Enrollment
1,665
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Federal Way, WA
Federal Way High School
Federal NCES profile for Federal Way High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530282000435
👥 S:T ratio 15
📚 AP courses 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Federal Way High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Washington schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Washington.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Federal Way · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Washington
- 63.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Federal Way High School has class sizes larger than 85% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Federal Way High School ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Federal Way, WA.
School address
District: Federal Way School District · Washington
NCES ID 530282000435 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
78.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.3:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.5%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Federal Way High School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Federal Way High School
Federal Way High School is a higher-need, large high school in Federal Way, Washington, enrolling 1,665 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.5% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Washington, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,665 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 43 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #39, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (41%) and African American (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 4 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 416 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Federal Way's high schools, it stands alongside Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418) (154 students): Federal Way High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.3:1 vs 38.5:1).
Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students) and Todd Beamer High School (1,412 students) alongside Federal Way High School.
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 Federal Way High School compares
Federal Way High School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.3:1 | ▲ 21% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.5% | ▲ 41% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,665 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,665
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 85% in Washington - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
25.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,122
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 416 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 40.5%
African American 17.1%
White 14.1%
Asian 12.3%
Two or More 10.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.8, Federal Way High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Federal Way School District, which includes Federal Way High School.
$17,122
Per student
-12%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.9%
State 68.0%
Federal 15.0%
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 Federal Way High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Todd Beamer High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kilo Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Federal Way High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,810
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,412
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 669
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Federal Way
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418)
Alternative education program
154 students 38.5:1 students per teacher
Career Academy at Truman High School
Alternative education program
83 students 27.7:1 students per teacher
Employment Transition Program
Special-education school
62 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Gateway to College
Standard public school
23 students
Federal Way Running Start Home School
Standard public school
17 students
Similar high 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 (~1,665 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Federal Way High School's federal record.
- Compare Federal Way High School against another school. Compare schools
- Federal Way 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 Federal Way High School
How many students attend Federal Way High School?
Federal Way High School has 1,665 students enrolled. It is a high school in Federal Way, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Federal Way High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Federal Way High School is 21.3:1, which is 21% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Federal Way High School?
63.5% of students at Federal Way High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Federal Way High School?
The largest demographic group at Federal Way High School is Hispanic or Latino at 40.5% of enrollment, in Federal Way, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Federal Way High School?
Federal Way High School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Federal Way High School rank among high schools in Federal Way?
By Resource Investment Index, Federal Way High School ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Federal Way, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Federal Way on the city page.
Is Federal Way High School a good school?
Federal Way High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Washington schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Washington. 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 Federal Way School District?
Besides Federal Way High School, Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students), Todd Beamer High School (1,412 students), and Decatur High School (1,352 students). See the Federal Way 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.