Enrollment
323
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Renton, WA
Sierra Heights Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sierra Heights Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530723001084
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra Heights Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Washington schools.
- #2 of 11
- elementary schools in Renton · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for Washington
- 35.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra Heights Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 89% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Heights Elementary School ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Renton, WA.
School address
District: Renton School District · Washington
NCES ID 530723001084 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.7%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sierra Heights Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sierra Heights Elementary School
Sierra Heights Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Renton, Washington, enrolling 323 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12:1, Sierra Heights Elementary School is leaner than roughly 89% of Washington schools and 32% under the state's 17.6:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 323 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 340 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #225.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (43%) and White (22%) (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 323 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Renton's elementary schools, it stands alongside Kennydale Elementary School (511 students): Sierra Heights Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12:1 vs 15.5:1).
Renton School District also operates Hazen Senior High School (1,796 students) and Renton Senior High School (1,208 students) alongside Sierra Heights 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 Sierra Heights Elementary School compares
Sierra Heights 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 | 12:1 | ▼ 32% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.7% | ▼ 21% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 323 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
323
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 32% below state mean
Top 11% in Washington - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,639
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 323 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 43.3%
White 21.7%
Asian 17.0%
Two or More 9.9%
African American 7.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.1, Sierra Heights Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Renton School District, which includes Sierra Heights Elementary School.
$17,639
Per student
-9%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.7%
State 56.5%
Federal 9.8%
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 Sierra Heights Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazen Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renton Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lindbergh Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nelsen Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mcknight Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra Heights Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,796
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,208
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,201
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Renton
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Kennydale Elementary School
Standard public school
511 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Sartori Elementary School
Standard public school
510 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Benson Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
477 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Talbot Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
445 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Cascade Elementary School
Standard public school
434 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Maplewood Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
395 students 11.3:1 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 (~323 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sierra Heights Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Sierra Heights Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Renton 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 Sierra Heights Elementary School
How many students attend Sierra Heights Elementary School?
Sierra Heights Elementary School has 323 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Renton, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra Heights Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra Heights Elementary School is 12:1, which is 32% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 24% lower 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 Sierra Heights Elementary School?
35.7% of students at Sierra Heights Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra Heights Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sierra Heights Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.3% of enrollment, in Renton, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra Heights Elementary School?
Sierra Heights Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Sierra Heights Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Renton?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Heights Elementary School ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Renton, 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 Renton on the city page.
Is Sierra Heights Elementary School a good school?
Sierra Heights Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of 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 Renton School District?
Besides Sierra Heights Elementary School, Renton School District also operates Hazen Senior High School (1,796 students), Renton Senior High School (1,208 students), and Lindbergh Senior High School (1,201 students). See the Renton 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.