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Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 98516

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

Schools

1,491

Students

Top rankedChinook Middle School278^th of 534 Washington middle schools

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Biggest riser

Salish Middle School up 45 spots statewide this year

See the top-ranked Washington schools →

Summary:

In the 98516 zip code of Lacey, Washington, there are two public middle schools, Chinook Middle School and Salish Middle School, both serving grades 6-8 within the North Thurston Public Schools district.

Comparing the two, Chinook Middle School generally shows stronger academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts and Science, and has maintained more consistent state rankings over recent years. Salish Middle School performs slightly better in mathematics and has a lower student-to-teacher ratio. It is notable that Chinook achieves these results while serving a student population with a higher percentage of economic need and receiving more funding per student.

Overall, both schools perform in the middle range compared to other Washington middle schools. Parents should note that, like many in the district, these schools face challenges in mathematics and science where scores tend to fall below state averages, with a particular dip in 8th-grade math. The performance of Chinook Middle School suggests it is effectively using its resources to support student learning.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)				SBAC Math (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Chinook Middle School	Public	6-8	4301 6th Ave NE	Lacey	98516	Thurston County	North Thurston Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(360) 412-4760	746	38	19.6	55.5%	287 (38.5%)	42 (5.6%)	216 (29.0%)	64 (8.6%)	5 (0.7%)	31 (4.2%)	99 (13.3%)	44.6	278^th of 534 public middle schools	47.9%		40.2	309^th of 535 public middle schools	42.2%	31	44.0	44.0	52.5	53.4	54.1	53.4	30.9	33.5	24.5	29.6	$17,789	$517	$17,273
Salish Middle School	Public	6-8	8605 Campus Glen Dr NE	Lacey	98516	Thurston County	North Thurston Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(360) 412-4780	745	40	18.8	48.3%	302 (40.5%)	35 (4.7%)	187 (25.1%)	62 (8.3%)	7 (0.9%)	25 (3.4%)	126 (16.9%)	39	312^th of 534 public middle schools	41.6%		32.3	357^th of 535 public middle schools	33.3%	45	39.6	39.6	46.2	46.6	48.2	47.0	38.4	32.5	24.7	32.1	$16,105	$704	$15,401

Cities Near Zip Code 98516

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Lacey	0.8 mi	25	141^st
Olympia	4.02 mi	26	58^th
Tumwater	6.97 mi	14	120^th
Dupont	7.2 mi	3	56^th
Anderson Island	7.77 mi	1

See the top WA Washington cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.