South Kitsap School District, WA

Original Research by School Decision on South Kitsap School District

South Kitsap School District serves a broad swath of Kitsap County, from Port Orchard outward to Olalla and Manchester, covering a mix of suburban and semi-rural communities. With an enrollment that runs from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, it is one of the larger districts in the county, operating more than a dozen elementary schools, several middle schools, a comprehensive high school, and a few alternative programs including Explorer Academy and Madrona Heights.

The district’s student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and a notable share of students who identify as two or more races. Smaller numbers of Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students round out the mix. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts for special education and English learner status, were not available, so a family looking at supports for those populations would need to inquire directly with the district.

On the most recent state assessments, the district’s performance was uneven. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through eight clustered around the low to mid-fifties, a consistent band that suggests a stable floor in reading and writing attainment. Math was a softer area. Proficiency in math started around the high fifties in third grade and dropped steadily through the grades, landing in the high thirties by eighth grade. Science results, which are tested at fifth and eighth grades, showed roughly half of fifth graders meeting the bar, with a smaller share of eighth graders doing so. Compared with other districts in Kitsap County, South Kitsap’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint of the county’s districts. That is a solid middle-ground position, though the slide in math across the middle grades is a pattern a parent may want to explore with the school.

Chronic absenteeism, a factor that often signals broader engagement challenges, was low relative to other districts in the county. The district placed in the top quartile, meaning a smaller share of students are missing substantial amounts of school than is typical among its county peers. That is a positive indicator for continuity of learning.

Per-pupil spending lands in the upper half of the middle range among Kitsap County’s districts. Without a breakdown of how those dollars are allocated, the figure alone tells a family only that the district is not an outlier in either direction on funding.

The housing market across the district’s area shows a range of values, with homes in the Port Orchard ZIP codes generally more affordable and those in Olalla toward the higher end. Rents follow a similar pattern. The overall picture is one of a moderately priced market within the Seattle metropolitan orbit, where a typical mortgage outpaces the median rent by a noticeable gap. That puts pressure on renters and makes homeownership a stretch for many households, a dynamic families moving into the area will feel.

A search for recent district changes, such as boundary shifts, program launches, or leadership turnover, turned up little of lasting impact. The district appears to be in a period without major disruption, though the absence of that information means a parent should check locally for developments that might not have surfaced in a broad search.

South Kitsap fits a family looking for a district that is large enough to offer a full range of grade levels and school options, set in a mix of towns and rural pockets, with academic results that are respectable in English and science but softer in middle-grade math. The low chronic absenteeism rate is a practical strength, and the stable, unflashy profile suggests a district that is not undergoing turbulence, but also one that a family would want to press on math support and on details of special population services before enrolling.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,297

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 15%

Black 2%

White 64%

Asian 3%

Two+ 13%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

40%

63%

Gr 4

45%

63%

Gr 5

47%

63%

Gr 6

42%

68%

Gr 7

42%

68%

Gr 8

44%

64%

Math

Gr 3

47%

68%

Gr 4

45%

62%

Gr 5

29%

47%

Gr 6

32%

59%

Gr 7

26%

53%

Gr 8

25%

49%

Science

Gr 5

44%

61%

Gr 8

37%

58%

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

Burley Glenwood Elementary

Cedar Heights Middle School

East Port Orchard Elementary

Manchester Elementary School

Marcus Whitman Middle School

Olalla Elementary School

Orchard Heights Elementary

Discovery

South Colby Elementary

South Kitsap High School

Sunnyslope Elementary School

John Sedgwick Middle School

Hidden Creek Elementary School

Mullenix Ridge Elementary School

Sidney Glen Elementary School

Explorer Academy

Madrona Heights

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

58%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

39%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

38%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

51%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 6

56%

Grade 7

54%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

53%

Grade 5

48%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$589,878

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$500K to $722K

vs. state typical0.98x

vs. national typical1.60x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
98367	Port Orchard	$616K	+1.9%	55.6%
98366	Port Orchard	$507K	+2.4%	17.7%
98312	Bremerton	$500K	+2.2%	15.4%
98359	Olalla	$722K	+1.5%	10.5%
98329	Gig Harbor	$609K	+0.1%	0.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,324/mo

Year-over-year change+1.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,937 to $2,532/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
98367	Port Orchard	$2,532	+1.2%	55.6%
98366	Port Orchard	$1,937	+3.8%	17.7%
98312	Bremerton	$2,017	+1.1%	15.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,977/mo

Home price / national median income7.0x

Annual rent / national median income33.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$653/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$604,087 (-0.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.