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Bethel School District

Item: Bethel School District
Rating: 6
Author: Public School Review

516 176th St E
Spanaway, WA 98387

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Tel: (253) 800-6000

bethelsd.org

Top Rankings

Bethel School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:

Overview

This School District

This State (WA)

# Schools

39 Schools

794 Schools

# Students

21,609 Students

302,552 Students

# Teachers

1,140 Teachers

15,929 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

19:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Bethel School District	Washington
Kind	50	11
1	58	11
2	82	12
3	72	13
4	71	13
5	95	20
6	1,580	216
7	1,527	241
8	1,581	243
9	71	31
10	112	24
11	301	26
12	403	29

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District Rank

Bethel School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 306 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 88% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (WA)

#150 out of 307 school districts
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Bethel School District
2023	#150
2022	#160
2021	#127
2019	#127
2018	#130
2017	#135
2016	#152
2015	#154
2014	#54
2013	#139
2012	#149

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36%

41%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	36%	41%
2022	33%	40%
2019	47%	50%
2018	47%	51%
2017	45%	51%
2016	44%	51%
2015	43%	49%
2014	75%	65%
2013	60%	64%
2012	57%	63%
2011	51%	60%

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49%

53%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2022	49%	53%
2019	59%	61%
2018	47%	61%
2017	57%	61%
2016	56%	62%
2015	50%	56%
2014	83%	74%
2013	69%	73%
2012	69%	72%
2011	65%	70%
2010	64%	70%

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41%

49%

78%

84%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	78%	84%
2022	77%	84%
2019	87%	84%
2018	95%	88%
2017	88%	82%
2016	85%	81%
2015	81%	81%
2014	77%	80%
2013	71%	78%
2012	70%	78%
2011	71%	77%

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(2022-23)

43.6%

34.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	43.6%	34.7%
2022	18.5%	18.4%
2021	44.5%	24.3%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.75

0.68

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	0.74	0.68
2022	0.73	0.68
2021	0.72	0.67
2020	0.68	0.65
2019	0.68	0.65
2018	0.64	0.64
2017	0.64	0.64
2016	0.63	0.63
2015	0.61	0.62
2014	0.62	0.61
2013	0.60	0.61
2012	0.58	0.60
2011	0.57	0.58
2010	0.57	0.56
2009	0.56	0.55
2008	0.54	0.54
2007	0.53	0.51
2006	0.52	0.49
2005	0.50	0.49
2004	0.49	0.48
2003	0.46	0.47
2002	0.44	0.45
2001	0.44	0.44
2000	0.42	0.42
1999	0.41	0.40
1998	0.38	0.40
1997	0.38	0.39
1996	0.37	0.39
1995	0.35	0.36
1994	0.34	0.35
1993	0.33	0.34
1992	0.31	0.33
1991	0.30	0.32

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% American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	1%	1%
2022	2%	1%
2021	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2018	1%	1%
2017	1%	1%
2016	1%	2%
2015	1%	1%
2014	2%	1%
2013	2%	1%
2012	2%	2%
2011	3%	2%
2010	3%	4%
2009	3%	4%
2008	4%	4%
2007	4%	4%
2006	4%	3%
2005	4%	3%
2004	4%	3%
2003	4%	3%
2002	3%	3%
2001	3%	4%
2000	3%	3%
1999	4%	3%
1998	3%	3%
1997	3%	3%
1996	3%	3%
1995	3%	3%
1994	3%	3%
1993	3%	3%
1992	2%	3%
1991	2%	2%

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% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	4%	9%
2022	4%	9%
2021	4%	8%
2020	4%	8%
2019	4%	8%
2018	4%	8%
2017	4%	8%
2016	4%	8%
2015	5%	8%
2014	5%	7%
2013	6%	8%
2012	7%	7%
2011	8%	7%
2010	9%	10%
2009	9%	10%
2008	9%	9%
2007	9%	8%
2006	10%	8%
2005	10%	8%
2004	10%	8%
2003	9%	8%
2002	9%	8%
2001	9%	7%
2000	9%	7%
1999	8%	7%
1998	8%	7%
1997	8%	7%
1996	7%	7%
1995	7%	6%
1994	7%	6%
1993	6%	6%
1992	6%	6%
1991	6%	6%

