Summary:
Zip code 98802 has two middle schools—Eastmont Junior High and Sterling Junior High School—both serving grades 7–9 in the Eastmont School District. Together, they enroll 1,363 students, with nearly identical school sizes and student-teacher ratios of about 19:1. Because both schools are in the same district, they offer a useful local comparison, although student needs and other school-level factors differ.
Sterling Junior High School is the clear academic standout. For 2025–2026, it ranked 196th out of 514 schools, placing it in the 62nd percentile with a three-star rating. It exceeded district averages in English Language Arts, math, and science, and its 57.21% ELA proficiency rate was also above the state average. Sterling outperformed Eastmont Junior High in every reported subject, including a 21.12-point advantage in eighth-grade math. Sterling’s ranking has also improved substantially since 2023–2024, rising 93 positions.
Eastmont Junior High has made progress but continues to trail district and state averages in all three subjects. Its strongest current area is ELA at 41.86%, while math and science are more significant challenges, particularly eighth-grade math at 17.49%. Science is a positive trend, increasing 4.75 points year over year. Eastmont also improved its ranking by 77 positions over three years, though it remains in the lower quarter statewide. The schools have similar staffing levels and broadly comparable spending, while Eastmont reports a higher free- or reduced-price lunch rate, an important context when considering student needs. Overall, Sterling is the stronger choice based on current academic results, while Eastmont shows improvement opportunities in math and science.
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