Enrollment
427
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Federal Way, WA
Panther Lake Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Panther Lake Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530282001767
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panther Lake Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #8 of 13
- schools in Federal Way · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- students per teacher
- 81.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Panther Lake Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Lake Elementary School ranks #8 of 13 schools in Federal Way, WA.
School address
District: Federal Way School District · Washington
NCES ID 530282001767 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.8:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
81.6%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+81% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Panther Lake Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Panther Lake Elementary School
Panther Lake Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Federal Way, Washington, enrolling 427 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 81.6% of students qualify for free meals, 81% above the Washington average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 427 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Among 217 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #192, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (33%) and African American (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 427 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Federal Way's public schools, it stands alongside Technology Access Foundation Academy at Saghalie (532 students): Panther Lake Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.8:1 vs 14.8:1).
Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students) and Federal Way High School (1,665 students) alongside Panther Lake Elementary 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 Panther Lake Elementary School compares
Panther Lake Elementary 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.6% | ▲ 81% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 427 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
427
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
81.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 81% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 63% in Washington - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 427 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 32.9%
African American 24.2%
White 13.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 12.7%
Two or More 9.9%
Asian 6.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 32.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.4, Panther Lake Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Federal Way School District, which includes Panther Lake Elementary 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 Panther Lake Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Federal Way High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Todd Beamer High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panther Lake Elementary 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
- 1,665
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- 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
Similar other schools in Federal Way
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Technology Access Foundation Academy at Saghalie
Standard public school
532 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Internet Academy
Alternative education program
370 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Brigadoon Elementary School
Standard public school
366 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Federal Way Public School Eceap
Standard public school
348 students
Adelaide Elementary School
Standard public school
321 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Support School
Standard public school
55 students
Similar other 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 (~427 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Panther Lake Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Panther Lake Elementary 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 Panther Lake Elementary School
How many students attend Panther Lake Elementary School?
Panther Lake Elementary School has 427 students enrolled. It is a public school in Federal Way, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School is 17.8:1, which is 1% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panther Lake Elementary School?
81.6% of students at Panther Lake Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panther Lake Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Panther Lake Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 32.9% of enrollment, in Federal Way, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panther Lake Elementary School?
Panther Lake Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Panther Lake Elementary School rank among schools in Federal Way?
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Lake Elementary School ranks #8 of 13 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 schools in Federal Way on the city page.
Is Panther Lake Elementary School a good school?
Panther Lake Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools. 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 Panther Lake Elementary School, Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students), Federal Way High School (1,665 students), and Todd Beamer High School (1,412 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.