Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 98354

In zip code 98354, which serves Milton, Washington, there is one public middle school, Surprise Lake Middle School, serving grades 6 and 7 within the Fife School District.

Surprise Lake Middle School has consistently received a 1-star rating and ranks in the lower third of Washington middle schools, though its statewide ranking has shown gradual improvement over the last three years. Academically, student proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics is below both the district and state averages, with a particularly notable gap in math. The school serves a student population where over half qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher level of economic need than the state average.

Despite these academic challenges, the school's per-student spending is above the state average, and students show measurable progress from 6th to 7th grade in both subjects. The school is part of the Fife School District, which itself ranks in the 40th percentile statewide. For parents, this indicates a school working to improve in a district facing broader challenges, with resources in place but academic results that still lag behind most of the state.