2026 data 24 schools WA

Best Schools in Lacey, WA

24 public K-12 schools in Lacey from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

24 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Lacey, WA using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

24
Schools
15,167
Students
Avg Quality
17.6:1
Avg Class Size

How the Lacey Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

Lacey, WA enrolls 15,167 students across 24 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 17.6:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in Lacey is River Ridge High School, scoring 42/100 (D) with 1,547 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

Lacey schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Lacey housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

Lacey school enrollment varies 15× across entities

Lacey school enrollment ranges from 100 students (lowest) to 1,547 students (highest), a spread of 1,447 students. That spread reflects typical urban portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lacey operates only 1 school district — among the most consolidated governance structures in the country

Most Lacey school districts are a single unified district covering the whole city — a structural feature that simplifies inter-school comparison but concentrates policy authority. Consolidation produces narrower variance because resources pool across larger populations, but it can also mask intra-school district inequities — sub-school district differences within a single school district are not visible at this aggregation level. Consolidated systems typically rely more heavily on top-down funding formulas than on local revenue variability.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lacey student-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Lacey is typically wider than the Lacey-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. River Ridge High School 42 D
2. Timberline High School 43 D
3. North Thurston High School 45 D
4. Nisqually Middle School 37 F
5. Mountain View Elementary 34 F
6. Meadows Elementary 28 F
7. Chinook Middle School 41 D
8. Salish Middle School 38 F
9. Komachin Middle School 41 D
10. South Bay Elementary 32 F
11. Horizons Elementary 31 F
12. Pleasant Glade Elementary 25 F
13. Olympic View Elementary 31 F
14. Lydia Hawk Elementary 27 F
15. Lakes Elementary School 42 D
16. Chambers Prairie Elementary School 31 F
17. Woodland Elementary 38 F
18. Evergreen Forest Elementary 37 F
19. Seven Oaks Elementary 29 F
20. Lacey Elementary 34 F
21. Summit Virtual Academy 41 D
22. Aspire Middle School 46 D
23. Envision Career Academy 48 D
24. Ignite Family Academy 15 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Lacey, WA?

The top-rated school in Lacey is River Ridge High School with a quality score of 42/100. There are 24 public schools in Lacey with 15,167 total students.

How many schools are in Lacey, WA?

Lacey has 24 public schools with a total enrollment of 15,167 students. Average student-teacher ratio: 17.6:1.

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Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.