Enrollment
473
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kent, WA
Park Orchard Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Park Orchard Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530396000629
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Park Orchard Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #15 of 19
- schools in Kent · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.9:1
- large classes for Washington
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Park Orchard Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Park Orchard Elementary School ranks #15 of 19 schools in Kent, WA.
School address
District: Kent School District · Washington
NCES ID 530396000629 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.9:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.2%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Park Orchard Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Park Orchard Elementary School
Park Orchard Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Kent, Washington, enrolling 473 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 473 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Among 438 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #324, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (35%) and Asian (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 473 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Kent's public schools, it stands alongside Sunrise Elementary School (512 students): Park Orchard Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.9:1 vs 15.1:1).
Kent School District also operates Kentridge High School (2,186 students) and Kentwood High School (1,995 students) alongside Park Orchard 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 Park Orchard Elementary School compares
Park Orchard 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 | 18.9:1 | ▲ 7% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 40% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 473 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.9:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
473
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
18.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 71% in Washington - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,678
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 473 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 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 35.1%
Asian 26.0%
African American 15.0%
White 12.5%
Two or More 6.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 35.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.5, Park Orchard Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kent School District, which includes Park Orchard Elementary School.
$17,678
Per student
-9%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.5%
State 61.2%
Federal 13.2%
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 Park Orchard Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kentwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kent-Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kentlake High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Park Orchard Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,186
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,995
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,639
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,561
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 911
- Students per teacher
- 31.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Kent
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sunrise Elementary School
Standard public school
512 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Millennium Elementary School
Standard public school
482 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Scenic Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Martin Sortun Elementary School
Standard public school
450 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Kent Elementary School
Standard public school
438 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Meadow Ridge Elementary School
Standard public school
423 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~473 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Park Orchard Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Park Orchard Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Kent 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 Park Orchard Elementary School
How many students attend Park Orchard Elementary School?
Park Orchard Elementary School has 473 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kent, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Orchard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Park Orchard Elementary School is 18.9:1, which is 7% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Park Orchard Elementary School?
63.2% of students at Park Orchard Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Park Orchard Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Park Orchard Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 35.1% of enrollment, in Kent, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Park Orchard Elementary School?
Park Orchard Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Park Orchard Elementary School rank among schools in Kent?
By Resource Investment Index, Park Orchard Elementary School ranks #15 of 19 schools in Kent, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kent on the city page.
Is Park Orchard Elementary School a good school?
Park Orchard Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Washington schools. 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 Kent School District?
Besides Park Orchard Elementary School, Kent School District also operates Kentridge High School (2,186 students), Kentwood High School (1,995 students), and Kent-Meridian High School (1,639 students). See the Kent 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.