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Garfield Elementary School

Q: Is Garfield Elementary School a good school?

Garfield Elementary School ranks 837 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

837^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Garfield Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 314 students in grades PK-5 within the Olympia School District in Olympia, WA, which is generally a high-performing district.

Academic performance at Garfield is currently below state and district averages, particularly in English Language Arts (40% proficient) and Mathematics (30% proficient), though science scores are closer to average. The school's statewide ranking has declined significantly over the past decade, from the 86th percentile to the 28th percentile. This stands in contrast to nearby schools like Pioneer Elementary School and McKenny Elementary, which achieve notably higher proficiency rates. Garfield also has a high rate of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch at over 60%, indicating significant economic need; a similar school, Leland P Brown Elementary, has a comparable economic profile but performs better academically.

An interesting finding is that Garfield spends more per student ($20,985) than other nearby schools in the Olympia School District, such as Roosevelt Elementary School and McLane Elementary School, yet has the lowest academic outcomes. This suggests school-specific challenges with instructional effectiveness or resource utilization. The performance also varies considerably by grade level, indicating potential inconsistencies in curriculum or teaching. The school's relative strength in science and the examples of higher-performing schools with similar demographics in the area suggest there are potential pathways for improvement.

314

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,985

Per pupil spending ?

60.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

325 Plymouth St NW
Olympia, WA 98502-4986

(360) 596-6900

District: Olympia School District

Students who attend Garfield Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Jefferson Middle School
High:	Capital High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.4%

Hispanic:

17.5%

Two or more races:

15.6%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Garfield Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2015 → 28th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (40% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 58 percentile points since 2015

!English Language Arts scores 13 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg59%

Washington avg48%

837^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 58 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Olympia School District

46^th of 247Olympia 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	29.2	837 of 1160	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.3	832 of 1168	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.4	770 of 1169	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	581 of 1169	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.1	522 of 1107	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.4	754 of 1130	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.3	380 of 1054	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.2	377 of 1056	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.8	266 of 1053	74.7%	★★★★☆
2015	83.4	147 of 1067	86.2%	★★★★☆
2013	80.0	170 of 1106	84.6%	★★★★☆
2012	73.9	245 of 1097	77.7%	★★★★☆
2011	79.4	161 of 1092	85.3%	★★★★☆
2010	55.8	470 of 1088	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	54.3	497 of 1072	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	69.9	290 of 1067	72.8%	★★★★☆
2007	61.9	407 of 1069	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.0	341 of 1051	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	67.8	307 of 1031	70.2%	★★★★☆
2004	54.4	470 of 1026	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	29.1	158 of 201	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	744 of 1092	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	748 of 1093	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.6	705 of 1094	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	730 of 1100	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.5	649 of 1008	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.3	814 of 1068	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.3	543 of 1004	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	59.3	229 of 633	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.2	103 of 694	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	37.0	462 of 697	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	26.6	812 of 1013	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	786 of 1024	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.4	693 of 1013	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.1	474 of 1019	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.0	241 of 854	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	38.6	647 of 979	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.2	252 of 835	69.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	868 of 1098	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	900 of 1099	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.2	782 of 1099	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	63.3	376 of 1113	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	320 of 1025	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	646 of 1075	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	78.8	210 of 999	79.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	33.0	156 of 197	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.9	203 of 303	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.4	129 of 212	39.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	276 of 363	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.9	233 of 308	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	56.3	153 of 478	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.3	62 of 158	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.9	377 of 566	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	76.1	95 of 637	85.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	795 of 1007	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.8	782 of 1009	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.3	751 of 1011	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.4	584 of 1031	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.7	466 of 943	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.9	526 of 1027	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	63.4	303 of 833	63.6%	★★★☆☆

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 (2023)64th percentile+30 vs school

Female (2025)32nd percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)24th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2019)21st percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)21st percentile-7 vs school

Male (2025)21st percentile-7 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)21st percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)20th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science51%~ state avg

