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Surprise Lake Middle School

Q: Is Surprise Lake Middle School a good school?

Surprise Lake Middle School ranks 301 st of 514 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-7

301^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 514 Washington Middle Schools

Better than 41% of Washington middle schools

Summary

Surprise Lake Middle School is a public school in the Milton area serving 613 students in grades 6–7 through the Fife School District. The school ranks in the 41st percentile statewide, earning two stars—a notable improvement from the 19th percentile in 2021–2022. Its current position is best described as middle-of-the-pack locally: it is performing below Washington averages and the strongest nearby schools, but above several lower-performing schools.

In 2025–2026, 45.63% of students reached proficiency in English language arts and 30.46% in math, compared with 52.81% and 43.11% statewide. Math is the clearest challenge, although both subjects have improved steadily over four years. Results are nearly identical to nearby Mt Baker Middle School, with Surprise Lake slightly higher in math. It also outperformed Olympic Middle School, First Creek Middle School, Sequoyah Middle School, and Illahee Middle School in both tested subjects. However, it trails higher-performing schools such as Sumner Middle School and Kalles Junior High by roughly 18–25 percentage points.

Families may want to pay particular attention to seventh grade, where math proficiency was 26.03%, compared with 34.47% in sixth grade; seventh-grade ELA was also slightly lower. This grade-level pattern makes math support, course pacing, and the transition into seventh grade important areas to investigate. The school’s free- or reduced-price lunch rate is higher than at several stronger nearby schools, while its student-teacher ratio of 21.9 is also relatively high, providing useful context but not explaining performance by itself. Overall, Surprise Lake shows broad, sustained improvement and is not among the area’s lowest-performing schools, but accelerating seventh-grade math growth remains its most important opportunity.

613

Students ?

21.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,717

Per pupil spending ?

55.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2001 Milton Way
Milton, WA 98354-9443

(253) 517-1300

District: Fife School District

Students who attend Surprise Lake Middle School usually attend:

High:

Fife High School

Feeder schools for Surprise Lake Middle School:

Elementary:	Discovery Primary School
	Hedden Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.5%

Hispanic:

24.5%

Two or more races:

12.2%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Surprise Lake Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 19th percentile in 2022 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 41st (2026) from a 19th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (38% vs 48% meeting standards)

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

!Math scores 13 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg40%

Washington avg48%

301^st of 514

Washington public middle schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

132^nd of 238Fife 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
2026	39.0	301 of 514	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.2	380 of 534	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	383 of 535	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.7	434 of 539	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.1	439 of 541	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.9	405 of 529	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.3	316 of 512	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.8	237 of 437	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	41.3	254 of 435	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	56.7	186 of 443	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	43.4	297 of 498	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	30.2	377 of 497	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.2	334 of 492	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	31.2	358 of 483	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	45.4	266 of 476	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.8	187 of 466	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	43.1	281 of 463	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.1	214 of 449	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.7	185 of 425	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2004	61.6	164 of 421	61.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	58.7	32 of 100	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.8	62 of 101	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	59 of 90	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.4	51 of 96	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.3	65 of 106	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.4	57 of 111	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	45.4	61 of 114	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.3	84 of 147	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.7	97 of 148	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	11.9	133 of 145	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.7	161 of 161	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.1	140 of 149	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	44.0	81 of 152	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.8	59 of 123	52.0%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	30.0	92 of 143	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.1	40 of 135	70.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	38.2	273 of 443	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.3	317 of 471	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.2	335 of 464	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.3	362 of 464	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.0	366 of 479	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.5	348 of 469	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	285 of 452	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.9	201 of 376	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	42.9	191 of 347	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.8	258 of 347	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	238 of 344	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.9	244 of 336	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.3	312 of 360	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.4	281 of 353	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.1	215 of 344	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.0	152 of 259	41.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	270 of 453	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.6	359 of 457	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.9	355 of 455	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.8	395 of 463	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	440 of 475	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.8	408 of 458	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.2	295 of 448	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.1	189 of 349	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	37.5	279 of 454	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.8	366 of 472	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.9	348 of 466	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	402 of 470	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	410 of 480	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.0	378 of 476	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.1	267 of 453	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	215 of 371	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	31.1	164 of 222	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.5	206 of 246	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.4	173 of 243	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.5	220 of 244	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.3	217 of 257	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	220 of 250	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.7	164 of 246	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.5	105 of 166	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	21.4	30 of 31	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	42.6	110 of 226	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	21.3	207 of 231	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.4	112 of 268	58.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	39.8	265 of 453	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.7	334 of 488	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.4	382 of 486	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	372 of 488	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	348 of 488	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.0	306 of 480	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.7	295 of 470	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.9	209 of 325	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)68th percentile+27 vs school

Special Education (2026)51st percentile+10 vs school

Asian (2026)46th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)45th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile~ school

Male (2026)39th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)38th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)36th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)26th percentile-15 vs school

Pacific Islander (2019)3rd percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%-7 vs state

Math30%-13 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, May 19, 2013

This school is absolutely amazing! It's got excellent staff and wonderful students. The environment is always calm and quiet. The students are almost never disrespectful and are very intelligent. I recommend this school to everyone. :) Close Quote