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% Hispanic

23%

25%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	22%	26%
2022	21%	25%
2021	21%	25%
2020	19%	24%
2019	19%	24%
2018	17%	23%
2017	17%	23%
2016	16%	22%
2015	16%	22%
2014	15%	21%
2013	14%	20%
2012	13%	20%
2011	12%	18%
2010	13%	16%
2009	12%	16%
2008	11%	15%
2007	10%	14%
2006	8%	14%
2005	7%	13%
2004	6%	12%
2003	5%	12%
2002	5%	11%
2001	5%	10%
2000	4%	10%
1999	4%	9%
1998	4%	9%
1997	4%	8%
1996	4%	8%
1995	4%	7%
1994	4%	7%
1993	3%	6%
1992	3%	6%
1991	3%	6%

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% Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	8%	5%
2022	8%	5%
2021	7%	5%
2020	7%	5%
2019	7%	5%
2018	8%	4%
2017	8%	4%
2016	8%	4%
2015	8%	4%
2014	9%	5%
2013	9%	5%
2012	10%	5%
2011	11%	5%
2010	12%	6%
2009	12%	5%
2008	11%	6%
2007	11%	6%
2006	11%	6%
2005	11%	6%
2004	10%	6%
2003	9%	6%
2002	9%	5%
2001	9%	5%
2000	9%	5%
1999	8%	5%
1998	8%	5%
1997	7%	5%
1996	7%	4%
1995	7%	5%
1994	6%	4%
1993	6%	4%
1992	6%	4%
1991	6%	4%

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% White

40%

50%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	43%	49%
2022	44%	50%
2021	46%	51%
2020	51%	53%
2019	51%	53%
2018	57%	55%
2017	57%	55%
2016	58%	56%
2015	59%	57%
2014	59%	58%
2013	61%	59%
2012	62%	60%
2011	64%	63%
2010	63%	64%
2009	64%	65%
2008	65%	66%
2007	66%	68%
2006	67%	69%
2005	68%	70%
2004	70%	71%
2003	73%	71%
2002	74%	73%
2001	74%	74%
2000	75%	75%
1999	76%	76%
1998	77%	76%
1997	78%	77%
1996	79%	78%
1995	79%	79%
1994	80%	80%
1993	82%	81%
1992	83%	81%
1991	83%	82%

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% Hawaiian

View Data

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	5%	1%
2022	5%	1%
2021	5%	1%
2020	4%	1%
2019	4%	1%
2018	3%	1%
2017	3%	1%
2016	3%	1%
2015	2%	1%
2014	3%	1%
2013	2%	1%

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% Two or more races

17%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	17%	9%
2022	16%	9%
2021	16%	9%
2020	14%	8%
2019	14%	8%
2018	10%	8%
2017	10%	8%
2016	10%	7%
2015	9%	7%
2014	7%	7%
2013	6%	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,156 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,889. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $16,751 is less than the state median of $19,341. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (WA)

Total Revenue

$349 MM

$20,715 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	$349 MM	$18 MM
2022	$336 MM	$18 MM
2021	$349 MM	$18 MM
2020	$336 MM	$18 MM
2019	$308 MM	$16 MM
2018	$285 MM	$13 MM
2017	$259 MM	$13 MM
2016	$246 MM	$14 MM
2015	$219 MM	$12 MM
2014	$204 MM	$12 MM
2012	$195 MM	$12 MM
2011	$194 MM	$12 MM
2010	$219 MM	$12 MM
2009	$204 MM	$12 MM
2008	$177 MM	$11 MM
2007	$175 MM	$10 MM
2006	$152 MM	$10 MM
2005	$156 MM	$9 MM
2004	$139 MM	$9 MM
2003	$136 MM	$9 MM
2002	$119 MM	$9 MM
2001	$109 MM	$9 MM
2000	$96 MM	$8 MM
1999	$91 MM	$8 MM
1998	$91 MM	$7 MM
1997	$88 MM	$7 MM
1996	$83 MM	$7 MM
1995	$80 MM	$6 MM

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Spending

$362 MM

$21,212 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	$362 MM	$15 MM
2022	$343 MM	$17 MM
2021	$362 MM	$15 MM
2020	$343 MM	$17 MM
2019	$295 MM	$16 MM
2018	$263 MM	$14 MM
2017	$232 MM	$13 MM
2016	$223 MM	$13 MM
2015	$216 MM	$10 MM
2014	$226 MM	$11 MM
2012	$210 MM	$12 MM
2011	$211 MM	$11 MM
2010	$216 MM	$10 MM
2009	$238 MM	$11 MM
2008	$195 MM	$11 MM
2007	$173 MM	$10 MM
2006	$160 MM	$9 MM
2005	$161 MM	$9 MM
2004	$152 MM	$9 MM
2003	$146 MM	$8 MM
2002	$123 MM	$9 MM
2001	$105 MM	$9 MM
2000	$94 MM	$8 MM
1999	$93 MM	$8 MM
1998	$91 MM	$7 MM
1997	$85 MM	$7 MM
1996	$81 MM	$7 MM
1995	$77 MM	$6 MM