English Language Arts40%-13 vs state

Math30%-12 vs state

1.0

1 rating

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1★1

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Schools Near Garfield 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 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
Garfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	325 Plymouth St NW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 596-6900	314	24	13.2	60.5%	152 (48.4%)	9 (2.9%)	55 (17.5%)	16 (5.1%)	4 (1.3%)	6 (1.9%)	49 (15.6%)	29.2	837^th of 1160 public elementary schools	27.8%		29.3	832^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	28.8%	5	51.0	51.0	28.3	53.7	39.6	40.0	23.9	34.2	33.3	30.4	82.2	88.9	86.7	86.7	86.7	84.4	86.7	84.4	84.4	84.4	$20,985	$1,929	$19,056
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	213 21st Ave SE	Olympia	98501	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-6400	300	17	17.5	33.3%	177 (59.0%)	4 (1.3%)	35 (11.7%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (12.3%)	60	430^th of 1160 public elementary schools	62.9%		58.6	461^st of 1168 public elementary schools	60.5%	31	64.6	64.6	48.7	55.8	66.7	57.5	39.5	56.8	47.8	48.4	85.1	87.2	93.6	93.6	93.6	89.4	85.1	89.4	89.4	89.4	$18,124	$237	$17,887
Leland P Brown Elementary	Public	K-5	2000 26th Ave NW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 596-6800	328	22	14.8	60.7%	181 (55.2%)	12 (3.7%)	51 (15.5%)	16 (4.9%)	2 (0.6%)	10 (3.0%)	51 (15.5%)	40.7	671^st of 1160 public elementary schools	42.2%		43.7	639^th of 1168 public elementary schools	45.3%	32	58.5	58.5	38.9	43.3	53.7	45.2	34.0	35.0	48.2	38.9	81.6	87.8	91.8	91.8	91.8	89.8	93.9	87.8	89.8	89.8	$18,535	$1,285	$17,250
Madison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1225 Legion Way SE	Olympia	98501	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-6300	203	12	17.3	43.8%	105 (51.7%)	6 (3.0%)	45 (22.2%)	17 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	28 (13.8%)	54	503^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	56.6%		41.3	660^th of 1168 public elementary schools	43.5%	157	53.7	53.7	67.7	54.8	56.1	59.2	54.8	41.9	31.7	41.8	76.0	78.0	84.0	84.0	84.0	76.0	84.0	84.0	76.0	76.0	$18,333	$312	$18,021
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	K-5	1417 San Francisco Ave NE	Olympia	98506	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-6700	340	26	12.9	35.6%	224 (65.9%)	3 (0.9%)	51 (15.0%)	15 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	29 (8.5%)	69.2	316^th of 1160 public elementary schools	72.8%		65.2	382^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	67.3%	66	65.8	65.8	50.9	66.7	64.4	61.3	56.4	52.4	57.5	55.5	86.8	90.6	92.5	92.5	92.5	92.5	90.6	90.6	92.5	92.5	$17,931	$1,139	$16,792
Julia Butler Hansen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1919 Road Sixty Five NW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 596-7400	412	28	14.6	53.6%	195 (47.3%)	25 (6.1%)	82 (19.9%)	19 (4.6%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.2%)	59 (14.3%)	42.2	657^th of 1160 public elementary schools	43.4%		44.1	633^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	45.8%	24	56.0	56.0	40.3	44.4	50.0	45.3	38.7	57.1	32.0	42.0	90.2	90.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	90.2	98.0	90.2	90.2	90.2	$19,621	$852	$18,769
Tumwater Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3120 Ridgeview St SW	Tumwater	98512	Thurston County	Tumwater School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 709-7300	400	24	16.4	37.5%	215 (53.8%)	14 (3.5%)	85 (21.3%)	35 (8.8%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	43 (10.8%)	55.2	492^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	57.6%		50.3	557^th of 1168 public elementary schools	52.3%	65	47.6	47.6	61.5	51.5	57.1	56.6	67.7	43.3	36.5	49.2	91.8	100.0	98.4	98.4	98.4	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	$17,741	$871	$16,870
McLane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Delphi Rd SW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-6600	407	26	15.7	40.8%	239 (58.7%)	11 (2.7%)	75 (18.4%)	33 (8.1%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.2%)	41 (10.1%)	42.8	644^th of 1160 public elementary schools	44.5%		32.3	791^st of 1168 public elementary schools	32.3%	147	55.6	55.6	48.4	48.3	58.3	52.0	51.6	31.7	22.5	34.9	81.8	81.8	87.3	87.3	87.3	81.8	87.3	87.3	81.8	81.8	$17,786	$868	$16,918
Pioneer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1655 Carlyon Ave SE	Olympia	98501	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-6500	384	21	17.9	19.8%	225 (58.6%)	12 (3.1%)	53 (13.8%)	29 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	35 (9.1%)	75.4	254^th of 1160 public elementary schools	78.1%		82.1	201^st of 1168 public elementary schools	82.8%	53	59.3	59.3	68.3	69.2	74.1	70.4	79.4	44.6	51.7	58.6	77.4	83.9	88.7	88.7	88.7	83.9	88.7	83.9	83.9	83.9	$18,742	$228	$18,515
Michael T Simmons Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1205 2nd Avenue SW	Tumwater	98512	Thurston County	Tumwater School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 709-7100	457	35	13.1	43.5%	291 (63.7%)	13 (2.8%)	76 (16.6%)	22 (4.8%)	9 (2.0%)	4 (0.9%)	42 (9.2%)	67.5	346^th of 1160 public elementary schools	70.2%		69.6	324^th of 1168 public elementary schools	72.3%	22	62.4	62.4	50.0	60.3	57.0	55.8	60.3	65.3	51.8	58.7	93.9	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	95.4	96.9	96.9	95.4	95.4	$19,675	$1,121	$18,554

Frequently Asked Questions about Garfield Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Garfield Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Garfield Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jefferson Middle School
High : Capital High School

Is Garfield Elementary School a good school?

Garfield Elementary School ranks 837^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Garfield Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 314 students attended Garfield Elementary School.

What district is Garfield Elementary School in?

Olympia School District

What is the racial makeup of Garfield Elementary School?

Students at Garfield Elementary School are 48% White, 18% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 7% Not Specified, 5% Asian, 3% African American, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian.

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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.