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Panther Lake Elementary School

Q: Is Panther Lake Elementary School a good school?

Panther Lake Elementary School ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Washington elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Panther Lake Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 427 students attended Panther Lake Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Panther Lake Elementary School?

Students at Panther Lake Elementary School are 33% Hispanic, 24% African American, 14% White, 13% Pacific Islander, 10% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of Panther Lake Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Panther Lake Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Illahee Middle School High : Todd Beamer High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1129^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Panther Lake Elementary is a public Pre-K through 5th grade school serving 427 students in the Federal Way School District, which faces significant academic challenges across the region.

Academically, Panther Lake is in serious need of improvement, consistently ranking in the bottom 3% of all Washington elementary schools. Student proficiency in core subjects like English, Math, and Science is far below both district and state averages. The school serves a community with high economic need, and outcomes for specific groups, such as low-income and male students, are particularly concerning. While the school has a decent student-to-teacher ratio, it spends less per student than most nearby schools, and its performance has declined steadily over the past decade.

Interesting comparisons with nearby schools highlight that improvement is possible. For instance, Sherwood Forest Elementary, less than a mile away and with similar challenges, performs significantly better. Furthermore, N.E. Tacoma Elementary in the neighboring Tacoma School District shows much stronger results. This suggests that while Panther Lake faces difficult circumstances, the struggles are not inevitable, pointing to the importance of school-specific strategies, resources, and leadership in driving student success.

427

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,410

Per pupil spending ?

83.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

34424 1st Av S
Federal Way, WA 98003-6501

(253) 945-3600

District: Federal Way School District

Students who attend Panther Lake Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Illahee Middle School
High:	Todd Beamer High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

32.8%

African American:

24.1%

White:

13.6%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Panther Lake Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 31st percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (21% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 28 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school21%

District avg31%

Washington avg48%

1,129^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 28 pts since 2015

From bottom 31% (2015) to bottom 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 23Elementary Schools in the Federal Way School District

206^th of 247Federal Way 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	1129 of 1160	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.0	1067 of 1168	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.0	1088 of 1169	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.1	1134 of 1169	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.2	999 of 1107	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.1	1089 of 1130	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.4	931 of 1054	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.1	918 of 1056	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	16.5	916 of 1053	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.4	738 of 1067	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.6	606 of 1106	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.3	639 of 1097	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	33.7	795 of 1092	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	55.1	479 of 1088	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	53.2	507 of 1072	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.6	525 of 1067	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	51.1	543 of 1069	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	60.3	411 of 1051	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	57.1	451 of 1031	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	49.2	536 of 1026	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	36.8	52 of 71	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.8	38 of 66	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	13.4	107 of 110	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.1	92 of 107	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	43.4	107 of 169	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	29.9	223 of 320	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	190 of 254	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.8	212 of 333	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	11.6	1023 of 1092	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	1008 of 1093	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.3	1047 of 1094	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.4	1044 of 1100	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.3	956 of 1008	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.6	972 of 1068	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.2	907 of 1004	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	28.4	514 of 659	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.6	543 of 651	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	565 of 633	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.3	638 of 694	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	45.6	223 of 501	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	16.8	642 of 697	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.1	492 of 540	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	28.1	8 of 8	0.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	9.0	991 of 1013	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	840 of 1024	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.3	944 of 1013	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.4	980 of 1019	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	787 of 854	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.3	923 of 979	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	751 of 835	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	6.2	1074 of 1098	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.2	997 of 1099	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.7	1021 of 1099	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.1	1095 of 1113	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.6	907 of 1025	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	7.0	1040 of 1075	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	820 of 999	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	71.7	2 of 5	60.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	11.6	964 of 1027	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.1	749 of 833	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Pacific Islander (2019)60th percentile+56 vs school

Asian (2018)37th percentile+25 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)30th percentile+22 vs school

African American (2024)27th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)22nd percentile+19 vs school

Female (2025)6th percentile+4 vs school

White (2019)6th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Homeless (2024)<1st percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts23%-31 vs state

Science22%-28 vs state

Math17%-25 vs state

2.3

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, October 7, 2017

Very poor school. I removed my daughter toward the end of the school year last year due to bullying and classroom disruptions. Principal refused to handle situation so I removed my daughter from the environment. Turn over for teachers is very high, two years in a row almost half of the staff quit. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 12, 2010

This is the most wonderful elementary school in the Federal Way School District. The teachers are wonderful and give their all to ther students and their community. My children are lucky to have teachers who care so much for them. Close Quote

