Is Sunset Elementary a good school?

Sunset Elementary ranks 162 nd of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Sunset Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 523 students attended Sunset Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Sunset Elementary?

Students at Sunset Elementary are 41% White, 28% Asian, 14% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 6% African American.

What schools do graduates of Sunset Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Issaquah Middle School High : Issaquah High School

Sunset Elementary

Summary:

Sunset Elementary is a public elementary school in Bellevue, Washington, serving 536 students in grades PK-5. It is part of the highly-ranked Issaquah School District, which is ranked 3rd out of 247 districts in the state.

Sunset Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of non-White students (52.58%) and a significant Asian student population (27.8%) compared to nearby schools. The school consistently performs well academically, ranking in the top 15% of Washington elementary schools over the past 7 years. Sunset's students excel in English Language Arts, with 69-70% proficient or better, outpacing the state average of 53%. In math, the school's proficiency rates (66-70%) are also higher than the state average (around 40%), though lower than the Issaquah School District average (around 72%).

While Sunset Elementary is a strong-performing school, it is not the top-ranked in the Issaquah district. Schools like Creekside Elementary and Discovery Elementary have higher overall academic proficiency. However, Sunset outperforms some Bellevue School District schools, such as Puesta del Sol and Lake Hills Elementary. Sunset's diverse student population, consistent high performance, and relatively high per-student spending make it a strong choice for families in the Bellevue area.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

4229 W Lake Samm Pkwy SE
Bellevue, WA 98008-5981

(425) 837-5601

District: Issaquah School District

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,405

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Issaquah Middle School
High:	Issaquah High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.5

Number of students: 523

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.9%

Asian:

28.1%

Two or more races:

13.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 22.8%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Sunset Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Sunset Elementary ranks better than 86.1% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 14^th among 16 ranked elementary schools in the Issaquah School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.99. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Sunset Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (40.9%), Asian (28.1%), two or more races (13.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 22.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary is 14.5, which is the 3^rd best among 16 elementary schools in the Issaquah School District. (See more...)

Compare Sunset Elementary employs 35.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sunset Elementary is $17,405, which is the highest among 18 elementary schools in the Issaquah School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sunset Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Sunset Elementary 162^nd of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Sunset Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Issaquah School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Issaquah School District 3^rd of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Sunset Elementary.

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Rank History for Sunset Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	92.41	42^nd	1026	95.9%
2005	87.68	95^th	1031	90.8%
2006	87.71	77^th	1051	92.7%
2007	86.62	82^nd	1069	92.3%
2008	87.56	76^th	1067	92.9%
2009	89.18	60^th	1072	94.4%
2010	91.50	46^th	1088	95.8%
2011	85.73	109^th	1092	90.0%
2012	80.68	147^th	1097	86.6%
2013	82.01	147^th	1106	86.7%
2015	89.44	94^th	1067	91.2%
2016	91.55	66^th	1053	93.7%
2017	91.34	73^rd	1056	93.1%
2018	85.40	128^th	1054	87.9%
2019	85.80	134^th	1130	88.1%
2021	86.34	144^th	1107	87.0%
2022	83.64	181^st	1169	84.5%
2023	86.25	150^th	1169	87.2%
2024	84.99	162^nd	1168	86.1%

See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2022	73.02	66^th	252	73.8%
2023	85.25	10^th	194	94.8%
2024	91.91	5^th	188	97.3%

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

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2022	85.60	13^th	213	93.9%
2023	89.43	22^nd	254	91.3%
2024	68.18	75^th	320	76.6%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2019	64.79	136^th	566	76.0%
2022	58.07	142^nd	478	70.3%
2023	44.03	168^th	308	45.5%
2024	41.26	199^th	339	41.3%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	48.97	442^nd	835	47.1%
2019	49.36	514^th	979	47.5%
2021	90.45	30^th	854	96.5%
2022	58.56	357^th	1019	65.0%
2023	57.39	385^th	1013	62.0%
2024	66.99	277^th	1024	72.9%

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

Rank History for Female students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	89.04	84^th	1004	91.6%
2019	88.53	90^th	1068	91.6%
2021	79.14	178^th	1008	82.3%
2022	83.70	163^rd	1100	85.2%
2023	86.32	124^th	1094	88.7%
2024	80.87	186^th	1093	83.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	79.74	191^st	999	80.9%
2019	80.38	192^nd	1075	82.1%
2021	88.91	112^th	1025	89.1%
2022	82.48	178^th	1113	84.0%
2023	83.59	166^th	1099	84.9%
2024	86.64	129^th	1099	88.3%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	66.87	68^th	169	59.8%
2019	65.26	72^nd	201	64.2%
2021	58.81	63^rd	131	51.9%
2022	66.76	75^th	187	59.9%
2023	67.49	55^th	170	67.6%
2024	63.44	61^st	163	62.6%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2021	89.36	22^nd	501	95.6%
2022	57.83	225^th	694	67.6%
2023	61.13	204^th	633	67.8%
2024	55.00	284^th	651	56.4%

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

Rank History for White students at Sunset Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	80.51	132^nd	833	84.2%
2019	85.63	100^th	1027	90.3%
2021	87.22	97^th	943	89.7%
2022	84.98	120^th	1031	88.4%
2023	84.78	128^th	1011	87.3%
2024	83.49	135^th	1009	86.6%

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: 3.7)

