Kent School District

Kent School District includes 44 schools serving students from elementary through high school, plus alternative programs, across Kent, Covington, Renton, SeaTac, and Black Diamond. The district includes 29 elementary schools, seven middle schools, seven high schools, and one alternative school, with performance varying considerably from school to school. The district ranks in the 41st percentile statewide, so families should compare schools within the same grade level rather than rely only on the districtwide rating.

The strongest current performers include Ridgewood Elementary School, ranked in the 86th percentile, and Lake Youngs Elementary School, ranked in the 83rd percentile. Both show consistently strong results across English, math, and science. Grass Lake Elementary School, Sunrise Elementary School, and Sawyer Woods Elementary School are also among the stronger elementary options. At the middle-school level, Northwood Middle School leads the group, while Kentridge High School is the clear traditional high-school leader, with the highest ranking and strongest ELA performance.

Parents should also be aware of major differences among schools needing additional support. Mill Creek Middle School and Canyon Ridge Middle School have the lowest middle-school results, while Kent Elementary School, Meadow Ridge Elementary School, River Ridge Elementary, and East Hill Elementary School remain below district comparisons, although some have improved. Math is a recurring weakness in middle and high school. Graduation outcomes vary as well: Kentwood High School has the lowest dropout rate, while Kent-Meridian High School has the weakest graduation and dropout profile. Specialized programs such as Kent Virtual Academy and Kent Laboratory Academy should be evaluated separately because their programs and available data differ.