Don’t forget about your child’s Olympia school district! US News ranks Washington in the top 10 states for education, with praise for both its public K-12 schools and colleges. But the school district you choose can make a difference for your child, especially in a large metropolitan area like Olympia. You need to compare school districts in Olympia to find the right one for you and your family.
When people think about the best Olympia schools, they look at statistics like test scores, AP participation rates, extracurricular programs, and awards. These metrics can help you determine which Olympia school district is best for your child. You should also look at student improvement, classroom sizes, and college readiness measures. Here are the seven best school districts in Olympia, with data and information from US News, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and other sources.
Olympia School District | Olympia, WA
- Areas served: Olympia, Boston Harbor
- Enrollment: 9,874
- Number of schools: 20
- Student teacher ratio: 16.5:1
- Olympia School District report card
Ask someone living in Olympia about Olympia schools, and they’ll talk to you about the Olympia School District. Nearly all students living in Olympia attend the Olympia School District, including students in the best neighborhoods in Olympia, like Nottingham. Many students and young people enjoy living in Olympia for its outdoor attractions and family-friendly atmosphere.
The Olympia School District has one of the highest graduation rates among school districts in Olympia, with 94.2% of high school students graduating in four years. 60.9% of Olympia School District students test at Level 3 or Level 4 for the English Language Arts, meaning they are at least on track for college-level learning in English.
US News ranks Pioneer Elementary School as the best elementary school in the school district. It’s also in the top 125 elementary schools in Washington. 77% of Pioneer Elementary School students test at or above the proficiency level in reading, 27 percentage points higher than the state rate. US News ranks Jefferson Middle School as the top middle school in the Olympia School District and in the top 40 middle schools in Washington. At least 55% of Jefferson Middle School students test at or above the proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.
The Olympia School District is best known for its top high schools. US News considers Olympia High School to be the best high school in the district, ranking it in the top 40 high schools in the state and the top 2,500 high schools in the country. At least 80% of Olympia High School students test at or above the proficiency levels in reading and science.
Tumwater School District | Tumwater, WA
- Areas served: Tumwater, Delphi, Littlerock, East Olympia
- Enrollment: 6,461
- Number of schools: 12
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15.3:1
- Tumwater School District report card
The Tumwater School District serves all of Tumwater. Tumwater is a quiet, family-friendly community with a growing economy and top schools. The Tumwater School District has a four-year high school graduation rate of 90.6%, with teachers having an average of 15.3 years of teaching experience. 57.6% of Tumwater School District high school students complete at least one dual-credit course per year.
US News considers Black Lake Elementary School to be the best elementary school in Tumwater. 66% of Black Lake Elementary School students test at or above the proficiency level in reading, 16 percentage points higher than the state rate. US News considers Tumwater High School to be the best high school in the Tumwater School District, ranking it in the top 150 high schools in Washington. Tumwater High School is well known for its drama and athletics programs, with over a dozen different athletics teams.
North Thurston Public Schools | Lacey, WA
- Areas served: Lacey, Puget, Tanglewilde
- Enrollment: 15,307
- Number of schools: 24
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15.7:1
- North Thurston Public Schools report card
North Thurston Public Schools serves Lacey and the surrounding communities in Thurston County, like Puget and Tanglewilde. Living in Lacey gives you and your kids access to a safe and small city with top parks, restaurants, and cafes. The school district won four awards from the Washington School Public Relations Association in 2024, including awards for its website and social media pages.
North Thurston Public Schools is the best Olympia school district for dual credit programs, like AP and IB exams. 79.2% of North Thurston Public Schools students take at least one dual credit course. North Thurston High School offers NTHS Running Start, allowing juniors and seniors to attend community colleges and earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. Three schools also offer dual language programs, including Pleasant Glade Elementary and Mountain View Elementary.
US News ranks Meadows Elementary School as the best elementary school in North Thurston Public Schools. All teachers at Meadows Elementary School are certified and have an average of 11.4 years of teaching experience. US News ranks North Thurston High School as the top high school in North Thurston Public Schools and in the top 125 high schools in Washington. Teachers at North Thurston High School have an average of 16.6 years of teaching experience.
Tenino School District | Tenino, WA
- Areas served: Tenino, Maytown, Sunnydale, McIntosh
- Enrollment: 1,297
- Number of schools: 4
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15.6:1
- Tenino School District report card
Tenino School District is the smallest major Olympia school district in terms of enrollment and number of schools. It primarily serves Tenino, a safe and small city with unique kid-friendly attractions, including the Tenino Depot Museum. Tenino School District has one of the highest four-year graduation rates among school districts in Olympia, at 93.0%. At least 58% of students in the Tenino School District show at least foundational grade-level knowledge and skills in the English Language Arts, mathematics, and science.
Tenino has two elementary schools, Parkside Elementary School and Tenino Elementary School. Parkside Elementary School teachers have an average of 14.1 years of teaching experience, and all teachers at Parkside are fully certified. Tenino has one middle school, Tenino Middle School, one of the top-performing middle schools in school districts in Olympia. Over two-thirds of Tenino Middle School students show foundational grade-level knowledge and skills in the English Language Arts and science.
