Summary:
Des Moines, Washington, is served by nine public schools across five elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, primarily within the Highline School District, educating approximately 5,200 students in a community with significant economic diversity.
Academic performance varies widely among these schools. North Hill Elementary is a clear standout, ranking in the top third of elementary schools statewide and significantly outperforming district and state averages in all subjects. In contrast, Midway Elementary and Pacific Middle School rank in the bottom tiers statewide. At the high school level, Mount Rainier High School has shown improvement and boasts the area's highest graduation rate, while the specialized Maritime High School exceeds the state average in English proficiency.
Key insights for parents include noting that higher per-student spending does not automatically mean better results, and that smaller school size also doesn't guarantee success, as seen in the different outcomes at the two smallest high schools. The data shows a particular challenge at the middle school level, and a significant performance drop between certain grade levels in some elementary schools. While many schools face challenges, the strong performance of schools like North Hill Elementary and Maritime High School demonstrates that excellence is achievable within the community.
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