Public schools in Spanaway, WA
15 open public schools with an address in Spanaway, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,312
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20.4:1
Washington median 16.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Spanaway public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Spanaway, WA: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,312 students, an average of 687 per school. The largest campus is Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and the largest elementary school is Shining Mountain Elementary (613).
Every listed school belongs to Bethel School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 20.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 16.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 59% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Spanaway
Elementary schools in Spanaway
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Hope Early Learning Center Bethel School District | PK–KG | 163 | 23.3:1 | |
| Camas Prairie Elementary Bethel School District | KG–05 | 529 | 13.5:1 | |
| Elk Plain School of Choice Bethel School District | KG–08 | 574 | 17:1 | |
| Evergreen Elementary Bethel School District | KG–05 | 530 | 14.7:1 | |
| Pioneer Valley Elementary Bethel School District | KG–05 | 524 | 15.5:1 | |
| Shining Mountain Elementary Bethel School District | KG–05 | 613 | 16.3:1 | |
| Spanaway Elementary Bethel School District | KG–05 | 371 | 14.3:1 |
Middle schools in Spanaway
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Middle School Bethel School District | 06–08 | 661 | 20.8:1 | |
| Cedarcrest Middle School Bethel School District | 06–08 | 765 | 21.8:1 | |
| Liberty Middle School Bethel School District | 06–08 | 857 | 21.1:1 |
High schools in Spanaway
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceleration Academy Bethel School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 450 | 56.3:1 | |
| Bethel High School Bethel School District | 09–12 | 1,688 | 21.6:1 | |
| Challenger High School Bethel School District · Alternative School | 07–12 | 318 | 15.9:1 | |
| Spanaway Lake High School Bethel School District | 09–12 | 1,787 | 22.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Spanaway
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Virtual Academy Bethel School District · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 482 | 20.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White36.1%
- Hispanic23.2%
- Black9.3%
- Asian4.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.9%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander7.1%
- Multiracial18.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Spanaway schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,312 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Spanaway
How many public schools are in Spanaway, WA?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Spanaway: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,312 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Spanaway?
All listed public schools with an address in Spanaway belong to Bethel School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Spanaway?
Spanaway Lake High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Spanaway, with 1,787 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Spanaway?
No school with an address in Spanaway is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Washington.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Spanaway schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Spanaway public schools is 20.4:1, higher than the Washington school median of 16.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Spanaway guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Washington cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Washington cities