Enrollment
613
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Spanaway, WA
Shining Mountain Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Shining Mountain Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530048001750
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shining Mountain Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Spanaway · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.1:1
- students per teacher
- 53.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Shining Mountain Elementary has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shining Mountain Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Spanaway, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048001750 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.1:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
53.1%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Shining Mountain Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Shining Mountain Elementary
Shining Mountain Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Spanaway, Washington, enrolling 613 students.
At 16.1:1, 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 above the state's typical profile, with 53.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 613 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Among 421 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #29, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (28%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 79/100).
16.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
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 Elk Plain School of Choice (574 students): Shining Mountain Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.1:1 vs 15.9:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Shining Mountain Elementary.
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 Shining Mountain Elementary compares
Shining Mountain Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▼ 9% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.1% | ▲ 18% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 613 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
613
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
53.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 48% in Washington - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
3
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 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 28.2%
Hispanic or Latino 25.3%
Two or More 19.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 11.7%
African American 10.6%
Asian 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 28.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 79.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 79.3, Shining Mountain Elementary 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 Shining Mountain Elementary.
$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 Shining Mountain Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shining Mountain Elementary'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.
Elk Plain School of Choice
Standard public school
574 students 15.9:1 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 (~613 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Shining Mountain Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Shining Mountain Elementary 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 Shining Mountain Elementary
How many students attend Shining Mountain Elementary?
Shining Mountain Elementary has 613 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Spanaway, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Elementary is 16.1:1, which is 9% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 3% 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 Shining Mountain Elementary?
53.1% of students at Shining Mountain Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shining Mountain Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Shining Mountain Elementary is White at 28.2% of enrollment, in Spanaway, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 79.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shining Mountain Elementary?
Shining Mountain Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (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 Shining Mountain Elementary rank among elementary schools in Spanaway?
By Resource Investment Index, Shining Mountain Elementary ranks #3 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 Shining Mountain Elementary a good school?
Shining Mountain Elementary earns 55/100 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 Bethel School District?
Besides Shining Mountain Elementary, 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.