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Pioneer Middle

Q: Is Pioneer Middle a good school?

Pioneer Middle ranks 160 th of 534 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

160^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 534 Washington Middle Schools

Better than 70% of Washington middle schools

Summary

Pioneer Middle is a public school serving about 760 students in grades 6-8 in DuPont, part of the Steilacoom Hist. School District, and it consistently ranks in the top third of Washington middle schools with a solid 4-star rating.

The school performs above the state average in English and Math, showing particular strength in supporting Hispanic and military-connected students, and it achieves these results while using its resources efficiently compared to some neighboring schools. While overall performance is strong, the school faces a notable challenge in serving its Special Education students effectively, and math scores tend to dip in 7th grade before recovering. Compared to nearby schools, Pioneer sits in a mid-to-high performing group, outperforming schools like Hudtloff Middle School and Perry G Keithley Middle School but trailing the top-rated schools in the University Place School District, such as Narrows View Intermediate and Drum Intermediate.

Pioneer Middle serves a community with a lower rate of economic need than many surrounding schools, which is one factor in its academic context. Its performance has been consistent over the past decade, though it, like many schools, saw some ranking volatility during the pandemic years and is working to return to its pre-pandemic standing. For families, Pioneer represents a reliably good choice that delivers strong academic outcomes within its district.

758

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,411

Per pupil spending ?

30.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1750 Bob's Hollow Lane
Dupont, WA 98327

(253) 583-7200

District: Steilacoom Hist. School District

Students who attend Pioneer Middle usually attend:

High:

Steilacoom High

Feeder schools for Pioneer Middle:

Elementary:	Anderson Island Elementary
	Cherrydale Elementary
	Chloe Clark Elementary
	Saltars Point Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.6%

Hispanic:

21.5%

Two or more races:

15.6%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Pioneer Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 63rd percentile in 2022 → 70th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 70th (2025) from a 63rd-percentile low (2022)

✓Above the Washington median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg57%

Washington avg48%

160^th of 534

Washington public middle schools ?

Top 30%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From top 16% (2015) to top 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	65.8	160 of 534	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	71.0	127 of 535	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	62.6	175 of 539	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	201 of 541	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.2	180 of 529	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.1	113 of 512	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	78.1	89 of 437	79.6%	★★★★☆
2017	66.3	141 of 435	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.6	100 of 443	77.4%	★★★★☆
2015	80.1	69 of 445	84.5%	★★★★☆
2013	68.1	146 of 498	70.7%	★★★★☆
2012	69.1	129 of 497	74.0%	★★★★☆
2011	73.1	104 of 492	78.9%	★★★★☆
2010	74.4	96 of 483	80.1%	★★★★☆
2009	82.2	64 of 476	86.6%	★★★★☆
2008	76.6	82 of 466	82.4%	★★★★☆
2007	66.5	126 of 463	72.8%	★★★★☆
2006	59.6	163 of 449	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	64.5	139 of 425	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	59.2	174 of 421	58.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	58 of 101	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	81.5	10 of 90	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	58.6	36 of 96	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	31 of 104	70.2%	★★★★☆
2021	57.4	34 of 106	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.5	34 of 111	69.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.6	13 of 66	80.3%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	74 of 147	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	62 of 148	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.2	72 of 145	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.4	80 of 161	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.3	74 of 149	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.1	74 of 152	51.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	71.9	120 of 471	74.5%	★★★★☆
2024	74.7	100 of 464	78.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.1	151 of 464	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.1	174 of 479	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.2	178 of 469	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.3	107 of 452	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	77.2	78 of 376	79.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	70.4	80 of 347	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	29 of 344	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	74.1	65 of 336	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	65.5	89 of 360	75.3%	★★★★☆
2021	77.4	53 of 353	85.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.2	28 of 344	91.9%	★★★★★
2018	90.0	16 of 259	93.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	53.0	189 of 457	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.5	138 of 455	69.7%	★★★★☆
2023	61.9	137 of 463	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	57.6	146 of 475	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.3	169 of 458	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.8	130 of 448	71.0%	★★★★☆
2018	61.8	93 of 349	73.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	161 of 472	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.0	131 of 466	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.5	165 of 470	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.7	197 of 480	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.5	152 of 476	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.0	100 of 453	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	72.2	90 of 371	75.7%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	67.0	10 of 43	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	6 of 46	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	54.0	14 of 40	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.6	28 of 51	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.6	9 of 44	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	73.9	9 of 50	82.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	49.1	117 of 246	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.3	114 of 243	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.6	126 of 244	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.4	136 of 257	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.2	141 of 250	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.4	74 of 246	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	71.6	43 of 166	74.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	30.2	122 of 186	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.1	73 of 179	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	26.7	130 of 167	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.6	99 of 199	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.5	86 of 210	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.5	183 of 231	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.4	246 of 268	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	116 of 488	76.2%	★★★★☆
2024	69.7	123 of 486	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	61.5	162 of 488	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	223 of 488	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.0	191 of 480	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.1	97 of 470	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.1	83 of 325	74.5%	★★★★☆

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 (2025)77th percentile+7 vs school

Military Connected (2025)77th percentile+7 vs school

White (2025)76th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)75th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)66th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)59th percentile-11 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)52nd percentile-18 vs school

Asian (2025)50th percentile-20 vs school

African American (2025)43rd percentile-27 vs school

Special Education (2025)34th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts61%+8 vs state

Science52%~ state avg

Math43%~ state avg

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Great school! Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 5, 2011

