Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98387

ZIP code 98387 contains 14 schools serving early-learning, elementary, middle, high-school, virtual, and alternative students, all within the Bethel School District. The area has six elementary schools, three middle schools, four high schools, and one alternative school, with about 9,738 students overall. Because the schools include comprehensive, virtual, and specialized programs, their enrollment, graduation, and test results are not always directly comparable.

Pioneer Valley Elementary is the strongest overall academic performer, ranking in the 69th statewide percentile and leading the area in math, with 59.51% proficiency. Camas Prairie Elementary is another strong option, particularly in math, although its ranking has declined in recent years. Among middle schools, Liberty Middle School leads in English language arts, math, and science and made especially large science gains. Cedarcrest Middle School has the weakest current middle-school results, with performance below district and state averages in all three subjects.

For high-school families, Bethel High School has the strongest overall profile, including a 93.2% graduation rate and strong English language arts results. Spanaway Lake High School also graduates more than 90% of students and has improved its ranking, but both schools have a major weakness in math. The area’s clearest systemwide concern is secondary math, which trails English language arts by a wide margin. Challenger High School, Acceleration Academy, and Bethel Virtual Academy serve specialized populations, so their outcomes should be evaluated within their distinct program missions rather than ranked directly against comprehensive schools.