Best Public Schools in Milton, WA

Milton’s listed public-school options include two schools serving 1,119 students: Discovery Primary School for prekindergarten through grade 2 and Surprise Lake Middle School for grades 6–7. Both belong to the Fife School District. The supplied list does not include schools for grades 3–5, grade 8, or high school, so it does not show Milton’s complete K–12 pathway.

Discovery Primary School has 506 students and reports a lower student-teacher ratio than Surprise Lake Middle School: 15.8 compared with 21.9. It also reports higher per-student spending, $21,999 versus $14,717. These figures may reflect differences between elementary and middle-school staffing and programs, so they should not be treated as direct measures of school quality. Reported free/reduced-price lunch participation is 50% at Discovery Primary School and 55.46% at Surprise Lake Middle School.

Surprise Lake Middle School is the only school with academic testing data, and its recent trend is encouraging. Its ranking rose from the 28th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 41st percentile in 2025–2026, while its rating improved from one star to two. English language arts proficiency reached 45.63%, nearly matching the district, while math proficiency was lower at 30.46%, compared with 43.11% statewide. Seventh-grade math was the clearest concern, with 26.03% of students proficient, but both ELA and math improved from the prior year. Overall, the Fife School District is ranked in the 45th percentile, suggesting average performance with room for continued improvement.