Is Meridian Middle School a good school?

Meridian Middle School ranks 239 th of 535 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Meridian Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 560 students attended Meridian Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Meridian Middle School?

Students at Meridian Middle School are 29% Asian, 26% Hispanic, 19% White, 15% African American, 9% Two or more races, 3% Pacific Islander.

What high school do graduates of Meridian Middle School attend?

Students who attend Meridian Middle School usually go on to attend Kentwood High School

Meridian Middle School

Summary:

Meridian Middle School is a public middle school located in Kent, Washington, serving around 560 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Kent School District, which is ranked 145 out of 247 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Meridian Middle School has a diverse student population, with significant representation of Asian (29.29%), Hispanic (25.71%), and African American (14.82%) students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by SBAC and WCAS test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (54.86%) and Math (32.07%) were below the state averages of 52.63% and 41.68%, respectively. The school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with Asian and African American students performing better than Hispanic and White students. Compared to nearby schools in the Kent School District, such as Cascade Middle School and Nelsen Middle School, Meridian Middle School generally performs worse academically.

Meridian Middle School faces several challenges, including declining statewide rankings, achievement gaps among student subgroups, and high poverty rates, with 69.46% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's per-student spending has fluctuated over the years, ranging from $10,303 in 2019-2020 to $18,663 in 2021-2022, but it is generally higher than the state average. Addressing these issues will require targeted interventions, additional resources, and a focus on equity to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Detail:

Public 6-8

23480 120th Ave SE
Kent, WA 98031-3612

(253) 373-7383

District: Kent School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
239^th of 535 Washington Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,663

Students who attend Meridian Middle School usually attend:

High:

Kentwood High School

Feeder schools for Meridian Middle School:

Elementary:	Martin Sortun Elementary School
	Park Orchard Elementary School
	Sunrise Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.1

Number of students: 560

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

29.3%

Hispanic:

25.7%

White:

18.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 69.5%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Meridian Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Meridian Middle School ranks better than 55.3% of middle schools in Washington. It also ranks 2^nd among 6 ranked middle schools in the Kent School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.19. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Meridian Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (29.3%), Hispanic (25.7%), White (18.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 69.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Meridian Middle School is 17.1, which is the 2^nd best among 6 middle schools in the Kent School District. (See more...)

Compare Meridian Middle School employs 32.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Meridian Middle School is $18,663, which is the highest among 6 middle schools in the Kent School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Meridian Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Meridian Middle School 239^th of 535 Washington public middle schools. (See Meridian Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Kent School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Kent School District 145^th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Meridian Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	68.29	121^st	421	71.3%
2005	55.54	192^nd	425	54.8%
2006	55.23	190^th	449	57.7%
2007	52.02	221^st	463	52.3%
2008	53.47	210^th	466	54.9%
2009	53.60	211^th	476	55.7%
2010	49.02	249^th	483	48.4%
2011	44.43	291^st	492	40.9%
2012	47.93	262^nd	497	47.3%
2013	43.95	288^th	498	42.2%
2015	52.48	201^st	445	54.8%
2016	48.13	224^th	443	49.4%
2017	49.34	225^th	435	48.3%
2018	41.46	253^rd	437	42.1%
2019	33.63	350^th	512	31.6%
2021	37.73	325^th	529	38.6%
2022	39.98	308^th	541	43.1%
2023	31.48	365^th	539	32.3%
2024	51.19	239^th	535	55.3%

See the entire list of Washington Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	32.65	121^st	166	27.1%
2019	37.36	159^th	246	35.4%
2021	26.57	190^th	250	24.0%
2022	40.68	146^th	257	43.2%
2023	36.17	159^th	244	34.8%
2024	40.38	145^th	243	40.3%

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

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	32.30	95^th	135	29.6%
2019	22.30	80^th	100	20.0%
2023	30.27	33^rd	57	42.1%
2024	53.47	23^rd	78	70.5%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	19.43	213^th	231	7.8%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	40.96	213^th	349	39.0%
2019	31.83	334^th	448	25.4%
2021	39.75	271^st	458	40.8%
2022	35.82	311^th	475	34.5%
2023	38.66	282^nd	463	39.1%
2024	69.32	99^th	455	78.2%

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

Rank History for Female students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	35.66	249^th	376	33.8%
2019	35.31	303^rd	452	33.0%
2021	45.71	237^th	469	49.5%
2022	42.94	260^th	479	45.7%
2023	33.74	306^th	464	34.1%
2024	52.90	202^nd	464	56.5%

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

Rank History for Male students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	41.77	213^th	371	42.6%
2019	30.70	319^th	453	29.6%
2021	30.58	327^th	476	31.3%
2022	35.67	299^th	480	37.7%
2023	27.59	348^th	470	26.0%
2024	48.70	221^st	466	52.6%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	33.74	85^th	123	30.9%
2019	26.75	124^th	152	18.4%
2021	33.55	97^th	149	34.9%
2022	34.89	102^nd	161	36.6%
2023	29.03	100^th	145	31.0%
2024	47.77	75^th	148	49.3%

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

Rank History for African American students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	33.95	45^th	66	31.8%
2019	34.51	75^th	111	32.4%
2021	51.48	43^rd	106	59.4%
2022	41.75	56^th	104	46.2%
2023	31.58	65^th	96	32.3%
2024	49.38	39^th	90	56.7%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	30.25	183^rd	259	29.3%
2019	15.67	319^th	344	7.3%
2021	29.40	241^st	353	31.7%
2022	35.14	232^nd	360	35.6%
2023	26.86	250^th	336	25.6%
2024	46.83	165^th	344	52.0%

