Summary:
The 98502 area includes eight schools serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12—five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school—across the Olympia School District and Griffin School District, with about 4,299 students overall. The area offers a wide range of school performance, from highly ranked secondary schools to elementary schools with more uneven results. In general, science and English language arts are stronger than math, particularly in the elementary grades.
Jefferson Middle School is the strongest and most consistent performer in the area, ranking in the 87th percentile statewide with 66.5% proficiency in English language arts, 56.6% in math, and 67.8% in science. Thurgood Marshall Middle School is also improving and ranks in the 72nd percentile, but trails Jefferson in every subject. Among elementary-level schools, Griffin School has the strongest overall profile, with results above the state in all three subjects and a 76th-percentile ranking. Its PK–8 grade span makes it somewhat different from the other elementary schools.
Capital High School is another standout, ranking in the 85th percentile and reporting a 90.2% graduation rate. Its English language arts and science results are particularly strong, although math proficiency at 40.1% is a clear improvement priority. Julia Butler Hansen Elementary has shown some of the area’s largest gains, especially in science. By comparison, Garfield Elementary School, McLane Elementary School, and Leland P Brown Elementary have lower overall proficiency, with math a particular concern. Families comparing schools should look beyond district averages because performance varies substantially from one campus to another.
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