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North Star Elementary

Q: Is North Star Elementary a good school?

North Star Elementary ranks 470 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

470^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

North Star Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 446 students in Graham, WA, within the Bethel School District, and it stands out for its steady improvement and strong support for students from all economic backgrounds.

The school consistently outperforms its district, especially in math and science, and matches state averages in English. A key strength is its remarkable effectiveness with students from lower-income families, who perform in the top tiers statewide. This is a significant achievement given that over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. While the school shows impressive results overall, there is a noted need for improvement in its special education services, which have recently declined.

Compared to nearby schools like Rocky Ridge Elementary and Kapowsin Elementary, North Star achieves strong academic results while using its resources very efficiently. It sits in the middle-to-upper tier among ten local schools, outperforming several neighbors with similar demographics. The school's pattern of consistent year-over-year growth, particularly for vulnerable student groups, makes it a notable and improving choice within the community.

446

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,421

Per pupil spending ?

52%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7719 224th Street East
Graham, WA 98338-9216

(253) 800-8800

District: Bethel School District

Students who attend North Star Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bethel Middle School
High:	Bethel High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.3%

Hispanic:

17.7%

Two or more races:

16.1%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare North Star Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 64th percentile in 2022 → 59th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Washington median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 64th-percentile peak (2022) to 59th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school53%

District avg43%

Washington avg48%

470^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 40% (2015) to top 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Bethel School District

138^th of 247Bethel School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	57.0	470 of 1160	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.9	435 of 1168	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	428 of 1169	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.3	415 of 1169	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.4	541 of 1107	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.6	587 of 1130	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.2	516 of 1054	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	41.2	637 of 1056	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	55.4	476 of 1053	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	41.5	642 of 1067	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	51.0	584 of 1106	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	36.9	767 of 1097	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	39.9	705 of 1092	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	40.2	695 of 1088	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	62.4	398 of 1072	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.1	399 of 1067	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	44.6	628 of 1069	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.6	498 of 1051	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	38.5	680 of 1031	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	15.4	916 of 1026	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	52.5	488 of 1092	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.1	449 of 1093	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.8	323 of 1094	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	59.7	409 of 1100	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	462 of 1008	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	574 of 1068	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.2	512 of 1004	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	68.2	173 of 659	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	44.3	371 of 651	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.0	326 of 633	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.2	197 of 694	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	68.4	88 of 501	82.4%	★★★★☆
2019	49.0	348 of 697	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.8	225 of 540	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	75.8	166 of 1013	83.6%	★★★★☆
2024	71.5	218 of 1024	78.7%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	222 of 1013	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	61.0	309 of 1019	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.4	525 of 854	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.5	245 of 979	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	273 of 835	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	60.3	408 of 1098	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.0	371 of 1099	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	502 of 1099	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.5	393 of 1113	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.2	566 of 1025	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.4	550 of 1075	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.0	477 of 999	52.3%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	54.7	83 of 197	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.0	54 of 188	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	70.4	52 of 194	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	44.2	146 of 252	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.3	56 of 128	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.9	196 of 303	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.4	159 of 212	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	16.5	339 of 363	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	39.5	209 of 339	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.3	425 of 566	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.3	335 of 637	47.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	48.3	516 of 1007	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.0	453 of 1009	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.7	470 of 1011	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.3	444 of 1031	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.2	592 of 943	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.6	507 of 1027	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.9	452 of 833	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile+24 vs school

Hispanic (2025)74th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)63rd percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)58th percentile~ school

Female (2025)55th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)49th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2025)7th percentile-53 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science55%+5 vs state

English Language Arts53%~ state avg

Math51%+8 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, April 22, 2017

I've had 3 of my kids in this school my youngest just started this year and I have never liked a school so much. I love the staff and have many teachers who know my older kids and ask my youngest how they are doing!! Over all I am glad my kids went and go to North Star Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, April 22, 2017

