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Des Moines Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

887^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,138 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Des Moines Elementary is a PK–5 school in the Des Moines, Washington, area serving about 500 students in the Highline School District. The school has a 15.6-to-1 student-teacher ratio and serves a relatively high-need community, with 62.6% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Its latest ranking places it at the 22nd percentile among Washington elementary schools, making it a middle-of-the-pack local option rather than a state-leading school.

Academically, Des Moines performs somewhat better than the district overall in English language arts and math. In 2025–26, proficiency was 35.78% in ELA, 31.19% in math, and 32.08% in science, compared with 34.68%, 24.30%, and 32.82% districtwide. It also clearly outperformed nearby Bow Lake Elementary, Parkside Elementary, and Midway Elementary. However, Marvista Elementary and North Hill Elementary were substantially stronger, ranking at the 71st and 69th percentiles, respectively, compared with Des Moines at the 22nd percentile.

The clearest academic concern is fifth-grade math, where only 17.31% of students were proficient, compared with 35.06% in third grade and 35.96% in fourth grade. Fifth-grade science was also below district and state results. ELA has declined steadily, from 41.43% in 2022–23 to 35.78% in 2025–26, while science performance has varied considerably. The school’s improved staffing ratio and relatively high spending—$23,049 per student in 2023–24—provide resources for improvement, but results suggest a need for targeted instruction and support. Key priorities include reversing the ELA decline, strengthening fifth-grade math and science, and improving outcomes for students receiving special education services and students from low-income households.

500

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,049

Per pupil spending ?

62.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

22001 9th Ave S
Des Moines, WA 98198-6310

(206) 631-3700

District: Highline School District

Students who attend Des Moines Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Pacific Middle School
High:	Mount Rainier High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

29.0%

White:

22.2%

African American:

16.8%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 40th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (33% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school33%

District avg30%

Washington avg48%

887^th of 1,138

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 17Elementary Schools in the Highline School District

198^th of 238Highline 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	21.4	887 of 1138	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.2	931 of 1160	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.7	798 of 1168	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.0	829 of 1169	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.6	757 of 1169	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.8	640 of 1107	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.8	712 of 1130	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.7	699 of 1054	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.7	666 of 1056	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.4	627 of 1053	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.4	682 of 1067	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	53.8	547 of 1106	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.0	484 of 1097	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	39.3	716 of 1092	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.1	524 of 1088	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.3	588 of 1072	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	47.6	594 of 1067	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	42.8	646 of 1069	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.7	713 of 1051	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	55.0	473 of 1031	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	64.6	324 of 1026	68.4%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	70.7	18 of 66	72.7%	★★★★☆
2022	25.3	93 of 108	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.1	35 of 47	25.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.3	48 of 107	55.1%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	2.8	186 of 189	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	129 of 163	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.6	148 of 170	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.9	146 of 187	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.8	92 of 131	29.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	25.6	258 of 326	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	39.7	172 of 303	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.8	217 of 320	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.9	189 of 213	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	775 of 1020	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.3	766 of 1092	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.8	639 of 1093	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.1	765 of 1094	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.4	712 of 1100	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.9	766 of 1008	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.5	608 of 1068	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.7	726 of 1004	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	37.1	440 of 649	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.9	499 of 659	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	537 of 633	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.0	472 of 694	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.3	202 of 501	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.3	319 of 697	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.9	282 of 540	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	16.1	919 of 1008	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	18.4	899 of 1013	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.7	735 of 1024	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.2	845 of 1013	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.8	647 of 1019	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	420 of 854	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.4	674 of 979	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.7	663 of 835	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	16.9	936 of 1059	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.7	962 of 1098	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	880 of 1099	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	788 of 1099	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.6	706 of 1113	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.7	442 of 1025	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.3	754 of 1075	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.6	614 of 999	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	26.2	101 of 119	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.0	130 of 197	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.1	160 of 188	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.4	116 of 194	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.1	100 of 252	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	16.3	415 of 432	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.2	304 of 308	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	458 of 566	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.2	469 of 637	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	46.2	512 of 901	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.1	586 of 1007	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	81.0	167 of 1009	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.9	354 of 1011	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	340 of 1031	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.0	231 of 943	75.5%	★★★★☆
2019	53.4	496 of 1027	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.1	549 of 833	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2023)73rd percentile+44 vs school

White (2026)43rd percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2026)32nd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)21st percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)15th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)9th percentile-13 vs school

Special Education (2026)4th percentile-18 vs school

Asian (2025)2nd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts36%-17 vs state

Science32%-19 vs state

Math31%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Des Moines Elementary

