Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 98188

ZIP code 98188 has two elementary schools, both in SeaTac and operated by Highline School District: Bow Lake Elementary and McMicken Heights Elementary. Both serve prekindergarten through fifth grade and together enroll 1,008 students. Their student populations have similar economic profiles, with about 76% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This makes the schools a useful local comparison for families considering elementary options in the area.

McMicken Heights Elementary is the stronger-performing school overall. In 2025–2026, it had higher proficiency than Bow Lake Elementary in English language arts, math, and science, and it led in every reported grade-level ELA and math result. McMicken Heights posted all-grades proficiency rates of 36.1% in ELA, 30.45% in math, and 31.08% in science, compared with Bow Lake’s 21.72%, 19.26%, and 25%. McMicken Heights was also above the district average in ELA and math, while Bow Lake was below the district average in all three subjects. McMicken Heights has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio and spends about $972 more per student, though these figures alone do not explain the performance difference.

Both schools remain below Washington state averages, so the most important distinction is their relative performance within the local area. Bow Lake Elementary has shown encouraging improvement in science and statewide ranking, but its current results are weaker overall, especially in third-grade ELA and fifth-grade math. McMicken Heights Elementary offers the stronger academic profile and ranking history, but families should note its sharp one-year decline in science and the low fifth-grade math result. For both schools, fifth-grade math is a notable area for attention, while Bow Lake’s science gains are a positive trend to monitor.