Best Public Schools in Kent, WA

Kent, Washington, has 33 schools serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12, including 22 elementary schools, four middle schools, six high schools, and one alternative school, primarily in the Kent School District with several schools in the Federal Way School District. Together, the schools enroll approximately 17,975 students, but academic results vary considerably from one campus to another. The strongest elementary options are Lake Youngs Elementary School, Grass Lake Elementary School, and Sunrise Elementary School. Each ranks around or above the 78th statewide percentile and performs well in English language arts, math, and science. Lake Youngs is particularly consistent, with approximately 65% proficiency in both ELA and math and 76% in science. Meridian Elementary School and Martin Sortun Elementary School are also above-average choices, although their statewide rankings are lower.

At the middle-school level, Meridian Middle School is the clear leader, ranking in the 59th statewide percentile and exceeding district results in ELA, math, and science. The other middle schools—Mill Creek Middle School, Canyon Ridge Middle School, and Evergreen Middle School—report substantially lower proficiency, especially in math and science. Among traditional high schools, Kentridge High School is strongest academically, with a 79th-percentile ranking, 69.67% ELA proficiency, and an 87.8% graduation rate. Kentlake High School has the best completion profile, including an 88.7% graduation rate and 6.4% dropout rate, but weaker math results. Kent-Meridian High School needs the most attention, particularly in math, science, graduation, and dropout outcomes.

Parents should also consider individual needs and school type when comparing options. Kent Virtual Academy has improved sharply in statewide ranking, while Kent Laboratory Academy shows stronger ELA and science results than math. Elementary outcomes range widely, with schools such as Neely O’Brien Elementary School showing improvement and Meadow Ridge Elementary School reporting much lower proficiency across subjects. High-school math is the most consistent academic weakness across the area. Spending, student-teacher ratios, and free- or reduced-price lunch rates provide useful context but do not reliably predict performance, and specialized programs should not be compared directly with traditional schools. Assessment results are from 2025–2026, while other measures come from earlier years, so comparisons should be viewed as general guidance rather than guarantees.