Rainier Prep, Seattle WA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Rainier Prep

Rainier Prep is a public charter school in Seattle serving grades five through eight. It is a relatively small middle school, with an enrollment that fits that grade band. As a charter school, it operates independently of the local district, though it officially sits within its own charter district. Its location in the Rainier Valley neighborhood places it within Seattle’s broader urban fabric, a major Pacific Northwest city shaped by tech industry employers, a busy port, and a dense, walkable core.

Academically, the school performs well when measured against other districts in King County. Across tested subjects and grades, Rainier Prep’s overall proficiency lands above the midpoint of the county’s districts. This is a solid showing for a middle school of its size. The strongest results come in English language arts. In fifth and sixth grades, a large majority of students meet the state proficiency standard. By seventh and eighth grade, that share drops but remains above half. In math, the picture is more mixed. Fifth and sixth graders also post strong proficiency rates, but seventh and eighth graders slip notably, with less than half of eighth graders reaching the bar. Science results follow a similar pattern: fifth graders are solidly proficient, while eighth graders fall well below that threshold. A parent considering Rainier Prep may want to ask the school about how it supports math and science learning as students move through the upper grades.

The student body is predominantly Black, making up more than half of enrollment, followed by a substantial Hispanic population. The share of students from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price meal eligibility, is high. This context matters for understanding the school’s peer environment and the types of support families and staff may prioritize. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported; families with children who have an Individualized Education Program or who are learning English may want to follow up with the school directly to understand the services available.

Because Rainier Prep is a middle school and does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. No information was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios, so those areas remain open questions for families to explore.

The school is located in Seattle, a city known for its high cost of living. The typical home value in the broader area is well above the national average, and rents are similarly elevated. This economic context shapes the housing market for families considering the school. Seattle’s economy is anchored by major employers like Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and the Port of Seattle, and the city has seen sustained population growth in recent years. The neighborhood around the school is a mix of residential and commercial uses, with access to public transit and city services.

Rainier Prep’s academic profile shows clear strengths in English language arts in the lower middle school grades, and its overall proficiency compares favorably to other King County districts. The school serves a predominantly Black and Hispanic student body, with a high proportion of students from low-income backgrounds. Families looking for a charter option in Seattle’s middle grades may find it a good fit, particularly if they value a school that is performing above the county median. The decline in math and science proficiency in the upper grades is worth a closer look, and the absence of special population data means families with specific needs should seek direct information from the school.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 67%

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 667%

School 67% · District 67%

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

Grade 755%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 48%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 74%

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 674%

School 74% · District 74%

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

Grade 763%

School 63% · District 63%

▲ 12 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 64%

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 34%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

This schoolRainier Prep Charter 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 4Lower-income26%Higher-income67%41 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income72%Higher-income79%7 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income72%Higher-income78%6 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income63%Higher-income63%0 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income12%Higher-income19%7 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income61%Higher-income79%19 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income74%9 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income54%Higher-income58%4 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income42%Higher-income71%29 pp gap