Schools Near Panther Lake Elementary School

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 7th 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
Panther Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	34424 1st Av S	Federal Way	98003	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3600	427	26	16.7	83.8%	58 (13.6%)	103 (24.1%)	140 (32.8%)	28 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (12.6%)	42 (9.8%)	6.8	1129^th of 1160 public elementary schools	2.7%		13	1067^th of 1168 public elementary schools	8.6%	62	21.9	21.9	30.5	17.4	20.6			22.5	20.0	15.9	15.9	17.2	79.4	90.2	87.0	87.0	87.0	87.0	93.5	83.7	87.0	87.0	$18,410	$1,559	$16,851
Enterprise Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	35101 5th Ave SW	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-2600	450	28	16.1	67.8%	95 (21.1%)	88 (19.6%)	128 (28.4%)	68 (15.1%)	3 (0.7%)	33 (7.3%)	35 (7.8%)	24.5	916^th of 1160 public elementary schools	21.0%		17.6	1007^th of 1168 public elementary schools	13.8%	91	26.8	26.8	44.1	34.7	41.1			39.8	40.3	40.3	22.2	35.2	82.5	90.0	90.0	90.0	90.0	86.3	91.3	87.5	86.3	86.3	$22,320	$1,693	$20,626
Sherwood Forest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	34600 12th Av SW	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3800	325	24	13.5	68.9%	70 (21.5%)	42 (12.9%)	93 (28.6%)	55 (16.9%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.8%)	42 (12.9%)	35.1	747^th of 1160 public elementary schools	35.6%		26.1	879^th of 1168 public elementary schools	24.7%	132	42.9	42.9	38.0	46.8	49.1			44.8	40.0	44.7	33.3	39.0	79.6	83.7	79.6	79.6	79.6	83.7	85.7	81.6	83.7	83.7	$23,940	$1,932	$22,008
Silver Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1310 SW 325th St	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3900	382	24	16.2	74.6%	58 (15.2%)	78 (20.4%)	117 (30.6%)	33 (8.6%)	1 (0.3%)	49 (12.8%)	46 (12.0%)	22.7	936^th of 1160 public elementary schools	19.3%		10.1	1098^th of 1168 public elementary schools	6.0%	162	29.2	29.2	41.4	24.0	41.5			36.4	50.0	20.0	29.2	33.5	69.4	77.8	81.9	81.9	81.9	70.8	81.9	80.6	70.8	70.8	$19,588	$1,342	$18,246
Mirror Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	625 S 314th St	Federal Way	98003	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3300	491	31	15.8	82.3%	65 (13.2%)	86 (17.5%)	171 (34.8%)	70 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.9%)	75 (15.3%)	9.6	1098^th of 1160 public elementary schools	5.3%		7.6	1118^th of 1168 public elementary schools	4.3%	20	24.3	24.3	27.9	23.9	28.8			27.0	24.4	23.9	20.3	22.9	85.0	90.0	91.3	91.3	91.3	87.5	93.8	90.0	87.5	88.8	$19,164	$1,277	$17,887
Olympic View Elementary School	Public	K-7	2626 SW 327th St	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3500	547	32	17.2	82.6%	59 (10.8%)	79 (14.4%)	238 (43.5%)	44 (8.0%)	4 (0.7%)	47 (8.6%)	76 (13.9%)	8.4	1109^th of 1160 public elementary schools	4.4%		5.5	1141^st of 1168 public elementary schools	2.3%	32	19.8	19.8	18.7	23.9	25.0	33.3	37.5	24.5	25.0	25.7	9.9	18.4	88.5	93.4	93.4	93.4	93.4	90.2	96.7	93.4	90.2	90.2	$18,986	$1,224	$17,761
N.E. Tacoma Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5412 29th St Ne	Tacoma	98422	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-6933	418	23	17.8	53.8%	138 (33.0%)	27 (6.5%)	110 (26.3%)	62 (14.8%)	6 (1.4%)	8 (1.9%)	67 (16.0%)	61.2	421^st of 1160 public elementary schools	63.7%		45.3	617^th of 1168 public elementary schools	47.2%	196	52.5	52.5	48.6	60.0	52.5			53.2	58.6	61.8	50.8	57.0	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	$21,142	$654	$20,488
Lakeland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	35827 32nd Av S	Auburn	98001	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-3000	418	25	16.7	61.0%	151 (36.1%)	34 (8.1%)	103 (24.6%)	53 (12.7%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.2%)	66 (15.8%)	25	905^th of 1160 public elementary schools	22.0%		28.4	844^th of 1168 public elementary schools	27.7%	61	31.7	31.7	42.0	27.7	42.7			38.2	50.0	33.3	23.5	35.8	83.8	86.8	88.2	88.2	88.2	85.3	89.7	86.8	85.3	85.3	$19,609	$1,298	$18,312
Brigadoon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3601 SW 336th ST	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-2400	366	23	16.1	65.8%	85 (23.2%)	52 (14.2%)	117 (32.0%)	44 (12.0%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.2%)	48 (13.1%)	34.8	753^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	35.1%		41	666^th of 1168 public elementary schools	43.0%	87	41.7	41.7	39.1	41.9	43.8			41.6	54.4	34.9	37.5	42.3	87.9	93.1	91.4	91.4	91.4	91.4	94.8	91.4	91.4	91.4	$22,744	$1,890	$20,854
Lake Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	303 SW 308th St	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-2900	390	24	16.5	77.9%	62 (15.9%)	57 (14.6%)	169 (43.3%)	30 (7.7%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (6.2%)	47 (12.1%)	8.1	1112^th of 1160 public elementary schools	4.1%		16.7	1018^th of 1168 public elementary schools	12.8%	94	22.6	22.6	21.1	20.8	31.8			24.7	22.2	22.9	19.1	21.3	95.4	96.9	96.9	96.9	96.9	95.4	96.9	96.9	95.4	95.4	$23,523	$1,563	$21,959

Frequently Asked Questions about Panther Lake Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Panther Lake Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Panther Lake Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Illahee Middle School
High : Todd Beamer High School

What is the racial makeup of Panther Lake Elementary School?

Students at Panther Lake Elementary School are 33% Hispanic, 24% African American, 14% White, 13% Pacific Islander, 10% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

What district is Panther Lake Elementary School in?

Federal Way School District

Is Panther Lake Elementary School a good school?

Panther Lake Elementary School ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Washington elementary schools.

How many students attend Panther Lake Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 427 students attended Panther Lake Elementary School.

Rate Panther Lake Elementary School!

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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.