Best Public Schools in Lacey, WA

Lacey, Washington, has 25 listed schools serving elementary, middle, high-school, and alternative-school students. Most belong to North Thurston Public Schools, which ranks 100th of 238 Washington districts, while Washington Connections Academy Goldendale has a Lacey address but belongs to Goldendale School District. The schools serve about 16,933 students in total, although that figure is strongly affected by the academy’s 2,121 students. For parents comparing neighborhood options, test results show substantial differences among schools, and proficiency percentages indicate the share of students meeting standards rather than average scores.

Aspire Performing Arts Academy is the clearest overall standout, ranking in the 88th percentile among middle schools and outperforming the district in English, math, and science. Among conventional middle schools, Komachin Middle School has the strongest profile, while Nisqually Middle School trails the group. At the elementary level, Pleasant Glade Elementary has the highest current ranking, Evergreen Forest Elementary leads in science, and Meadows Elementary, South Bay Elementary, and Woodland Elementary show balanced results. Math is the most consistent weakness, especially in high school, while science is a relative strength.

Among traditional high schools, North Thurston High School has the strongest academic results in all three tested subjects, while Timberline High School has the highest graduation rate and lowest dropout rate. River Ridge High School falls between them overall, and Envision Career Academy has shown major ranking improvement. Alternative schools such as Summit Virtual Academy and Washington Connections Academy serve different educational needs, so their outcomes are not directly comparable with neighborhood schools. Parents should also consider school size, program type, year-to-year trends, and suppressed data rather than relying on one ranking or test result.