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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 Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)			SBAC English Language Arts (2026)							SBAC Math (2026)							% 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 5th Grade	WCAS Science 8th 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 8th 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 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th 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
Des Moines Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	22001 9th Ave S	Des Moines	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-3700	500	32	15.6	62.6%	111 (22.2%)	84 (16.8%)	145 (29.0%)	58 (11.6%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.4%)	84 (16.8%)	21.4	887^th of 1138 public elementary schools	22.1%		23.2	931^st of 1160 public elementary schools	19.7%	44	32.1		32.1	37.7	37.1	30.8				35.8	35.1	36.0	17.3				31.2	89.0	94.5	94.5	94.5	94.5	94.5	97.3	94.5	94.5	94.5	$23,049	$1,917	$21,132
Midway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	22447 24th Ave S	Des Moines	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-4400	548	31	17.8	78.1%	53 (9.7%)	101 (18.4%)	238 (43.4%)	97 (17.7%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (4.2%)	34 (6.2%)	3.4	1102^nd of 1138 public elementary schools	3.2%		3.5	1151^st of 1160 public elementary schools	0.8%	49	17.6		17.6	10.1	10.4	19.7				13.4	19.2	9.2	13.3				14.0	77.4	83.5	88.7	87.8	87.8	85.2	92.2	89.6	85.2	85.2	$20,000	$1,473	$18,527
North Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	19835 8th Ave S	Des Moines	98148	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-4600	518	31	16.6	45.9%	179 (34.6%)	44 (8.5%)	149 (28.8%)	53 (10.2%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	88 (17.0%)	66	357^th of 1138 public elementary schools	68.6%		66.9	355^th of 1160 public elementary schools	69.4%	2	69.9		69.9	48.3	63.2	70.2				60.3	42.5	57.9	45.2				48.2	89.7	97.7	96.6	96.6	96.6	95.4	94.3	95.4	95.4	95.4	$21,974	$1,257	$20,718
River Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	22420 Military Rd S	SeaTac	98198	King County	Kent School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 373-7320	697	42	16.6	72.7%	95 (13.6%)	150 (21.5%)	175 (25.1%)	176 (25.3%)	2 (0.3%)	53 (7.6%)	46 (6.6%)	4.5	1088^th of 1138 public elementary schools	4.4%		4.3	1144^th of 1160 public elementary schools	1.4%	56	21.6		21.6	15.5	12.6	17.0				15.1	20.6	18.6	13.0				17.2	68.9	78.3	79.3	79.3	79.3	75.5	87.7	76.4	75.5	75.5	$19,556	$1,556	$18,001
Marvista Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	19800 Marine View Dr SW	Normandy Park	98166	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-4200	532	33	15.9	40.8%	225 (42.3%)	49 (9.2%)	131 (24.6%)	17 (3.2%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (5.5%)	78 (14.7%)	68.4	327^th of 1138 public elementary schools	71.3%		61.5	418^th of 1160 public elementary schools	64.0%	91	64.4		64.4	62.2	65.5	54.8				61.1	58.1	56.3	38.4				51.3	88.0	90.2	92.4	92.4	92.4	90.2	94.6	91.3	90.2	90.2	$20,295	$1,217	$19,078
Madrona Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20301 32nd Ave South	SeaTac	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-4100	317	20	15.7	77.0%	20 (6.3%)	65 (20.5%)	162 (51.1%)	14 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	34 (10.7%)	21 (6.6%)	6.6	1076^th of 1138 public elementary schools	5.4%		17.4	994^th of 1160 public elementary schools	14.3%	82	19.2		19.2	22.4	29.2	25.5				25.5	15.5	20.8	6.4				14.4	80.4	83.9	89.3	89.3	89.3	82.1	92.9	83.9	82.1	82.1	$23,482	$2,361	$21,121
Parkside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2104 S 247th St	Des Moines	98198	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-4700	535	28	18.7	80.2%	85 (15.9%)	113 (21.1%)	141 (26.4%)	115 (21.5%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (5.6%)	48 (9.0%)	6.5	1077^th of 1138 public elementary schools	5.4%		9.3	1103^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	4.9%	26	23.9		23.9	16.7	26.9	20.5				21.7	22.6	20.4	11.4				18.2	87.7	93.2	95.9	95.9	95.9	91.8	97.3	93.2	91.8	91.8	$20,831	$1,473	$19,358
Sunnycrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	24629 42nd Av S	Kent	98032	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-4100	535	35	15.2	81.1%	63 (11.8%)	57 (10.7%)	209 (39.1%)	125 (23.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.9%)	71 (13.3%)	11.3	1021^st of 1138 public elementary schools	10.3%		8.9	1107^th of 1160 public elementary schools	4.6%	86	38.5		38.5	18.3	17.6	37.7				24.0	21.7	17.4	23.1				20.6	76.7	88.9	92.2	92.2	92.2	85.6	96.7	91.1	85.6	85.6	$18,935	$1,249	$17,687
Woodmont K-8 School	Public	K-8	26454 16th Av S	Des Moines	98198	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 945-4500	402	25	16.2	70.9%	84 (20.9%)	60 (14.9%)	119 (29.6%)	72 (17.9%)	2 (0.5%)	24 (6.0%)	41 (10.2%)	28.2	816^th of 1138 public elementary schools	28.3%		21.7	952^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	17.9%	136	26.7	23.5	26.1	45.8	40.2	34.7	15.8	35.3	41.2	38.6	38.6	46.0	25.3	26.3	29.4	17.7	34.9	86.7	93.3	95.0	95.0	95.0	90.0	96.7	90.0	90.0	90.0	$19,396	$1,731	$17,665
Bow Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	18237 42nd Ave S	SeaTac	98188	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 631-3500	524	33	15.7	75.6%	54 (10.3%)	169 (32.3%)	140 (26.7%)	82 (15.6%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.5%)	44 (8.4%)	7.2	1067^th of 1138 public elementary schools	6.2%		7.1	1124^th of 1160 public elementary schools	3.1%	57	25.0		25.0	12.2	25.3	27.9				21.7	18.9	21.5	17.2				19.3	78.4	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	82.4	87.8	82.4	82.4	82.4	$21,751	$1,698	$20,053

Frequently Asked Questions about Des Moines Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Des Moines Elementary?

Students at Des Moines Elementary are 29% Hispanic, 22% White, 17% African American, 17% Two or more races, 12% Asian, 3% Pacific Islander.

Is Des Moines Elementary a good school?

Des Moines Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.1% of Washington elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Des Moines Elementary attend?

Students who attend Des Moines Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pacific Middle School
High : Mount Rainier High School

What district is Des Moines Elementary in?

Highline School District

How many students attend Des Moines Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 500 students attended Des Moines Elementary.

Rate Des Moines Elementary!

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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.