Federal Way High School

Federal Way High School is a public school serving grades 9–12 in the Federal Way area of Washington, with approximately 1,665 students. The school serves a relatively high-need community: 73.81% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. Its student-teacher ratio was 20.6:1, and per-student spending was $18,278 in 2023–24. The school ranked 342nd out of 396 Washington schools, placing it at the 14th percentile, although its graduation and dropout results are stronger than its overall academic ranking suggests.

Graduation is one of the school’s clearest strengths. In 2024–25, 87.9% of students graduated, above both the Federal Way School District rate of 84.9% and the statewide rate of 82.6%. The dropout rate was 7.4%, also better than the district’s 8.7% and the state’s 9.8%. Locally, the graduation rate trailed Decatur High School at 90.4% but exceeded Todd Beamer High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, and Auburn Senior High School. These outcomes suggest that the school is relatively effective at keeping students on track to graduate.

Academic results are mixed. English Language Arts was the strongest tested subject, with 45.11% proficiency in 2025–26—close to nearby comprehensive schools and above the district’s 38.33%, though below the state’s 52.81%. Math proficiency improved to 19.2%, the highest among the nearby comprehensive schools, but remained well below the state’s 43.11%. Science was the biggest concern: only 14.81% of students were proficient, compared with 32.42% districtwide and 50.95% statewide, and it was lower than every nearby comparison school. Parents may also want to note the recent decline in ELA performance and the need for continued improvement in math, science, and outcomes for low-income and Hispanic students. The school’s relatively strong English Language Learner effectiveness ranking and improving math results are encouraging signs.