Summary:
ZIP code 98498 has two public middle schools serving grades 6–8 in the Clover Park School District: Thomas Middle School and Hudtloff Middle School. Together, they serve 1,489 students in the Lakewood-area community, with Thomas enrolling 934 students and Hudtloff enrolling 555.
Thomas Middle School is the stronger academic performer. In 2025–2026, its proficiency rates were 44.57% in English language arts, 27.15% in math, and 42.90% in science, compared with 23.78%, 11.26%, and 25.49% at Hudtloff Middle School. Thomas also ranked in the 38th statewide percentile and improved from the 19th percentile three years earlier. It exceeded the district average in ELA and science, although it remained below statewide averages in all three subjects. Hudtloff ranked in the 4th percentile and has remained near the bottom statewide. Its 7th-grade math result, at just 6.74% proficient, is an especially important concern.
Math is the largest academic challenge at both schools, while Thomas’s recent science improvement is encouraging. Hudtloff Middle School reports higher spending per student—$21,623 versus $20,141—and a lower student-teacher ratio of 15.0 versus 17.6 at Thomas Middle School, but these resource measures have not produced stronger test results. Hudtloff also has a higher free/reduced-price lunch rate, 76.04% compared with Thomas’s 63.60%, indicating differing levels of economic need. Parents comparing the schools should consider these results alongside attendance, student mobility, support services, and academic growth data.
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