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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Thurston County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 84 public schools serving 43,784 students in Thurston County, WA (there are 24 private schools, serving 2,547 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in Thurston County, WA are educated in public schools (compared to the WA state average of 91%).
The top-ranked public schools in Thurston County, WA are Olympia High School, Pioneer Elementary School and Jefferson Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Thurston County, WA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Washington public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 53% statewide average). Schools in Thurston County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Washington public schools.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public school average of 53% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Thurston County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Olympia High School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1302 North St Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-7000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,901 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #22.
Pioneer Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1655 Carlyon Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-6500
Gr: PK-5 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Jefferson Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2200 Conger Ave Nw
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 596-3200
Gr: 6-8 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #44.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2637 45th Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-8300
Gr: PK-5 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Aspire Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5900 54th Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98513
(360) 412-4400
Gr: 6-8 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #66.
Washington Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3100 Cain Rd Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-3000
Gr: 6-8 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #77.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
213 21st Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-6400
Gr: K-5 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #88.
Mckenny Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3250 Morse Merryman Rd Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-8400
Gr: PK-5 | 322 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #99.
Boston Harbor Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7300 Zangle Rd Ne
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-6200
Gr: PK-5 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
East Olympia Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
8700 Rich Road
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 709-7150
Gr: PK-5 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1111.
Mill Pond Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Mill Road Se
Yelm, WA 98597
(360) 458-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1212.
Meadows Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
836 Deerbrush Dr Se
Olympia, WA 98513
(360) 412-4690
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1313.
Michael T Simmons Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1205 2nd Avenue Sw
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 709-7100
Gr: PK-5 | 457 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1414.
Mckenna Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
35120 Sr 507 S
Yelm, WA 98597
(360) 458-2400
Gr: PK-5 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1515.
Horizons Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4601 67th Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98513
(360) 412-4710
Gr: K-5 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1616.
Capital High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2707 Conger Ave Nw
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 596-8000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,322 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1717.
Evergreen Forest Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3025 Marvin Rd Se
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 412-4670
Gr: K-5 | 442 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1818.
Avanti High School
Alternative School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1113 Legion Way Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-7900
Gr: 9-12 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1919.
Black Lake Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6345 Belmore-black Lake Road
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 709-7350
Gr: K-5 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2020.
Tumwater High School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 Israel Road
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 709-7600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,117 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2121.
Lakes Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6211 Mullen Rd Se
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 412-4600
Gr: K-5 | 495 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2222.
Littlerock Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
12710 Littlerock Rd Sw
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 709-7250
Gr: PK-5 | 343 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #2323.
Griffin School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6530 33rd Ave Nw
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 866-2515
Gr: PK-8 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2424.
Olympia Regional Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2400 15th Ave Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-7730
Gr: K-12 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2525.
Rainier Senior High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
308 2nd St W
Rainier, WA 98576
(360) 446-2205
Gr: 9-12 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2626.
Peter G Schmidt Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
237 Dennis Street Se
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 709-7200
Gr: PK-5 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2727.
A G West Black Hills High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7741 Littlerock Road Sw
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 709-7800
Gr: 9-12 | 753 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #2828.
South Bay Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3845 Sleater Kinney Rd Ne
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 412-4640
Gr: PK-5 | 595 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2929.
North Thurston High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 Sleater Kinney Rd Ne
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 412-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,378 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #3030.
Tumwater Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6335 Littlerock Road Sw
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 709-7500
Gr: 6-8 | 665 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #3131.
Timberline High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6120 Mullen Rd Se
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 412-4860
Gr: 9-12 | 1,401 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #3232.
Rainier Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 W 3rd
Rainier, WA 98576
(360) 446-4020
Gr: PK-5 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #3333.
Olympic View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1330 Horne Ave Ne
Olympia, WA 98516
(360) 412-4660
Gr: K-5 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #3434.
Woodland Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4630 Carpenter Rd Se
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 412-4680
Gr: PK-5 | 458 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #3535.
Reeves Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2200 Quince St Ne
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-3400
Gr: 6-8 | 394 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Show 49 more public schools in Thurston County, WA (out of 84 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Thurston County, WA?
The top-ranked public schools in Thurston County, WA include Olympia High School, Pioneer Elementary School and Jefferson Middle School.
How many public schools are located in Thurston County?
85 public schools are located in Thurston County.
What percentage of students in Thurston County go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in Thurston County are educated in public schools (compared to the WA state average of 91%).
What is the racial composition of students in Thurston County?
Thurston County public schools minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public schools average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Thurston County are often viewed compared to one another?

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