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Mount Rainier High School

Q: Is Mount Rainier High School a good school?

Mount Rainier High School ranks 257 th of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

257^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Washington High Schools

Better than 41% of Washington high schools

Summary

Mount Rainier High School is a large public high school serving 1,846 students in grades 9-12 in Des Moines, Washington, and it stands out as a relative strength within the broader Highline School District, which faces significant academic challenges across the board.

Despite serving a student population where nearly 60% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the school consistently achieves graduation rates well above both district and state averages, often exceeding 90%. Academically, its English Language Arts proficiency is a notable strength, significantly outperforming the district and nearing the state average, though math scores remain an area for growth. The school operates with larger class sizes and lower per-student spending than many nearby schools like Maritime High School and Tyee High School, suggesting it finds efficiencies as a large comprehensive school.

When compared to other local options, Mount Rainier's performance is complex. It generally outperforms other comprehensive high schools in its district, such as Tyee High School, but its academic proficiency, particularly in math, trails behind smaller, specialized schools like CHOICE Academy. Performance for specific student groups has shown both impressive improvements and concerning volatility from year to year, indicating that the school's support systems may be inconsistent for some vulnerable populations.

1,846

Students ?

24.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,640

Per pupil spending ?

58.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

22450 19th Ave S
Des Moines, WA 98198-7699

(206) 631-7000

District: Highline School District

Feeder schools for Mount Rainier High School:

Elementary:	Des Moines Elementary
	Marvista Elementary
	Midway Elementary
	North Hill Elementary
	More...
	Parkside Elementary
Middle:	Pacific Middle School
	Sylvester Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

35.2%

White:

22.8%

African American:

15.9%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare Mount Rainier High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 62nd percentile in 2018 → 41st in 2025

Strengths

✓88% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (43% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 62nd-percentile peak (2018) to 41st (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg31%

Washington avg48%

257^th of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From bottom 25% (2015) to bottom 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 7High Schools in the Highline School District

201^st of 247Highline School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	41.2	257 of 438	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	299 of 437	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	247 of 442	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.3	213 of 434	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.1	273 of 455	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.3	224 of 417	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.0	121 of 315	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.6	134 of 301	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	52.7	169 of 306	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.1	255 of 341	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	49.3	261 of 454	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.0	277 of 450	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.7	272 of 440	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.2	235 of 423	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	49.8	232 of 402	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	58.5	190 of 396	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	80.8	51 of 399	87.2%	★★★★☆
2006	57.9	188 of 395	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	57.3	190 of 394	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	56.9	187 of 390	52.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	49.5	39 of 80	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	21.4	57 of 70	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	53.1	39 of 78	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.8	49 of 89	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.1	55 of 111	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.7	61 of 86	29.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.7	19 of 54	64.8%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	35.3	76 of 119	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.4	90 of 113	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	97 of 118	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.9	81 of 124	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.1	95 of 136	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.8	79 of 121	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.4	43 of 87	50.6%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	36.6	44 of 85	48.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.4	23 of 44	47.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.4	56 of 70	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.7	66 of 102	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.0	15 of 65	76.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	45.4	188 of 350	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.1	265 of 347	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.7	212 of 357	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.7	198 of 368	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.1	231 of 390	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.2	191 of 358	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.4	120 of 243	50.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	30.8	174 of 249	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.7	201 of 248	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.5	172 of 249	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	172 of 261	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.5	153 of 278	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.5	90 of 241	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.5	55 of 156	64.7%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	44.0	16 of 36	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	6.6	19 of 19	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	79.9	4 of 27	85.2%	★★★★☆
2021	50.6	19 of 45	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	38.9	215 of 355	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.9	286 of 356	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.6	205 of 362	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.0	172 of 370	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.9	219 of 392	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.9	146 of 344	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.7	60 of 227	73.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	32.0	249 of 359	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.9	251 of 362	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.7	216 of 358	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.1	184 of 363	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.6	260 of 395	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.2	204 of 355	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.1	97 of 254	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	36.9	24 of 34	29.4%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	39.7	106 of 170	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.3	77 of 161	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.5	84 of 166	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.0	71 of 179	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.5	103 of 195	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.2	58 of 163	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.9	45 of 91	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	82.8	4 of 9	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.6	5 of 17	70.6%	★★★★☆
2021	51.7	14 of 33	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	14.9	106 of 110	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	50.2	45 of 110	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.4	180 of 212	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	58.1	40 of 139	71.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	63.8	115 of 373	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.5	166 of 374	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.8	87 of 379	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	74.1	87 of 390	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	47.3	200 of 413	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.5	168 of 382	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.5	68 of 222	69.4%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)69th percentile+28 vs school