Schools Near Surprise Lake Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)					SBAC Math (2026)					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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math 10th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Surprise Lake Middle School	Public	6-7	2001 Milton Way	Milton	98354	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 517-1300	613	28	21.9	55.5%	230 (37.5%)	46 (7.5%)	150 (24.5%)	52 (8.5%)	3 (0.5%)	44 (7.2%)	75 (12.2%)	39	301^st of 514 public middle schools	41.4%		29.2	380^th of 534 public middle schools	28.8%	79			46.9	44.2			45.6	34.5	26.0			30.5	$14,717	$189	$14,528
Edgemont Junior High	Public	6-9	2300 110th Ave E	Edgewood	98372	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8727	590	27	21.6	43.9%	281 (47.6%)	33 (5.6%)	93 (15.8%)	60 (10.2%)	3 (0.5%)	34 (5.8%)	86 (14.6%)	59.2	184^th of 514 public middle schools	64.2%		52.6	228^th of 534 public middle schools	57.3%	44	64.8	64.8	45.3	54.8	52.5		50.9	41.6	34.8	39.7		38.7	$16,065	$988	$15,077
Sequoyah Middle School	Public	6-8	3425 S 360th ST	Auburn	98001	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 945-3670	570	31	18.4	76.3%	140 (24.6%)	81 (14.2%)	161 (28.2%)	90 (15.8%)	3 (0.5%)	41 (7.2%)	54 (9.5%)	17.2	437^th of 514 public middle schools	15.0%		10.6	493^rd of 534 public middle schools	7.7%	56	29.7	29.7	27.2	34.2	43.1		34.7	17.5	13.8	18.9		16.8	$19,100	$1,200	$17,899
Illahee Middle School	Public	5-8	36001 1st AVE S	Federal Way	98003	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 945-4600	655	37	17.5	76.3%	107 (16.3%)	146 (22.3%)	190 (29.0%)	68 (10.4%)	4 (0.6%)	68 (10.4%)	70 (10.7%)	19.1	421^st of 514 public middle schools	18.1%		14.5	469^th of 534 public middle schools	12.2%	48	35.1	35.1	32.1	32.3	39.7		34.6	17.4	16.4	22.2		18.6	$20,930	$1,124	$19,806
Federal Way Public Academy	Public	6-10	34620 9th Av S	Federal Way	98003	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 945-3270	309	13	23.2	43.4%	129 (41.7%)	35 (11.3%)	40 (12.9%)	60 (19.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	42 (13.6%)	87.2	62^nd of 514 public middle schools	87.9%		95	27^th of 534 public middle schools	94.9%	35	68.8	68.8	52.4		87.5	76.0	73.0	50.0	81.0	60.9	61.2	63.3	$17,762	$857	$16,904
Aylen Junior High	Public	7-9	101 15th St SW	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8723	720	32	22.7	43.9%	374 (51.9%)	28 (3.9%)	146 (20.3%)	30 (4.2%)	15 (2.1%)	18 (2.5%)	108 (15.0%)	48.8	235^th of 514 public middle schools	54.3%		52.8	227^th of 534 public middle schools	57.5%	8	43.2	43.2		48.2	50.2		49.2		41.3	34.6		38.0	$16,074	$652	$15,422
Kalles Junior High	Public	7-9	501 7th Ave SE	Puyallup	98372	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 841-8729	762	33	22.9	40.2%	400 (52.5%)	32 (4.2%)	130 (17.1%)	78 (10.2%)	6 (0.8%)	19 (2.5%)	92 (12.1%)	77.5	105^th of 514 public middle schools	79.6%		72	125^th of 534 public middle schools	76.6%	20	60.4	60.4		68.4	59.8		64.1		51.6	45.7		48.6	$16,092	$613	$15,479
Mt Baker Middle School	Public	6-8	620 37th St SE	Auburn	98002	King County	Auburn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 804-4555	917	49	18.5	54.9%	256 (27.9%)	72 (7.9%)	332 (36.2%)	130 (14.2%)	5 (0.5%)	33 (3.6%)	89 (9.7%)	38.7	302^nd of 514 public middle schools	41.2%		36.9	328^th of 534 public middle schools	38.6%	26	41.5	41.5	42.5	54.9	41.0		46.0	28.4	35.8	23.4		29.0	$17,563	$601	$16,962
Sumner Middle School	Public	6-8	1508 Willow	Sumner	98390	Pierce County	Sumner-Bonney Lake School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 891-5000	674	35	19.0	43.6%	370 (54.9%)	8 (1.2%)	168 (24.9%)	34 (5.0%)	4 (0.6%)	12 (1.8%)	78 (11.6%)	84.6	72^nd of 514 public middle schools	86.0%		83.9	75^th of 534 public middle schools	86.0%	3	56.1	56.1	71.0	71.1	68.9		70.3	59.7	48.8	56.3		55.1	$17,590	$482	$17,108
Olympic Middle School	Public	6-8	839 21st ST SE	Auburn	98002	King County	Auburn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 931-4966	956	56	17.1	68.0%	195 (20.4%)	54 (5.6%)	432 (45.2%)	92 (9.6%)	32 (3.3%)	60 (6.3%)	91 (9.5%)	16.2	446^th of 514 public middle schools	13.2%		16.2	462^nd of 534 public middle schools	13.5%	16	29.9	29.9	26.1	30.4	35.1		30.5	21.5	22.0	19.7		21.1	$16,905	$726	$16,179

Frequently Asked Questions about Surprise Lake Middle School

What district is Surprise Lake Middle School in?

Fife School District

How many students attend Surprise Lake Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 613 students attended Surprise Lake Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Surprise Lake Middle School attend?

Students who attend Surprise Lake Middle School usually go on to attend Fife High School

What is the racial makeup of Surprise Lake Middle School?

Students at Surprise Lake Middle School are 38% White, 24% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 8% African American, 7% Pacific Islander, 2% Not Specified.

Is Surprise Lake Middle School a good school?

Surprise Lake Middle School ranks 301^st of 514 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Surprise Lake Middle School!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.