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Revenue / Student

$16,156

$18,889

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	$16,502	$20,861
2022	$16,277	$20,595
2021	$17,390	$22,261
2020	$16,277	$20,595
2018	$14,432	$17,034
2017	$13,474	$16,266
2016	$12,990	$16,359
2015	$11,971	$11,994
2014	$11,190	$12,940
2012	$10,853	$12,445
2011	$10,889	$12,577
2010	$12,423	$11,994
2009	$11,328	$12,260
2008	$9,831	$11,273
2007	$9,705	$10,323
2006	$8,399	$9,385
2005	$8,783	$8,889
2004	$7,971	$9,060
2003	$8,162	$8,698
2002	$7,329	$7,902
2001	$6,783	$8,010
2000	$6,060	$7,416
1999	$5,870	$7,257
1998	$6,007	$6,806
1997	$5,966	$6,273
1995	$5,746	$5,897
1992	$5,827	$5,711
1990	$4,197	$4,869

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Spending / Student

$16,751

$19,341

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Bethel School District	Washington
2023	$17,109	$17,883
2022	$16,646	$19,584
2021	$18,030	$19,082
2020	$16,646	$19,584
2018	$13,282	$17,238
2017	$12,084	$16,506
2016	$11,776	$15,517
2015	$11,783	$10,499
2014	$12,381	$12,404
2012	$11,704	$11,905
2011	$11,887	$11,693
2010	$12,228	$10,499
2009	$13,178	$11,231
2008	$10,840	$11,125
2007	$9,632	$9,967
2006	$8,861	$8,893
2005	$9,062	$8,879
2004	$8,735	$8,617
2003	$8,781	$8,253
2002	$7,549	$7,974
2001	$6,564	$8,055
2000	$5,934	$7,278
1999	$5,968	$7,029
1998	$5,971	$6,800
1997	$5,741	$6,422
1995	$5,593	$6,024
1992	$6,678	$6,438
1990	$4,296	$4,978

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Best Bethel School District Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Elk Plain School Of Choice

(Math: 52% | Reading: 54%)
:

Top 50%

Add to Compare

22015 22nd Avenue East
Longmire, WA 98397
(253) 800-7900

Gr: K-8 | 574 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 44%

Rank: #22.

Cougar Mountain Middle School

(Math: 33% | Reading: 51%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

5108 260th St. East
Graham, WA 98338
(253) 800-8000

Gr: 6-8 | 605 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 39%

Rank: #33.

Frontier Middle School

(Math: 36% | Reading: 49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

22110 108th Avenue East
Graham, WA 98338
(253) 800-8300

Gr: 6-8 | 620 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 44%

Rank: #44.

Spanaway Middle School

(Math: 35% | Reading: 49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

15701 B Street East
Tacoma, WA 98445
(253) 800-5400

Gr: 6-8 | 766 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 73%

Rank: #55.

Liberty Middle School

(Math: 32% | Reading: 49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

7319 Eustis-hunt Rd E
Spanaway, WA 98387
(253) 800-6500

Gr: 6-8 | 857 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 64%

Rank: #66.

Challenger High School

Alternative School

(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 50-59%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

18117 A Street South
Spanaway, WA 98387
(253) 800-6800

Gr: 7-12 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 50%

Rank: #77.

Bethel Middle School

(Math: 29% | Reading: 40%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

22201 38th Avenue East
Spanaway, WA 98387
(253) 800-7200

Gr: 6-8 | 661 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 66%

Rank: #88.

Cedarcrest Middle School

(Math: 20% | Reading: 38%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

191201 13th Avenue Crt. E.
Spanaway, WA 98387
(253) 800-7500

Gr: 6-8 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 75%

Rank: n/an/a

Pierce County Skills Center

Vocational School

Add to Compare

16117 Canyon Rd E
Puyallup, WA 98375
(253) 800-5950

Gr: 8-12 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 42%

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 39 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 21,609 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 60%
: 78% (Top 50% in WA)
: Top 50%
: 36% (Top 50%)
: 49% (Top 50%)
: 41% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education