Enrollment
434
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kent, WA
Star Lake Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Star Lake Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530282000449
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Star Lake Elementary School earns 36/100 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.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Kent · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.9:1
- large classes for Washington
- 64.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Star Lake Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Star Lake Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Kent, WA.
School address
District: Federal Way School District · Washington
NCES ID 530282000449 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.9:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.7%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Star Lake Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Star Lake Elementary School
Star Lake Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Kent, Washington, enrolling 434 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 64.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 434 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 429 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #350, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (30%) and Asian (16%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 81/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 434 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
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 Kent's public schools, it stands alongside Sunrise Elementary School (512 students): Star Lake Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.9:1 vs 15.1:1).
Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students) and Federal Way High School (1,665 students) alongside Star 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 Star Lake Elementary School compares
Star 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 | 18.9:1 | ▲ 7% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.7% | ▲ 44% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 434 | top 42% | - | - |
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.
434
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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 434 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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 30.4%
Asian 15.7%
White 15.2%
Two or More 14.7%
African American 14.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 9.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 30.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 80.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 80.8, Star 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 Star 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 Star Lake Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Federal Way High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Todd Beamer High School | Larger | Similar 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 Star 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 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
Park Orchard Elementary School
Standard public school
473 students 18.9:1 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
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 (~434 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Star Lake Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Star 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 Star Lake Elementary School
How many students attend Star Lake Elementary School?
Star Lake Elementary School has 434 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kent, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Star Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Star Lake 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 Star Lake Elementary School?
64.7% of students at Star Lake Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Star Lake Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Star Lake Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 30.4% of enrollment, in Kent, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 80.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Star Lake Elementary School?
Star Lake Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Star Lake Elementary School rank among public schools in Kent?
By Resource Investment Index, Star Lake Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 public 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 public schools in Kent on the city page.
Is Star Lake Elementary School a good school?
Star Lake Elementary School earns 36/100 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 Federal Way School District?
Besides Star 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.