Summary:
Zip code 98188 has four public schools serving students from prekindergarten through 12th grade, with about 2,272 students enrolled across Bow Lake Elementary, McMicken Heights Elementary, Chinook Middle School, and Tyee High School, all part of Highline School District. The area serves a relatively high-need student population, with roughly three-quarters of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and overall achievement is below Washington state averages.
McMicken Heights Elementary is the strongest overall school in the ZIP code. In 2025–2026, it recorded 36.1% proficiency in English Language Arts, 30.45% in math, and 31.08% in science, leading the local schools in ELA and math. Its results were above district averages in ELA and math, although still below state benchmarks. The contrast with Bow Lake Elementary is substantial: McMicken exceeded Bow Lake by 14.38 points in ELA and 11.19 points in math. Bow Lake did show the largest recent science improvement, but it remains the lower-ranked elementary school. Smaller class ratios and similar lunch-program rates do not by themselves explain the difference in outcomes.
Chinook Middle School stands out for science, with 33.33% proficiency, slightly above the district average; however, math is a major weakness, at just 15.67%. Tyee High School has shown meaningful improvement in its ranking percentile and math performance, but its ELA results declined, and its 71.7% graduation rate and 14.4% dropout rate trail district and state figures. Across the ZIP code, math is the most consistent challenge, while priorities include improving math at every level, strengthening ELA at Bow Lake and Tyee, preserving Chinook’s science gains, and addressing Tyee’s graduation and dropout outcomes.
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