White River School District

BUCKLEY, Washington — 9 schools

4,408
Total Enrollment
9
Schools
$16,540
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

White River School District operates 9 public schools serving 4,408 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 other, 3 elementary, 2 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 4,475 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Pierce County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,540 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 31.1% local, 63.6% state, and 5.3% 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 $76,150 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 12/100, ranked #238 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 9 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 440.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 13.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 72.1% White, 16.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% Asian across the district's schools.

White River High School accounts for 29.9% of all White River School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means White River School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

White River School District school enrollment varies 223× across entities

White River School District school enrollment ranges from 6 students (lowest) to 1,340 students (highest), a spread of 1,334 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

White River School District student-counselor ratio is 441:1 — 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

White River School District chronic absenteeism rate is 13.4% — 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?

5.3%
Federal
63.6%
State
31.1%
Local

Funding Equity

12
Equity Score
238 / 240
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

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

$1,428
Studio/mo
$1,605
1 BR/mo
$1,971
2 BR/mo
$2,733
3 BR/mo
$3,102
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$76,150
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 9 schools in White River School District.

White 72.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
African American 1.3%
Asian 1.9%
Multiracial 7.3%
Other 1.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 9
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
440.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
13.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in White River School District

School Enrollment
White River High School
1,340
Glacier Middle School
999
Elk Ridge Elementary
564
Foothills Elementary
470
Mountain Meadow Elementary
443
White River Early Learning Center
360
Wilkeson Elementary School
253
White River Reengagement Program
40
White River Special Ed Services
6

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 White River School District

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in White River School District?

White River School District has 9 schools, including 2 high, 1 middle, 3 other, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 4,408 students.

How much does White River School District spend per student?

White River School District spends $16,540 per student. The district has an equity score of 12/100, ranking #238 in Washington.

What is the average teacher salary in White River School District?

The average teacher salary in White River School District is $76,150 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near White River School District?

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

What is the demographic composition of White River School District?

White River School District students are 72.1% White, 16.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% Asian, 1.3% African American, averaged across 9 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for White River School District?

White River School District has an equity score of 12/100, ranking #238 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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