Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98498

This analysis covers 12 schools serving grades K-12 within the Clover Park School District in the Lakewood, WA area (zip code 98498), a district that faces significant academic challenges and serves a student population with high economic need.

When comparing schools, Lakes High School stands out with an exceptional 96.5% graduation rate, though its math proficiency is very low, while Custer Elementary School shows notable strength in science. Lake Louise Elementary School has been consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in the state. In contrast, Hudtloff Middle School ranks in the bottom 3% of middle schools statewide, and the alternative Firwood school has very low proficiency despite extremely high per-student spending.

Overall, the district performs below state averages in all subjects, with math being a particular area of weakness. There are large disparities in per-student funding, with some small alternative programs costing over $60,000 per student. The data suggests parents should look closely at individual school performance, as results vary widely, especially at the elementary level, and investigate the specific supports behind high graduation rates at schools like Lakes High School.