Federal Way School District

FEDERAL WAY, Washington — 43 schools

21,606
Total Enrollment
43
Schools
$21,913
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Federal Way School District operates 43 public schools serving 21,606 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 26 other, 9 high, 5 middle, 3 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 22,250 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in King County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,913 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 16.9% local, 68.0% state, and 15.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $91,576 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 63/100, ranked #57 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 43 schools offering Advanced Placement (48 AP courses district-wide), a 404.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 14.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 32.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% White, 15.7% African American across the district's schools.

Federal Way School District school enrollment varies 106× across entities

Federal Way School District school enrollment ranges from 17 students (lowest) to 1,810 students (highest), a spread of 1,793 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Federal Way School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 64.4% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Federal Way School District student-counselor ratio is 404:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Federal Way School District chronic absenteeism rate is 14.5% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.0%
Federal
68.0%
State
16.9%
Local

Funding Equity

63
Equity Score
57 / 240
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in King County county, where this district is located.

$2,074
Studio/mo
$2,146
1 BR/mo
$2,501
2 BR/mo
$3,272
3 BR/mo
$3,847
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$91,576
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 43 schools in Federal Way School District.

White 20.8%
Hispanic or Latino 32.0%
African American 15.7%
Asian 13.2%
Multiracial 12.0%
Other 6.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 43
Schools with AP
48 AP courses total
404.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
14.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Federal Way School District

School Enrollment
Thomas Jefferson High School
1,810
Federal Way High School
1,665
Todd Beamer High School
1,412
Decatur High School
1,352
Evergreen Middle School
810
Kilo Middle School
669
Sacajawea Middle School
668
Illahee Middle School
655
Lakota Middle School
645
Wildwood Elementary School
598
Sequoyah Middle School
570
Olympic View Elementary School
547
Lake Dolloff Elementary School
543
Sunnycrest Elementary School
535
Technology Access Foundation Academy at Saghalie
532
Mark Twain Elementary School
531
Valhalla Elementary School
517
Rainier View Elementary School
495
Mirror Lake Elementary School
491
Nautilus K-8 School
469
Meredith Hill Elementary School
456
Enterprise Elementary School
450
Star Lake Elementary School
434
Panther Lake Elementary School
427
Lakeland Elementary School
418
Woodmont K-8 School
402
Lake Grove Elementary School
390
Silver Lake Elementary School
382
Twin Lakes Elementary School
371
Internet Academy
370
Brigadoon Elementary School
366
Federal Way Public School Eceap
348
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
325
Adelaide Elementary School
321
Federal Way Public Academy
309
Camelot Elementary School
292
Green Gables Elementary School
281
Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418)
154
Career Academy at Truman High School
83
Employment Transition Program
62
Support School
55
Gateway to College
23
Federal Way Running Start Home School
17

Nearby Districts in Washington

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Seattle School District No. 1
51,238 students · 109 schools · $25,927/pupil
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Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $19,952/pupil
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Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $24,487/pupil
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Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $23,190/pupil
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Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,780/pupil
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Compare Federal Way School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Federal Way School District?

Federal Way School District has 43 schools, including 9 high, 5 middle, 3 elementary, 26 other. Total enrollment is 21,606 students.

How much does Federal Way School District spend per student?

Federal Way School District spends $21,913 per student. The district has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #57 in Washington.

What is the average teacher salary in Federal Way School District?

The average teacher salary in Federal Way School District is $91,576 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Federal Way School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in King County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Federal Way School District?

Federal Way School District students are 32.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% White, 15.7% African American, 13.2% Asian, averaged across 43 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Federal Way School District?

Federal Way School District has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #57 out of 240 districts in Washington. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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