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Sunset Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1128^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Sunset Elementary is a large public elementary school (PK-5) with 634 students in Airway Heights, WA, operating within the Cheney School District and serving a community with significant economic need, where over three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, the school faces considerable challenges, ranking in the bottom 3% of all Washington elementary schools, with student proficiency in English, math, and science less than half the state average. This performance is notably lower than other schools in the same district, such as Windsor Elementary and Phil Snowdon Elementary, despite sharing the same district leadership and resources. The school's struggles are consistent across all student groups, indicating a school-wide issue rather than one isolated to a particular population.

Interestingly, comparisons show that high poverty does not automatically lead to low achievement, as nearby schools like Westview Elementary in Spokane School District achieve much higher results with similar student needs. Sunset has a favorable student-teacher ratio and mid-range funding, suggesting the core issues may involve how resources and instruction are managed rather than a simple lack of support. The school's decade-long decline in ranking points to a need for focused, effective intervention tailored to its unique context.

634

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,008

Per pupil spending ?

77.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12824 W 12th St.
Airway Heights, WA 99001-1869

(509) 559-4600

District: Cheney School District

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cheney Middle School
High:	Cheney High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.9%

Hispanic:

18.6%

Pacific Islander:

14.8%

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Compare Sunset Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 32nd percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (22% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 29 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school22%

District avg42%

Washington avg48%

1,128^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 30 pts since 2015

From bottom 32% (2015) to bottom 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Cheney School District

162^nd of 247Cheney 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	6.8	1128 of 1160	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.7	1117 of 1168	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.7	1120 of 1169	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.1	1072 of 1169	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.9	855 of 1107	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.7	1054 of 1130	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.1	962 of 1054	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	12.1	972 of 1056	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	13.2	953 of 1053	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	35.4	721 of 1067	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	34.7	780 of 1106	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	41.8	689 of 1097	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.8	639 of 1092	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.0	557 of 1088	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	39.6	708 of 1072	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	33.0	769 of 1067	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	37.5	728 of 1069	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	30.5	794 of 1051	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.5	919 of 1031	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	24.3	838 of 1026	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	17.9	266 of 303	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	5.4	1079 of 1092	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.3	1066 of 1093	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.8	1029 of 1094	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.7	951 of 1100	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	733 of 1008	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.7	1014 of 1068	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	928 of 1004	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	26.6	504 of 651	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.8	633 of 694	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.9	421 of 501	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.4	523 of 697	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.4	485 of 540	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	9.7	987 of 1013	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.9	988 of 1024	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.5	991 of 1013	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	956 of 1019	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.1	697 of 854	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.2	925 of 979	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.1	785 of 835	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	12.1	1020 of 1098	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.9	1055 of 1099	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.0	1075 of 1099	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.9	1079 of 1113	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	886 of 1025	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.1	979 of 1075	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.9	888 of 999	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	18.8	328 of 363	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.3	336 of 339	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	289 of 308	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.9	443 of 478	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	44.7	92 of 158	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.4	436 of 566	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	459 of 637	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	4.2	1000 of 1007	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.5	1000 of 1009	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.9	988 of 1011	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.2	1010 of 1031	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.9	846 of 943	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	6.7	997 of 1027	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.7	809 of 833	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)23rd percentile+18 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)12th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2025)10th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)7th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)1st percentile~ school

White (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science29%-20 vs state

English Language Arts21%-32 vs state

Math16%-27 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 20, 2017

The counselor refuses to see my daughter. She has been left behind with no help from the school to bring her back up to grade level. The school doesn't like parent volunteers and the kids are mean. Close Quote

