Enrollment
574
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Spanaway, WA
Elk Plain School of Choice
Federal NCES profile for Elk Plain School of Choice, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 64/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530048000123
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Elk Plain School of Choice earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #1 of 6
- elementary schools in Spanaway · Resource Index
- 64
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 28.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Elk Plain School of Choice has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Elk Plain School of Choice ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Spanaway, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048000123 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.9:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.6%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Elk Plain School of Choice compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Elk Plain School of Choice
Elk Plain School of Choice is a mid-sized elementary school in Spanaway, Washington, enrolling 574 students.
At 15.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Washington median, within a few percentage points of the 17.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 574 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 95% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 498 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and Two or More (18%) (diversity index 63/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 5.9% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Bethel School District spends $15,195 per pupil, 22% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Spanaway's elementary schools, it stands alongside Shining Mountain Elementary (613 students): Elk Plain School of Choice is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.9:1 vs 16.1:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Elk Plain School of Choice.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Elk Plain School of Choice compares
Elk Plain School of Choice on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.6% | ▼ 36% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 574 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
574
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 45% in Washington - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
5.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,195
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 56.2%
Two or More 17.6%
Hispanic or Latino 13.3%
African American 8.7%
Asian 3.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 56.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.7, Elk Plain School of Choice is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bethel School District, which includes Elk Plain School of Choice.
$15,195
Per student
-22%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.6%
State 66.9%
Federal 8.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Elk Plain School of Choice Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Elk Plain School of Choice's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Spanaway
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Shining Mountain Elementary
Standard public school
613 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Evergreen Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Camas Prairie Elementary
Standard public school
529 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Pioneer Valley Elementary
Standard public school
524 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Spanaway Elementary
Standard public school
371 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~574 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Elk Plain School of Choice's federal record.
- Compare Elk Plain School of Choice against another school. Compare schools
- Bethel School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Elk Plain School of Choice
How many students attend Elk Plain School of Choice?
Elk Plain School of Choice has 574 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Spanaway, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Elk Plain School of Choice?
The student-teacher ratio at Elk Plain School of Choice is 15.9:1, which is 10% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Elk Plain School of Choice?
28.6% of students at Elk Plain School of Choice are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Elk Plain School of Choice?
The largest demographic group at Elk Plain School of Choice is White at 56.2% of enrollment, in Spanaway, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Elk Plain School of Choice?
Elk Plain School of Choice has a Resource Investment Index of 64/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Elk Plain School of Choice rank among elementary schools in Spanaway?
By Resource Investment Index, Elk Plain School of Choice ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Spanaway, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Spanaway on the city page.
Is Elk Plain School of Choice a good school?
Elk Plain School of Choice earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Bethel School District?
Besides Elk Plain School of Choice, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.