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

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	81.30	2^nd	11	81.8%
2022	76.98	4^th	20	80.0%

See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Meridian Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	46.15	168^th	325	48.3%
2019	55.51	197^th	470	58.1%
2021	41.33	278^th	480	42.1%
2022	41.35	284^th	488	41.8%
2023	31.49	344^th	488	29.5%
2024	39.30	295^th	486	39.3%

See the entire list of Best Washington Middle 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: 2)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Meridian Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	637	19	74	15	18	n/a	n/a	0	763
1989	627	30	71	13	17	n/a	n/a	0	758
1990	653	42	77	15	14	n/a	n/a	0	801
1991	655	44	87	22	10	n/a	n/a	0	818
1992	683	52	97	24	8	n/a	n/a	0	864
1993	756	58	113	25	9	n/a	n/a	0	961
1994	754	43	104	25	12	n/a	n/a	0	938
1995	766	42	135	26	8	n/a	n/a	0	977
1996	766	42	135	26	8	n/a	n/a	0	977
1997	587	52	81	24	9	n/a	n/a	0	753
1998	660	72	95	28	10	n/a	n/a	0	865
1999	675	76	119	37	8	n/a	n/a	0	915
2000	652	73	139	37	4	n/a	n/a	0	905
2001	645	75	152	37	4	n/a	n/a	0	913
2002	665	99	201	52	15	n/a	n/a	0	1032
2003	665	99	201	52	15	n/a	n/a	0	1032
2004	640	111	194	59	9	n/a	n/a	0	1013
2005	452	106	168	63	10	n/a	n/a	11	810
2006	389	64	143	53	9	n/a	n/a	27	685
2007	332	61	148	68	5	n/a	n/a	30	644
2008	290	91	178	81	9	n/a	n/a	62	711
2009	271	87	200	84	8	n/a	n/a	64	714
2010	248	85	182	96	10	n/a	n/a	45	666
2011	215	82	162	137	5	15	40	0	656
2012	202	94	145	132	2	9	40	0	624
2013	184	101	163	137	4	19	44	0	652
2014	152	97	173	155	4	27	38	0	646
2015	165	101	189	149	6	29	43	0	682
2016	159	87	163	132	2	26	54	0	623
2017	148	83	156	130	1	22	54	0	594
2018	140	73	170	159	1	20	50	0	613
2019	133	74	161	131	1	15	41	0	556
2020	141	81	160	134	0	19	53	0	588
2021	110	91	174	151	0	25	52	0	603
2022	100	96	166	137	0	22	49	0	570
2023	104	83	164	144	0	15	49	1	560

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 Meridian Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	763	38.0	20.0	0
1989	758	36.0	21.0	n/a
1990	801	35.6	22.5	0
1991	818	37.9	21.5	n/a
1992	864	38.9	22.2	n/a
1993	961	43.8	21.9	n/a
1994	938	40.6	23.1	n/a
1995	977	45.9	21.3	n/a
1996	977	45.9	21.3	n/a
1997	753	36.8	20.5	n/a
1998	865	39.6	21.8	n/a
1999	915	42.0	21.8	n/a
2000	905	44.6	20.3	n/a
2001	913	44.4	20.6	n/a
2002	1032	48.4	21.3	23
2003	1032	48.4	21.3	23
2004	1013	49.0	20.7	24.8
2005	810	49.4	16.4	38.5
2006	685	33.7	20.3	40.1
2007	644	31.9	20.2	38.8
2008	711	35.6	20.0	51.3
2009	714	35.6	20.1	51.8
2010	666	36.2	18.3	58
2011	656	33.9	19.3	32.8
2012	624	31.1	20.0	56.7
2013	652	29.8	21.8	52.6
2014	646	n/a	n/a	60.5
2015	682	32.0	21.3	60.6
2016	623	33.0	18.8	58.4
2017	594	30.6	19.4	57.4
2018	613	31.2	19.6	60.2
2019	556	29.1	19.0	62.9
2020	588	30.2	19.4	56.3
2021	603	32.2	18.7	56.7
2022	570	34.6	16.4	59.5
2023	560	32.7	17.1	69.5

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 Meridian Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	763	38.0	20.0	0
1989	758	36.0	21.0	n/a
1990	801	35.6	22.5	0
1991	818	37.9	21.5	n/a
1992	864	38.9	22.2	n/a
1993	961	43.8	21.9	n/a
1994	938	40.6	23.1	n/a
1995	977	45.9	21.3	n/a
1996	977	45.9	21.3	n/a
1997	753	36.8	20.5	n/a
1998	865	39.6	21.8	n/a
1999	915	42.0	21.8	n/a
2000	905	44.6	20.3	n/a
2001	913	44.4	20.6	n/a
2002	1032	48.4	21.3	23
2003	1032	48.4	21.3	23
2004	1013	49.0	20.7	24.8
2005	810	49.4	16.4	38.5
2006	685	33.7	20.3	40.1
2007	644	31.9	20.2	38.8
2008	711	35.6	20.0	51.3
2009	714	35.6	20.1	51.8
2010	666	36.2	18.3	58
2011	656	33.9	19.3	32.8
2012	624	31.1	20.0	56.7
2013	652	29.8	21.8	52.6
2014	646	n/a	n/a	60.5
2015	682	32.0	21.3	60.6
2016	623	33.0	18.8	58.4
2017	594	30.6	19.4	57.4
2018	613	31.2	19.6	60.2
2019	556	29.1	19.0	62.9
2020	588	30.2	19.4	56.3
2021	603	32.2	18.7	56.7
2022	570	34.6	16.4	59.5
2023	560	32.7	17.1	69.5

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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