Schools Near Sunset 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 All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th 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
Sunset Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12824 W 12th St.	Airway Heights	99001	Spokane County	Cheney School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 559-4600	634	43	14.5	77.8%	304 (47.9%)	17 (2.7%)	118 (18.6%)	20 (3.2%)	19 (3.0%)	94 (14.8%)	62 (9.8%)	6.8	1128^th of 1160 public elementary schools	2.8%		7.7	1117^th of 1168 public elementary schools	4.4%	11	28.9	28.9	11.5	20.2	30.0	20.6	5.7	22.0	17.8	15.7	88.7	93.4	94.3	94.3	94.3	91.5	94.3	91.5	91.5	91.5	$17,008	$1,272	$15,736
Michael Anderson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 W. Fairchild Highway	Fairchild AFB	99011	Spokane County	Medical Lake School District	No	No	No	No	(509) 565-3600	459	32	14.5	33.1%	260 (56.6%)	18 (3.9%)	105 (22.9%)	14 (3.1%)	6 (1.3%)	4 (0.9%)	52 (11.3%)	65.5	374^th of 1160 public elementary schools	67.8%		66.1	366^th of 1168 public elementary schools	68.7%	8	76.1	76.1	35.6	65.2	58.7	51.7	42.4	70.2	60.9	56.6	87.2	91.0	91.0	91.0	91.0	92.3	89.7	93.6	92.3	92.3	$19,058	$320	$18,738
Phil Snowdon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6323 S Holly Rd	Cheney	99004	Spokane County	Cheney School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 559-4200	525	33	15.8	53.0%	373 (71.0%)	11 (2.1%)	67 (12.8%)	7 (1.3%)	6 (1.1%)	25 (4.8%)	36 (6.9%)	52.4	525^th of 1160 public elementary schools	54.7%		47.6	591^st of 1168 public elementary schools	49.4%	66	55.2	55.2	48.8	52.8	54.7	52.2	52.9	48.6	40.4	47.0	86.3	91.8	90.4	90.4	90.4	89.0	91.8	89.0	89.0	89.0	$15,674	$879	$14,795
Great Northern Elementary	Public	K-6	3115 N Spotted Rd	Spokane	99224	Spokane County	Great Northern School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 747-7714	44	0		63.6%	38 (86.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.8%)	1 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)						47.6				23.8											$24,339	$3,521	$20,818
Windsor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5504 W Hallett Rd	Spokane	99224	Spokane County	Cheney School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 559-4200	549	36	15.1	44.1%	413 (75.2%)	4 (0.7%)	76 (13.8%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	44 (8.0%)	59.2	444^th of 1160 public elementary schools	61.7%		64.2	395^th of 1168 public elementary schools	66.2%	49	65.6	65.6	47.6	49.0	60.2	52.2	59.8	49.0	46.1	51.3	77.2	83.5	82.3	82.3	82.3	81.0	92.4	79.8	81.0	81.0	$16,806	$1,044	$15,762
Holmes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 W Sharp Ave	Spokane	99201	Spokane County	Spokane School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 354-2990	378	30	12.4	84.1%	213 (56.3%)	23 (6.1%)	56 (14.8%)	5 (1.3%)	13 (3.4%)	13 (3.4%)	55 (14.6%)	12.8	1053^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	9.2%		16.8	1014^th of 1168 public elementary schools	13.2%	39	36.4	36.4	34.5	9.8	36.4	28.0	32.8	14.6	15.9	22.4	77.2	82.5	91.2	91.2	91.2	87.7	91.2	87.7	87.7	87.7	$22,947	$2,850	$20,097
Hallett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	524 N. Hallett St.	Medical Lake	99022	Spokane County	Medical Lake School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 565-3400	496	29	16.8	50.0%	404 (81.5%)	8 (1.6%)	39 (7.9%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (8.1%)	59.3	442^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	61.9%		65.4	378^th of 1168 public elementary schools	67.6%	64	62.0	62.0	37.2	55.2	65.8	52.7	51.3	50.8	55.7	52.7	80.8	83.6	87.7	87.7	87.7	86.3	91.8	83.6	86.3	86.3	$16,950	$1,209	$15,741
Browne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5102 N Driscoll Blvd	Spokane	99205	Spokane County	Spokane School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 354-2400	316	21	15.3	61.1%	229 (72.5%)	5 (1.6%)	24 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.2%)	50 (15.8%)	42.9	643^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	44.6%		54.7	500^th of 1168 public elementary schools	57.2%	143	42.6	42.6	54.6	45.5	46.3	49.0	60.0	29.6	40.7	44.4	90.2	94.1	94.1	94.1	94.1	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	$21,566	$1,691	$19,875
Finch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3717 N Milton St	Spokane	99205	Spokane County	Spokane School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 354-2600	375	25	14.8	61.3%	285 (76.0%)	10 (2.7%)	40 (10.7%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.6%)	52.6	521^st of 1160 public elementary schools	55.1%		52.9	521^st of 1168 public elementary schools	55.4%		56.5	56.5	61.8	42.7	53.6	52.1	63.6	42.4	34.8	45.8	80.9	87.2	89.4	89.4	89.4	87.2	89.4	89.4	87.2	87.2	$22,459	$1,709	$20,749
Audubon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2020 W Carlisle Ave	Spokane	99205	Spokane County	Spokane School District	No	No	No	Yes	(509) 354-2140	398	33	11.9	85.2%	222 (55.8%)	23 (5.8%)	45 (11.3%)	5 (1.3%)	3 (0.8%)	21 (5.3%)	79 (19.8%)	13.8	1042^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	10.2%		14.4	1048^th of 1168 public elementary schools	10.3%	6	44.3	44.3	25.8	19.6	32.8	26.4	23.9	15.4	27.9	22.8	95.2	96.8	95.2	95.2	95.2	96.8	95.2	95.2	96.8	96.8	$22,829	$3,141	$19,688

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunset Elementary

Is Sunset Elementary a good school?

Sunset Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.8% of Washington elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Sunset Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cheney Middle School
High : Cheney High School

What is the racial makeup of Sunset Elementary?

Students at Sunset Elementary are 48% White, 19% Hispanic, 15% Pacific Islander, 10% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 3% American Indian, 3% African American.

What district is Sunset Elementary in?

Cheney School District

How many students attend Sunset Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 634 students attended Sunset Elementary.

Rate Sunset Elementary!

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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.