Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 98373

Zip code 98373 in Puyallup, Washington, contains one public middle school, Ballou Junior High, serving grades 7 through 9 with an enrollment of 852 students.

This analysis reveals that Ballou Junior High has a clear academic strength in English Language Arts, where student proficiency consistently exceeds both the Puyallup School District and Washington state averages across all grades. However, the school faces significant challenges in mathematics and science, with proficiency rates in these subjects falling below district and state benchmarks. A notable pattern is that student performance tends to decline from 7th to 8th grade in both core subjects, suggesting a potential area for focused support during this transition.

The school maintains a stable, middle-tier ranking among Washington middle schools and operates with resource levels typical for public schools. For parents, this means the school provides a solid foundation in literacy but may require supplemental support or specific inquiry into its instructional approaches for mathematics and science. The school's performance in these STEM areas is an important factor to consider, especially when evaluating the overall academic environment for students.