Homeless (2025)56th percentile+14 vs school

Pacific Islander (2023)56th percentile+11 vs school

African American (2025)51st percentile+10 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)48th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)46th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)38th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2025)36th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)31st percentile-11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)30th percentile-11 vs school

Military Connected (2025)29th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2024)4th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts60%+7 vs state

Science40%-9 vs state

Math30%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mount Rainier High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)			SBAC English Language Arts (2025)					SBAC Math (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science 11th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math 10th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mount Rainier High School	Public	9-12	22450 19th Ave S	Des Moines	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-7000	1,846	77	24.0	58.8%	421 (22.8%)	294 (15.9%)	649 (35.2%)	229 (12.4%)	6 (0.3%)	60 (3.3%)	175 (9.5%)	41.2	257^th of 438 public high schools	41.3%		33.5	299^th of 437 public high schools	31.6%	42		40.3	40.3				60.0	60.0				29.9	29.9	$17,640	$1,220	$16,420
Cascade Public Schools	Public, Magnet, Charter	9-12	22419 Pacific Highway South	Des Moines	98198	King County	Why Not You Academy	Yes	Yes	No	No	(253) 271-8629	126	8	15.7	20.6%	12 (9.5%)	87 (69.0%)	19 (15.1%)	3 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	3 (2.4%)								(n/a)							22.2	22.2						$24,504	$743	$23,761
Gateway to College	Public	9-12	Highline Community College	Des Moines	98198	King County	Tukwila School District	No	No	No	No	(206) 878-3710	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Maritime High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	615 S 200th St	Des Moines	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	Yes	No	No	(206) 631-6703	126	8	15.3	38.1%	62 (49.2%)	1 (0.8%)	31 (24.6%)	8 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	14 (11.1%)	52.2	197^th of 438 public high schools	55.0%		58.3	161^st of 437 public high schools	63.2%	36							58.8	58.8				35.3	35.3	$29,525	$1,879	$27,646
Big Picture School	Public	6-12	440 S 186th St	Burien	98148	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-7700	233	17	13.9	50.2%	67 (28.8%)	16 (6.9%)	84 (36.1%)	20 (8.6%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (15.9%)	58.1	167^th of 438 public high schools	61.9%		57.4	171^st of 437 public high schools	60.9%	4	37.1	46.4	41.3	23.3	24.0	51.4	75.0	44.1	20.7		14.3	33.3	18.6	$23,490	$1,592	$21,897
CHOICE Academy	Public	6-12	18367 8th Ave S	Seattle	98148	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-7630	176	9	20.4	49.4%	55 (31.3%)	41 (23.3%)	34 (19.3%)	26 (14.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.7%)								(n/a)	39.3		38.2	74.1	85.2	78.6		82.4	51.9	70.4	60.7	50.0	58.8	$18,734	$1,897	$16,837
Tyee High School	Public	9-12	4424 S 188th St	SeaTac	98188	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 433-2341	644	35	18.5	75.8%	53 (8.2%)	109 (16.9%)	295 (45.8%)	74 (11.5%)	4 (0.6%)	74 (11.5%)	30 (4.7%)	8.6	418^th of 438 public high schools	4.6%		3.6	435^th of 437 public high schools	0.5%	17		14.5	14.5				38.9	38.9				12.0	12.0	$24,801	$1,895	$22,907
Puget Sound Skills Center	Public	10-12	18010 8th Ave S	Seattle	98148	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	No	(206) 631-7300	3	25	.1		2 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)														$23,300	$1,117	$22,183
Puget Sound High School	Public	9-12	18010 8th Ave South	Burien	98148	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-7300	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Regional Justice Center	Public	9-12	401 4th Ave N	Kent	98032	King County	Kent School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 373-7134	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Rainier High School

What schools feed into Mount Rainier High School?

Mount Rainier High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Des Moines Elementary
Elementary : Marvista Elementary
Elementary : Midway Elementary
Elementary : North Hill Elementary
Elementary : Parkside Elementary
Middle : Pacific Middle School
Middle : Sylvester Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Mount Rainier High School?

Students at Mount Rainier High School are 35% Hispanic, 23% White, 16% African American, 12% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 3% Pacific Islander.

What district is Mount Rainier High School in?

Highline School District

How many students attend Mount Rainier High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,846 students attended Mount Rainier High School.

Is Mount Rainier High School a good school?

Mount Rainier High School ranks 257^th of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Mount Rainier 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.