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Pioneer Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

458^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 514 Washington Middle Schools

Better than 11% of Washington middle schools

Summary

Pioneer Middle School is a small public school in Shelton, Washington, serving about 250 students in grades 6–8 through the Pioneer School District. About 64% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25, indicating a relatively high-need student population. The school ranked 458th out of 514 Washington middle schools, placing it at approximately the 11th statewide percentile. Although this is an improvement from its 4th-percentile position in 2024–25, the school remains near the bottom statewide.

Academic results are the most important concern. In 2025–26, 33.06% of students met standards in English language arts, compared with 52.81% statewide; 15.98% met standards in math, compared with 43.11% statewide; and 21.43% met standards in science, compared with 50.95% statewide. Math performance was consistently low across grades 6–8, while science has declined sharply from 39.08% in 2023–24 to 21.43%. ELA improved from the prior year and was higher than the district rate, but it remains below the state average. Compared with nearby schools, Pioneer’s math and science results were among the lowest, though its ELA rate was similar to Hawkins Middle School and Oakland Bay Junior High School.

The school does have notable structural advantages. Its 12.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio is lower than those of nearby schools, and its reported per-student spending of $23,793 was the highest in the comparison group. These resources may offer a foundation for improvement, but the results suggest that class size and funding alone have not translated into stronger achievement. Families may want to ask about math intervention, science instruction, staffing stability, and how additional resources are being used. Pioneer’s clearest recent positive signs are improved ELA and math results, while schoolwide math and the recent science decline remain the most urgent areas to address.

250

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,004

Per pupil spending ?

64.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

50 E Spencer Lake Road
Shelton, WA 98584-7306

(360) 426-8291

District: Pioneer School District

Feeder schools for Pioneer Middle School:

Elementary:

Pioneer Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

73.2%

Hispanic:

17.2%

Two or more races:

4.4%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Pioneer Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 46th percentile in 2016 → 11th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (24% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 35 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg24%

Washington avg48%

458^th of 514

Washington public middle schools ?

Bottom 11%▼ down 35 pts since 2016

From bottom 46% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

227^th of 238Pioneer 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2017	32.2	743 of 1056	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.3	852 of 1053	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	23.3	870 of 1067	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.9	845 of 1106	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.8	928 of 1097	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.7	895 of 1092	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	22.0	925 of 1088	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	9.6	1021 of 1072	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	14.6	962 of 1067	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.7	954 of 1069	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	27.3	835 of 1051	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	26.7	811 of 1031	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	25.4	825 of 1026	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	63.9	333 of 1008	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	74.9	64 of 501	87.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	42.7	462 of 854	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	22.4	812 of 1025	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	24.1	747 of 943	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	14.1	458 of 514	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.7	513 of 534	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	419 of 535	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.1	449 of 539	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	450 of 541	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.1	401 of 529	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.9	333 of 512	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.1	249 of 437	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	39.1	272 of 435	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.0	239 of 443	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	25.0	342 of 445	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.7	376 of 498	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.3	372 of 497	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.6	333 of 492	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	31.2	360 of 483	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.9	405 of 476	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.2	338 of 466	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	38.0	306 of 463	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	35.1	320 of 449	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	39.5	281 of 425	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	39.8	272 of 421	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	14.1	400 of 443	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	10.4	435 of 471	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	338 of 464	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	372 of 464	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	391 of 479	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	50.0	214 of 469	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	35.5	301 of 452	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	234 of 376	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	30.0	235 of 336	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.7	197 of 360	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.1	122 of 353	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.8	121 of 344	64.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	17.8	403 of 453	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.7	438 of 457	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.5	337 of 455	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.2	358 of 463	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.8	342 of 475	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.4	276 of 458	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.0	183 of 448	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.8	137 of 349	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	13.5	407 of 454	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	442 of 472	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	372 of 466	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	387 of 470	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	382 of 480	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.6	387 of 476	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.1	284 of 453	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.8	208 of 371	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	32.9	151 of 231	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.3	143 of 268	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	8.7	429 of 453	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.8	484 of 488	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	417 of 486	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.7	453 of 488	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.7	455 of 488	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.9	429 of 480	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.0	390 of 470	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.5	250 of 325	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2021)87th percentile

Female (2021)67th percentile

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)46th percentile

White (2021)21st percentile

Male (2021)21st percentile

Middle school

Special Education (2019)35th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)30th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)11th percentile~ school

Male (2026)10th percentile~ school

Female (2026)10th percentile~ school

White (2026)5th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts33%-20 vs state