Tenino High School is the only high school in Tenino. Over 80% of students test at or above the proficiency level in reading, one of the highest rates in any Olympia school district. US News ranks Tenino High School in the top 175 high schools in Washington.
University Place School District | University Place, WA
- Areas served: University Place, with parts of Fircrest and Tacoma
- Enrollment: 5,679
- Number of schools: 8
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15.8:1
- University Place School District report card
University Place School District primarily serves University Place, though it also serves portions of Fircrest and Tacoma. University Place is a tranquil suburb of Olympia and Tacoma, suitable for young professionals and families with young children. It is well-known for its parks and outdoor attractions, including Chambers Creek Regional Park and Curran Apple Orchard Park.
University Place School District has a four-year high school graduation rate of 95.8%, the highest for an Olympia school district. Over 75% of students test at or above the proficiency level in the English Language Arts, mathematics, and science, one of the highest rates among school districts in Olympia. The district also has one of the highest attendance rates, with 83.1% of students attending at least 90% of school days in a school year.
US News considers University Place Primary School to be the top elementary school in University Place and in the top 100 elementary schools in Washington. Over 85% of University Place Primary School students test at or above the proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, making University Place Primary one of the top-performing Olympia elementary schools in any Olympia school district.
US News ranks Narrows View Intermediate School as the best University Place School District middle school and in the top 25 Washington middle schools. Narrows View Intermediate has some of the most experienced Olympia school district teachers, with an average of 17.3 years of teaching experience.
Steilacoom School District | Steilacoom, WA
- Areas served: Steilacoom, DuPont, Anderson Island, portions of Lakewood
- Enrollment: 3,040
- Number of schools: 6
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 18.1:1
- Steilacoom School District report card
Steilacoom School District serves Steilacoom and the surrounding communities, like DuPont. It also serves residents on Anderson Island, with students from grade 4 and up commuting to the mainland by ferry. Steilacoom is a popular community among military families, with many people working at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It offers waterfront views, convenient access to Olympia and Tacoma, and walkable streets.
Steilacoom School District has a per-pupil expenditure of $16,528, one of the highest in an Olympia school district. Over 90% of students in the district complete at least one dual credit course, with over half of Steilacoom High School students completing at least one AP exam. Steilacoom Historical School District’s Special Education Department provides personalized services for roughly 300 students with special needs. The department hosts monthly screenings for children from ages three to five with special needs, ensuring that they get immediate care in the educational system.
US News considers Chloe Clark Elementary School to be the best elementary school in the district. 91.1% of Chloe Clark Elementary School students attend at least 90% of school days in a school year, and teachers have an average of 16.2 years of teaching experience. Pioneer Middle School also has some of the most qualified and experienced teachers in an Olympia school district. Pioneer Middle School employs 40 teachers, all of whom are fully certified. Over 80% of teachers hold a master’s degree or higher, and teachers at Pioneer Middle School have an average of 17.4 years of experience.
Puyallup School District | Puyallup, WA
- Areas served: Puyallup, Edgewood, North Puyallup, South Hill, Waller, Alderton, Fife, Graham, Summit, Summit View, Sumner
- Enrollment: 23,122
- Number of schools: 34
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 16.4:1
- Puyallup School District report card
Puyallup School District is the largest Olympia school district in terms of enrollment and number of schools. Over 70% of teachers in the Puyallup School District have a master’s degree or higher, and teachers have an average of 13.3 years of teaching experience. The per-pupil expenditure is $17,663, with the district receiving over $15 million in federal funding.
US News ranks Puyallup High School as the top high school in the district and in the top 75 Washington high schools. Teachers at Puyallup High School have an average of 15.1 years of teaching experience, with over 70% having a master’s degree or higher. Over 85% of Puyallup High School students take at least one dual credit course, with Puyallup being named to the 2024 AP School Honor Roll for top AP performances.
US News also ranks Emerald Ridge High School in the top 100 Washington high schools. 89.5% of Emerald Ridge High School students test at or above the proficiency levels in reading. Over 90% of Emerald Ridge High School students take dual credit courses. Emerald Ridge High School is unique for having top music, visual arts, and theatre programs and offering varsity letters for community service.
Olympia School FAQs
What Is the Best School District in Olympia?
University Place School District is the best school district in Olympia. It has the highest four-year high school graduation rate in school districts in Olympia at 95.8%, and it has some of the highest test scores of any Olympia school district.
What Is the Best High School in Olympia?
US News considers Olympia High School in the Olympia School District to be the best high school in Olympia. At least 80% of students test at or above the proficiency levels in reading and science.
Does Olympia, Washington Have Good Schools?
Yes, Olympia, Washington has great schools. Olympia schools have high graduation rates, test scores, and participation in dual-credit programs like AP and IB. You have many options for Olympia Washington public schools, including STEM programs.
Find the Best Olympia School District Today
The best Olympia school district is waiting for you! School districts in Olympia, like the Olympia School District and University Place School District, offer top AP programs and rigorous curricula that encourage high test results on standardized tests. Elementary, middle, and high schools in Olympia Washington cater to everyone, including STEM students and students with special needs.
You can send your child to the best Olympia school district after relocating to Olympia with the top Olympia movers. All Ready Moving has a team of the best Olympia movers, with over 30,000 successful moves performed. Call 360-507-2447 for a free quote now.