8th grade teachers are great, especially Mr. Beaulieu. Close Quote

Schools Near Pioneer Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)			SBAC English Language Arts (2025)					SBAC Math (2025)					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 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	Public	6-8	1750 Bob's Hollow Lane	Dupont	98327	Pierce County	Steilacoom Hist. School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 583-7200	758	37	20.5	30.6%	353 (46.6%)	48 (6.3%)	163 (21.5%)	54 (7.1%)	5 (0.7%)	17 (2.2%)	118 (15.6%)	65.8	160^th of 534 public middle schools	70.0%		71	127^th of 535 public middle schools	76.3%	33		51.9	51.9		58.7	62.3	63.6	61.5		48.4	33.5	45.6	42.6	$15,411	$63	$15,347
Salish Middle School	Public	6-8	8605 Campus Glen Dr NE	Lacey	98516	Thurston County	North Thurston Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(360) 412-4780	745	40	18.8	48.3%	302 (40.5%)	35 (4.7%)	187 (25.1%)	62 (8.3%)	7 (0.9%)	25 (3.4%)	126 (16.9%)	39	312^th of 534 public middle schools	41.6%		32.3	357^th of 535 public middle schools	33.3%	45		39.6	39.6		46.2	46.6	48.2	47.0		38.4	32.5	24.7	32.1	$16,105	$704	$15,401
Thomas Middle School	Public	6-8	11509 Holden Rd SW	Lakewood	98498	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 583-5440	934	53	17.6	63.6%	300 (32.1%)	118 (12.6%)	259 (27.7%)	38 (4.1%)	5 (0.5%)	63 (6.7%)	149 (16.0%)	26.9	398^th of 534 public middle schools	25.5%		22.4	432^nd of 535 public middle schools	19.3%	34		33.8	33.8		39.5	46.6	38.6	41.8		28.4	25.8	21.2	25.2	$20,141	$1,480	$18,661
Re-Entry Middle School	Public	6-8	11509 Holden Road SW	Lakewood	98498	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 583-5153	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)														$25,367	$1,295	$24,072
Nisqually Middle School	Public	6-8	8100 Steilacoom Rd SE	Lacey	98503	Thurston County	North Thurston Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(360) 412-4770	789	44	18.0	51.3%	318 (40.3%)	35 (4.4%)	222 (28.1%)	51 (6.5%)	16 (2.0%)	29 (3.7%)	115 (14.6%)	29	381^st of 534 public middle schools	28.7%		21.8	435^th of 535 public middle schools	18.7%	54		32.6	32.6		36.6	46.9	42.9	42.0		24.6	33.6	24.3	27.3	$16,625	$719	$15,905
Hudtloff Middle School	Public	6-8	8102 Phillips Road SW	Lakewood	98498	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 583-5400	555	37	15.0	76.0%	110 (19.8%)	92 (16.6%)	234 (42.2%)	14 (2.5%)	4 (0.7%)	29 (5.2%)	72 (13.0%)	7.5	516^th of 534 public middle schools	3.4%		8.8	508^th of 535 public middle schools	5.0%	8		22.6	22.6		21.5	28.7	17.8	22.1		9.9	18.1	10.4	12.4	$21,623	$1,750	$19,873
Lochburn Middle School	Public	6-8	5431 Steilacoom Blvd SW	Lakewood	98499	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 583-5420	497	33	15.0	82.7%	62 (12.5%)	86 (17.3%)	200 (40.2%)	23 (4.6%)	4 (0.8%)	57 (11.5%)	65 (13.1%)	3.2	533^rd of 534 public middle schools	0.2%		3.9	533^rd of 535 public middle schools	0.4%			12.9	12.9		15.3	9.7	16.4	13.6		9.5	8.8	3.6	7.6	$23,494	$3,018	$20,476
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%)	44.6	278^th of 534 public middle schools	47.9%		40.2	309^th of 535 public middle schools	42.2%	31		44.0	44.0		52.5	53.4	54.1	53.4		30.9	33.5	24.5	29.6	$17,789	$517	$17,273
Drum Intermediate	Public	5-7	4909 79th Avenue W	University Place	98467	Pierce County	University Place School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 566-5660	639	35	18.4	43.0%	290 (45.4%)	53 (8.3%)	111 (17.4%)	63 (9.9%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (0.9%)	115 (18.0%)	90.2	53^rd of 534 public middle schools	90.1%		84.3	78^th of 535 public middle schools	85.4%	25	59.0		59.0	57.4	68.3	83.4		70.2	52.1	56.9	67.3		59.1	$15,413	$256	$15,157
Narrows View Intermediate	Public	5-7	7813 44th St W	University Place	98466	Pierce County	University Place School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 566-5630	692	37	18.8	42.1%	305 (44.1%)	74 (10.7%)	115 (16.6%)	71 (10.3%)	3 (0.4%)	16 (2.3%)	106 (15.3%)	95.2	25^th of 534 public middle schools	95.3%		95.2	27^th of 535 public middle schools	95.0%	2	73.4		73.4	73.7	79.9	79.7		77.6	68.2	69.8	68.5		68.8	$15,055	$251	$14,804

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer Middle

What high school do graduates of Pioneer Middle attend?

Students who attend Pioneer Middle usually go on to attend Steilacoom High

Is Pioneer Middle a good school?

Pioneer Middle ranks 160^th of 534 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pioneer Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 758 students attended Pioneer Middle.

What district is Pioneer Middle in?

Steilacoom Hist. School District

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Middle?

Students at Pioneer Middle are 47% White, 22% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 7% Asian, 6% African American, 2% Pacific Islander.

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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.