- Enrollment
- 1,810
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Panther Lake Elementary School held near 422 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.5 → 23.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 530282001767 · Federal Way, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
427 enr · 17.8:1 · 81.6% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students)
Panther Lake Elementary School held near 422 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.5 → 23.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Panther Lake Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Thomas Jeffers
Thomas Jefferson High School
1,810 students
- Federal Way Hi
Federal Way High School
1,665 students
- Todd Beamer Hi
Todd Beamer High School
1,412 students
- Decatur High S
Decatur High School
1,352 students
- Evergreen Midd
Evergreen Middle School
810 students
- This school 427
Panther Lake Elementary School
427 students
What this shows Panther Lake Elementary School reports 427 students on the CCD universe file.
How Panther Lake Elementary School compares
Panther Lake Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$17,898
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
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.
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
District finance for Federal Way School District reports $17,898 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,665
- 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
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~427 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.8:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 414 (2022-23) → 422 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.