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Pioneer Elementary School

Q: Is Pioneer Elementary School a good school?

Pioneer Elementary School ranks 254 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

254^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Pioneer Elementary School is a well-regarded public elementary school (PK-5) serving 384 students in the Olympia School District, consistently earning high state ratings for its strong academic performance.

The school is a top performer in the area, ranking 254th in the state and outperforming most nearby schools like Roosevelt Elementary School and Madison Elementary School in test scores. Its closest peer is Centennial Elementary, which ranks slightly higher. Pioneer achieves these results with a student-teacher ratio of 17.9, which is higher than some district schools, indicating efficient use of resources. However, parents should note a recent, sharp decline in 5th-grade science scores and a significant drop in performance rankings for students in special education programs, which is now an area of concern.

While Pioneer's overall trajectory shows a gradual decline in its statewide rank over several years, it remains a highly sought-after school with proficiency rates in English and Math that exceed both district and state averages. Comparisons with schools in neighboring districts, such as those in the Tumwater School District, generally show Olympia schools performing well, with Michael T Simmons Elementary being a notable exception. The analysis highlights Pioneer's sustained excellence but also points to specific grade-level and subgroup challenges that the school community is likely addressing.

384

Students ?

17.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,742

Per pupil spending ?

19.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1655 Carlyon Ave SE
Olympia, WA 98501-3624

(360) 596-6500

District: Olympia School District

Students who attend Pioneer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Washington Middle School
High:	Olympia High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.6%

Hispanic:

13.8%

Two or more races:

9.1%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Pioneer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2015 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (63% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Washington elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg59%

Washington avg48%

254^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	75.4	254 of 1160	78.1%	★★★★☆
2024	82.1	201 of 1168	82.8%	★★★★☆
2023	86.4	148 of 1169	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	89.2	114 of 1169	90.2%	★★★★★
2021	83.5	171 of 1107	84.6%	★★★★☆
2019	89.0	103 of 1130	90.9%	★★★★★
2018	88.1	101 of 1054	90.4%	★★★★★
2017	85.5	135 of 1056	87.2%	★★★★☆
2016	87.4	109 of 1053	89.6%	★★★★☆
2015	83.5	146 of 1067	86.3%	★★★★☆
2013	78.6	193 of 1106	82.5%	★★★★☆
2012	87.1	80 of 1097	92.7%	★★★★★
2011	87.0	96 of 1092	91.2%	★★★★★
2010	85.1	104 of 1088	90.4%	★★★★★
2009	86.8	83 of 1072	92.3%	★★★★★
2008	88.5	69 of 1067	93.5%	★★★★★
2007	91.0	55 of 1069	94.9%	★★★★★
2006	93.5	24 of 1051	97.7%	★★★★★
2005	89.6	70 of 1031	93.2%	★★★★★
2004	89.5	66 of 1026	93.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	75.2	245 of 1092	77.6%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	245 of 1093	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	153 of 1094	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	84.9	147 of 1100	86.6%	★★★★☆
2021	75.5	212 of 1008	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	91.8	54 of 1068	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	86.0	108 of 1004	89.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	84.2	55 of 633	91.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	74.2	189 of 1013	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	72.1	182 of 1019	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	77.0	110 of 854	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	73.4	158 of 979	83.9%	★★★★☆
2018	62.3	276 of 835	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	74.4	244 of 1098	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	84.0	152 of 1099	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	84.7	154 of 1099	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	91.5	79 of 1113	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	87.1	129 of 1025	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	84.4	149 of 1075	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	86.8	112 of 999	88.8%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	47.6	31 of 48	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	62.6	110 of 303	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.7	61 of 212	71.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	192 of 363	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.9	139 of 339	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	72 of 308	76.6%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	48 of 478	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	69.3	39 of 158	75.3%	★★★★☆
2019	79.2	63 of 566	88.9%	★★★★☆
2018	84.5	59 of 637	90.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	73.0	254 of 1007	74.8%	★★★★☆
2024	81.3	163 of 1009	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	85.2	120 of 1011	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.8	188 of 1031	81.8%	★★★★☆
2021	70.6	264 of 943	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.4	104 of 1027	89.9%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	121 of 833	85.5%	★★★★☆

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)91st percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)81st percentile-6 vs school

Male (2025)78th percentile~ school

Female (2025)78th percentile~ school

White (2025)75th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)64th percentile-27 vs school

Special Education (2025)47th percentile-31 vs school

Military Connected (2023)35th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts70%+17 vs state

Science59%+10 vs state

Math59%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pioneer 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 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
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
McKenny Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3250 Morse Merryman Rd SE	Olympia	98501	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-8400	322	19	16.9	29.8%	159 (49.4%)	6 (1.9%)	62 (19.3%)	33 (10.2%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.9%)	41 (12.7%)	67.7	340^th of 1160 public elementary schools	70.7%		76	264^th of 1168 public elementary schools	77.4%	76	65.0		65.0	43.4	70.2	70.0				60.0	39.6	72.3	55.0				55.0	70.0	75.0	75.0	75.0	75.0	75.0	82.5	75.0	75.0	75.0	$19,918	$676	$19,242
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
Centennial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2637 45th Ave SE	Olympia	98501	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-8300	434	24	17.7	21.7%	253 (58.3%)	14 (3.2%)	58 (13.4%)	43 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	58 (13.4%)	77.3	240^th of 1160 public elementary schools	79.3%		81.5	203^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	82.6%	37	61.5		61.5	76.7	71.3	63.9				70.7	74.7	59.8	45.7				60.4	84.2	86.0	87.7	87.7	87.7	87.7	87.7	87.7	87.7	87.7	$17,735	$371	$17,364
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
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
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
Peter G Schmidt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	237 Dennis Street SE	Tumwater	98501	Thurston County	Tumwater School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 709-7200	606	40	15.0	44.9%	361 (59.6%)	8 (1.3%)	107 (17.7%)	14 (2.3%)	8 (1.3%)	6 (1.0%)	101 (16.7%)	46.1	601^st of 1160 public elementary schools	48.2%		58.3	465^th of 1168 public elementary schools	60.2%	136	55.6		55.6	52.0	49.4	46.5				49.3	60.0	37.7	30.2				43.2	94.6	96.8	97.9	97.9	97.9	97.9	95.7	96.8	97.9	97.9	$18,168	$1,041	$17,127
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
Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight	Public, Virtual	K-8	111 Tumwater Blvd SE	Tumwater	98501	Thurston County	Mary M Knight School District	No	No	Yes	No	(360) 338-6340	600	26	23.5	32.8%	348 (58.0%)	7 (1.2%)	95 (15.8%)	7 (1.2%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	137 (22.8%)	24.9	909^th of 1160 public elementary schools	21.6%		24.8	901^st of 1168 public elementary schools	22.9%	8	40.7	51.8	47.2	40.0	39.2	46.7	47.6	40.3	51.2	44.6	34.0	23.5	20.3	18.8	23.1	25.9	24.1	89.7	92.3	92.3	92.3	92.3	92.3	92.3	89.7	92.3	92.3	$10,689	$00	$10,689

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Elementary School?

Students at Pioneer Elementary School are 59% White, 14% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 8% Not Specified, 3% African American.

What schools do graduates of Pioneer Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Washington Middle School
High : Olympia High School

Is Pioneer Elementary School a good school?

Pioneer Elementary School ranks 254^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Pioneer Elementary School in?

Olympia School District

How many students attend Pioneer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 384 students attended Pioneer Elementary School.

Rate Pioneer 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.