33%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, June 7, 2015

The new principal, Amanda Dorey, is phenomenal - she is a great administrator, listens to parents, cares about the students, and is already making positive changes at the school. The education is very strong, but as with all public schools, it's hard to get classroom sizes down to what private schools can achieve. That said, I'm impressed with how well they do address children's needs. My one complaint is that homework doesn't get reviewed (at least not in my daughter's first grade class), which is fine, but I didn't find that out until halfway through the school year. I'm happy to take a more active role giving my daughter feedback, I just need to know that's the plan. The PTA is very active and influential, but you see a lot of the same faces - I'd love to see more volunteers get involved. My daughter is very happy, learning quickly, and is confident and excited about school. I couldn't ask for more than that. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, September 1, 2014

While the school does an okay job with students who naturally do well; they don't do so well with the kids that struggle and need additional support or help. Administration drags their feet in solving issues. A lot of talk; not much action. Disappointing. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Sunset Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1991	589	6	47	8	4	n/a	n/a	0	654
1992	595	4	71	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	679
1993	448	5	43	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	506
1994	407	3	43	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	463
1995	458	6	51	11	3	n/a	n/a	0	529
1996	458	6	51	11	3	n/a	n/a	0	529
1997	481	4	46	5	3	n/a	n/a	0	539
1998	466	3	52	11	3	n/a	n/a	0	535
1999	454	1	70	8	4	n/a	n/a	0	537
2000	499	1	96	9	4	n/a	n/a	0	609
2001	516	0	90	9	6	n/a	n/a	0	621
2002	485	2	83	18	1	n/a	n/a	0	589
2003	485	2	83	18	1	n/a	n/a	0	589
2004	470	7	100	12	3	n/a	n/a	0	592
2005	498	13	109	19	2	n/a	n/a	0	641
2006	482	11	120	23	3	n/a	n/a	5	644
2007	423	11	135	23	4	n/a	n/a	7	603
2008	418	12	140	24	3	n/a	n/a	5	602
2009	433	15	170	25	4	n/a	n/a	4	651
2010	407	14	170	34	5	n/a	n/a	4	634
2011	409	18	154	37	4	5	28	0	655
2012	425	12	134	36	4	5	35	0	651
2013	420	14	132	33	3	4	42	0	648
2014	416	14	124	37	3	4	37	0	635
2015	417	12	133	41	3	4	44	0	654
2016	415	14	130	44	2	1	48	0	654
2017	389	12	128	46	1	4	56	0	636
2018	384	13	136	38	1	3	51	0	626
2019	356	22	136	48	1	2	53	0	618
2020	341	22	162	59	1	5	60	0	650
2021	268	18	164	54	1	4	59	0	568
2022	236	14	152	56	0	4	68	0	530
2023	222	24	149	61	1	0	79	0	536
2024	214	32	147	58	1	0	71	0	523

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 Sunset Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	654	31.2	20.9	n/a
1992	679	32.0	21.2	n/a
1993	506	23.0	22.0	n/a
1994	463	23.5	19.7	n/a
1995	529	23.9	22.1	n/a
1996	529	23.9	22.1	n/a
1997	539	24.9	21.6	n/a
1998	535	24.9	21.5	n/a
1999	537	25.2	21.3	n/a
2000	609	29.1	20.9	n/a
2001	621	29.5	21.1	n/a
2002	589	29.4	20.0	6.5
2003	589	29.4	20.0	6.5
2004	592	33.0	17.9	n/a
2005	641	33.3	19.2	0
2006	644	33.7	19.1	5.3
2007	603	32.2	18.7	6.2
2008	602	31.2	19.3	6.2
2009	651	31.2	20.9	7.6
2010	634	32.2	19.6	7.1
2011	655	31.4	20.8	6.6
2012	651	30.5	21.2	8.3
2013	648	31.5	20.5	9.7
2014	635	n/a	n/a	8.7
2015	654	41.0	15.9	8.4
2016	654	32.0	20.4	6.7
2017	636	33.6	18.9	7.4
2018	626	33.5	18.6	7.3
2019	618	37.8	16.3	8.4
2020	650	37.6	17.2	10.5
2021	568	39.2	14.4	10.2
2022	530	36.5	14.5	14
2023	536	35.6	15.0	17.5
2024	523	35.9	14.5	22.8

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 Sunset Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	654	31.2	20.9	n/a
1992	679	32.0	21.2	n/a
1993	506	23.0	22.0	n/a
1994	463	23.5	19.7	n/a
1995	529	23.9	22.1	n/a
1996	529	23.9	22.1	n/a
1997	539	24.9	21.6	n/a
1998	535	24.9	21.5	n/a
1999	537	25.2	21.3	n/a
2000	609	29.1	20.9	n/a
2001	621	29.5	21.1	n/a
2002	589	29.4	20.0	6.5
2003	589	29.4	20.0	6.5
2004	592	33.0	17.9	n/a
2005	641	33.3	19.2	0
2006	644	33.7	19.1	5.3
2007	603	32.2	18.7	6.2
2008	602	31.2	19.3	6.2
2009	651	31.2	20.9	7.6
2010	634	32.2	19.6	7.1
2011	655	31.4	20.8	6.6
2012	651	30.5	21.2	8.3
2013	648	31.5	20.5	9.7
2014	635	n/a	n/a	8.7
2015	654	41.0	15.9	8.4
2016	654	32.0	20.4	6.7
2017	636	33.6	18.9	7.4
2018	626	33.5	18.6	7.3
2019	618	37.8	16.3	8.4
2020	650	37.6	17.2	10.5
2021	568	39.2	14.4	10.2
2022	530	36.5	14.5	14
2023	536	35.6	15.0	17.5
2024	523	35.9	14.5	22.8

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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