Black Diamond Elementary, Black Diamond WA

Original Research by School Decision on Black Diamond Elementary

Black Diamond Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Enumclaw School District, located in the historic mining town of Black Diamond in southeast King County. The school is a regular public elementary school without charter or magnet status, and it sits in a community that is rapidly transforming from a small coal-mining settlement into a growing commuter suburb for the Seattle metropolitan area.

State testing results from the most recent school year give a mixed but generally moderate picture of academic performance. In English language arts, a majority of third and fourth graders met the state standard, while fifth graders performed at a somewhat lower rate. In math, the pattern was uneven: fourth graders showed the strongest results, with a solid majority meeting the bar, but third and fifth graders had lower proficiency rates. Fifth grade science results placed about half of students at the proficient level. When compared with other school districts across King County, Black Diamond Elementary’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades falls slightly below the midpoint of the county’s districts. That is a factual placement rather than a verdict; a parent may want to look into how the school supports students in the grades where performance dips, particularly fifth grade math.

The student body is moderately diverse. The largest share of students is white, with a substantial Hispanic population and a meaningful Asian enrollment. Smaller groups include students who identify with two or more races and Black students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that is lower than in many nearby districts but still reflects economic variation in the community. Data on services for students with disabilities and English language learners was not available in the provided records, so those areas remain unclear from this account.

The surrounding community is undergoing rapid growth. Black Diamond is among the fastest-growing small cities in King County, driven largely by large master-planned developments such as Ten Trails. The city’s population has increased substantially in recent years, and plans call for thousands of new homes and significant commercial space. This growth is reshaping a town that once centered on coal mining into a commuter-oriented, car-dependent community with a historic core around Railroad Avenue and new subdivisions on its edges. Housing values in the area are high, in line with the broader King County market, and rents are substantial. The town offers outdoor amenities including Lake Sawyer and a network of parks. No major employers are located within Black Diamond itself; residents typically commute to employment centers in Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, or other parts of the metro area.

The Enumclaw School District, which operates Black Diamond Elementary, has no recently reported major changes such as bonds, levies, curriculum overhauls, or capital projects that would stand out to current or prospective families. This means the district’s approach has been relatively stable in the near term.

For families evaluating the school, Black Diamond Elementary presents itself as a school with a solid if unexceptional academic record, set in a town that is expanding quickly. The school’s moderate size, public-school setting, and grade configuration are straightforward attributes. The academic profile shows some grade-level variation that interested parents should explore directly with the school. The broader community context of rapid residential growth suggests that enrollment pressures and school capacity could become relevant considerations in the future. The school fits families who are looking for a conventional elementary experience in a high-cost, growing suburban area with strong commuter access to the Seattle metro region.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 57% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 59% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 42% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 361%

School 61% · District 58% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 465%

School 65% · District 57% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 57%

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Science

Grade 545%

School 45% · District 51% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolEnumclaw School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income47%Higher-income66%19 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income77%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income48%Higher-income60%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income32%Higher-income56%24 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income38%Higher-income77%39 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income26%Higher-income50%24 pp gap