Schools Near North Star Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)					SBAC Math (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Star Elementary	Public	K-5	7719 224th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8800	446	31	14.5	52.0%	251 (56.3%)	10 (2.2%)	79 (17.7%)	10 (2.2%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (4.5%)	72 (16.1%)	57	470^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.5%		60.9	435^th of 1168 public elementary schools	62.8%	35	54.6	54.6	51.7	59.2	50.0		53.3	62.8	56.3	35.2		51.0	86.3	89.0	89.0	89.0	89.0	89.0	91.8	86.3	89.0	89.0	$18,421	$996	$17,425
Pioneer Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	7315 Eustis Hunt Road	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8900	524	34	15.5	56.5%	213 (40.6%)	39 (7.4%)	120 (22.9%)	15 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (8.4%)	91 (17.4%)	70	312^th of 1160 public elementary schools	73.1%		63.5	400^th of 1168 public elementary schools	65.8%	88	54.4	54.4	68.2	52.9	64.1		61.8	63.6	60.9	53.3		59.2	92.0	94.3	94.3	94.3	94.3	93.1	97.7	92.0	93.1	93.1	$18,584	$1,190	$17,394
Centennial Elementary	Public	K-5	24353 Mathias Rd E	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-7700	540	36	14.9	67.0%	263 (48.7%)	19 (3.5%)	128 (23.7%)	4 (0.7%)	7 (1.3%)	26 (4.8%)	93 (17.2%)	46.4	599^th of 1160 public elementary schools	48.4%		51.5	539^th of 1168 public elementary schools	53.9%	60	50.5	50.5	56.3	43.1	54.1		51.8	46.0	42.3	41.2		43.1	80.4	86.6	83.9	83.9	83.9	83.9	89.3	83.9	83.9	83.9	$18,744	$1,370	$17,374
Graham Elementary	Public	K-5	10026 204th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-8500	428	28	15.2	52.1%	211 (49.3%)	22 (5.1%)	72 (16.8%)	16 (3.7%)	8 (1.9%)	21 (4.9%)	78 (18.2%)	63.4	392^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	66.2%		61.4	427^th of 1168 public elementary schools	63.4%	35	48.0	48.0	73.6	50.6	53.3		58.8	69.4	49.4	54.7		57.5	89.7	95.4	94.3	94.3	94.3	93.1	94.3	93.1	93.1	93.1	$17,064	$998	$16,066
Nelson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	22109 108th Ave E	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-6400	497	33	14.9	46.9%	288 (57.9%)	21 (4.2%)	71 (14.3%)	16 (3.2%)	4 (0.8%)	10 (2.0%)	87 (17.5%)	77	243^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	79.1%		63.5	401^st of 1168 public elementary schools	65.7%	158	68.7	68.7	59.7	53.9	74.7		63.6	66.7	58.5	65.1		63.6	80.2	82.8	83.6	83.6	83.6	81.0	86.2	81.9	81.0	81.0	$15,831	$754	$15,077
Shining Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	21615 38th Ave E	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5200	613	38	16.2	65.7%	173 (28.2%)	65 (10.6%)	155 (25.3%)	28 (4.6%)	2 (0.3%)	72 (11.7%)	118 (19.2%)	27.4	863^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	25.6%		34.6	761^st of 1168 public elementary schools	34.8%	102	43.8	43.8	29.7	45.3	46.1		39.8	35.6	37.6	25.8		33.6	90.0	94.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	91.0	96.0	94.0	91.0	91.0	$18,655	$1,501	$17,154
Rocky Ridge Elementary	Public	K-5	6514 260th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5000	430	28	15.3	60.9%	232 (54.0%)	13 (3.0%)	90 (20.9%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.2%)	14 (3.3%)	74 (17.2%)	50	557^th of 1160 public elementary schools	52.0%		41.1	665^th of 1168 public elementary schools	43.1%	108	46.2	46.2	48.6	61.0	46.9		52.6	63.9	57.1	18.5		47.7	89.9	89.9	92.4	92.4	92.4	89.9	94.9	89.9	89.9	89.9	$19,718	$1,480	$18,237
Emma L Carson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	8615 184th St E	Puyallup	98375	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 840-8808	676	40	17.0	52.8%	232 (34.3%)	105 (15.5%)	128 (18.9%)	57 (8.4%)	3 (0.4%)	38 (5.6%)	113 (16.7%)	56.6	476^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.0%		50.8	553^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	52.7%	77	42.3	42.3	44.4	51.7	56.7	63.3	53.9	45.4	52.9	54.8	52.0	51.1	93.1	96.0	96.0	96.0	96.0	94.1	96.0	96.0	94.1	94.1	$16,171	$471	$15,700
Expedition Elementary	Public	K-5	18717 108th Ave Ct E	Puyallup	98374	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(253) 800-2400	530	31	16.9	51.3%	117 (22.1%)	114 (21.5%)	86 (16.2%)	81 (15.3%)	4 (0.8%)	39 (7.4%)	88 (16.6%)								(n/a)
Frederickson Elementary	Public	K-5	17418 74th Ave E	Puyallup	98375	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-6300	527	35	15.0	59.0%	172 (32.6%)	75 (14.2%)	114 (21.6%)	34 (6.5%)	4 (0.8%)	19 (3.6%)	109 (20.7%)	21.4	955^th of 1160 public elementary schools	17.7%		20.2	965^th of 1168 public elementary schools	17.4%	10	27.5	27.5	40.0	33.7	33.0		35.5	46.5	37.0	15.4		32.7	91.8	92.8	94.9	94.9	94.9	91.8	92.8	93.8	91.8	91.8	$19,055	$1,249	$17,805

Frequently Asked Questions about North Star Elementary

Is North Star Elementary a good school?

North Star Elementary ranks 470^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend North Star Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 446 students attended North Star Elementary.

What schools do graduates of North Star Elementary attend?

Students who attend North Star Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bethel Middle School
High : Bethel High School

What district is North Star Elementary in?

Bethel School District

What is the racial makeup of North Star Elementary?

Students at North Star Elementary are 56% White, 18% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 4% Pacific Islander, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.