Science21%-30 vs state

Math16%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pioneer 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 (2025)
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 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 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pioneer Middle School	Public	6-8	50 E Spencer Lake Road	Shelton	98584	Mason County	Pioneer School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 426-8291	250	19	12.9	64.0%	183 (73.2%)	3 (1.2%)	43 (17.2%)	3 (1.2%)	4 (1.6%)	3 (1.2%)	11 (4.4%)	14.1	458^th of 514 public middle schools	10.9%		7.7	513^th of 534 public middle schools	3.9%	55		21.4	21.4		36.7	32.1	30.6	33.1		15.6	14.3	18.1	16.0	$22,004	$1,089	$20,915
Olympic Middle School	Public	5-6	800 E K St	Shelton	98584	Mason County	Shelton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 462-6671	601	35	17.4	70.0%	258 (42.9%)	6 (1.0%)	267 (44.4%)	2 (0.3%)	17 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (8.0%)								(n/a)	43.2		43.2	39.7	35.4			37.5	15.8	13.7			14.7	$16,684	$750	$15,933
Oakland Bay Junior High School	Public	7-8	3301 Shelton Springs Rd.	Shelton	98584	Mason County	Shelton School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 426-7991	544	32	17.0	65.6%	256 (47.1%)	4 (0.7%)	233 (42.8%)	5 (0.9%)	16 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (5.3%)	16.3	445^th of 514 public middle schools	13.4%		10.8	491^st of 534 public middle schools	8.1%	46		23.5	23.5			38.0	27.6	33.3			23.7	20.6	22.3	$18,778	$750	$18,028
Key Peninsula Middle School	Public	6-8	5510 Key Peninsula Hwy N	Lakebay	98349	Pierce County	Peninsula School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 530-4200	444	24	18.1	41.9%	311 (70.0%)	2 (0.5%)	63 (14.2%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.1%)	55 (12.4%)	50.2	230^th of 514 public middle schools	55.3%		38.1	316^th of 534 public middle schools	40.8%	86		50.8	50.8		35.3	57.1	46.9	45.2		32.4	39.7	41.7	37.3	$19,766	$651	$19,115
Hawkins Middle School	Public	6-8	300 E. Campus Dr.	Belfair	98528	Mason County	North Mason School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 277-2302	485	27	17.7	57.7%	293 (60.4%)	0 (0.0%)	138 (28.5%)	5 (1.0%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	43 (8.9%)	25	387^th of 514 public middle schools	24.7%		20.2	437^th of 534 public middle schools	18.2%	50		36.1	36.1		27.3	36.1	36.4	33.2		26.8	29.8	29.2	28.6	$18,258	$314	$17,944
Thurgood Marshall Middle School	Public	6-8	3939 20th Ave NW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 596-7600	469	28	16.7	39.9%	253 (53.9%)	24 (5.1%)	73 (15.6%)	37 (7.9%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.9%)	55 (11.7%)	69.4	142^nd of 514 public middle schools	72.4%		58.7	200^th of 534 public middle schools	62.5%	58		64.7	64.7		48.9	58.8	62.6	57.3		35.8	48.9	48.0	44.5	$17,916	$589	$17,327
Reeves Middle School	Public	6-8	2200 Quince St NE	Olympia	98506	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 596-3400	394	22	18.1	35.8%	250 (63.5%)	8 (2.0%)	64 (16.2%)	17 (4.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	42 (10.7%)	69	145^th of 514 public middle schools	71.8%		68.2	147^th of 534 public middle schools	72.5%	2		57.8	57.8		55.9	56.0	57.4	56.4		50.7	46.3	39.1	45.9	$17,223	$883	$16,340
Jefferson Middle School	Public	6-8	2200 Conger Ave NW	Olympia	98502	Thurston County	Olympia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 596-3200	462	25	18.2	42.9%	228 (49.4%)	22 (4.8%)	64 (13.9%)	60 (13.0%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.4%)	63 (13.6%)	85.9	68^th of 514 public middle schools	86.8%		84.6	72^nd of 534 public middle schools	86.5%	4		67.8	67.8		57.9	67.6	73.1	66.5		52.8	55.8	60.7	56.6	$17,412	$777	$16,635
Kopachuck Middle School	Public	6-8	10414 56th St NW	Gig Harbor	98335	Pierce County	Peninsula School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 530-4100	516	24	21.9	17.1%	397 (76.9%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.3%)	9 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (12.8%)	90.5	46^th of 514 public middle schools	91.1%		91.4	45^th of 534 public middle schools	91.6%	1		69.8	69.8		69.1	68.7	70.2	69.4		61.3	61.7	59.0	60.7	$16,234	$107	$16,127
Chinook Middle School	Public	6-8	4301 6th Ave NE	Lacey	98516	Thurston County	North Thurston Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(360) 412-4760	746	38	19.6	55.5%	287 (38.5%)	42 (5.6%)	216 (29.0%)	64 (8.6%)	5 (0.7%)	31 (4.2%)	99 (13.3%)	48.2	243^rd of 514 public middle schools	52.7%		44.6	278^th of 534 public middle schools	47.9%	35		46.2	46.2		40.0	53.9	55.2	49.8		30.0	39.2	33.2	34.2	$17,610	$318	$17,292

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Middle School?

Students at Pioneer Middle School are 73% White, 17% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% African American, 1% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Pioneer Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 250 students attended Pioneer Middle School.

What district is Pioneer Middle School in?

Pioneer School District

Is Pioneer Middle School a good school?

Pioneer Middle School ranks in the bottom 10.9% of Washington middle schools.

Rate Pioneer Middle School!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

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.