Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	538	26.0	20.6	n/a
1993	664	28.0	23.7	n/a
1994	675	32.5	20.8	n/a
1995	782	31.9	24.5	n/a
1996	782	31.9	24.5	n/a
1997	812	33.7	24.1	n/a
1998	813	35.1	23.2	n/a
1999	903	35.0	25.8	n/a
2000	743	34.2	21.7	n/a
2001	797	34.1	23.4	n/a
2002	851	40.1	21.2	19.7
2003	851	40.1	21.2	19.7
2004	826	38.0	21.7	22.2
2005	806	37.6	21.4	24.7
2006	819	40.2	20.4	26.9
2007	862	40.2	21.4	29.9
2008	885	41.9	21.1	28.9
2009	895	42.4	21.1	31.4
2010	611	27.0	22.5	32.7
2011	580	27.9	20.7	27.1
2012	605	27.7	21.8	41
2013	614	28.4	21.5	28.5
2014	469	n/a	n/a	39.2
2015	480	32.0	15.0	45.6
2016	464	28.0	16.5	40.7
2017	457	25.8	17.6	49.5
2018	422	26.6	15.8	37.9
2019	430	27.7	15.5	43.5
2020	500	33.7	14.8	45
2021	440	32.9	13.3	41.8
2022	495	32.8	15.0	42.8
2023	512	32.6	15.6	51
2024	527	32.2	16.3	54.3

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 Pioneer Valley Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	538	26.0	20.6	n/a
1993	664	28.0	23.7	n/a
1994	675	32.5	20.8	n/a
1995	782	31.9	24.5	n/a
1996	782	31.9	24.5	n/a
1997	812	33.7	24.1	n/a
1998	813	35.1	23.2	n/a
1999	903	35.0	25.8	n/a
2000	743	34.2	21.7	n/a
2001	797	34.1	23.4	n/a
2002	851	40.1	21.2	19.7
2003	851	40.1	21.2	19.7
2004	826	38.0	21.7	22.2
2005	806	37.6	21.4	24.7
2006	819	40.2	20.4	26.9
2007	862	40.2	21.4	29.9
2008	885	41.9	21.1	28.9
2009	895	42.4	21.1	31.4
2010	611	27.0	22.5	32.7
2011	580	27.9	20.7	27.1
2012	605	27.7	21.8	41
2013	614	28.4	21.5	28.5
2014	469	n/a	n/a	39.2
2015	480	32.0	15.0	45.6
2016	464	28.0	16.5	40.7
2017	457	25.8	17.6	49.5
2018	422	26.6	15.8	37.9
2019	430	27.7	15.5	43.5
2020	500	33.7	14.8	45
2021	440	32.9	13.3	41.8
2022	495	32.8	15.0	42.8
2023	512	32.6	15.6	51
2024	527	32.2	16.3	54.3

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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