The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lake Grove Elementary School
Lake Grove Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Federal Way, a mid-sized city in King County that grew as a bedroom community for Seattle and Tacoma after the interstate opened. The school is part of Federal Way Public Schools and sits in a part of the city that reflects the broader area’s semi-urban character: landscaped apartment complexes, shopping centers, and car-oriented development. The December 2025 opening of a Link light rail station at the Federal Way Downtown Transit Center may shift how families move around the city, but for now, the built environment remains oriented to driving.
Academically, Lake Grove’s state assessment results place it among the lower-performing schools in King County. On the statewide Smarter Balanced tests for the 2024-25 school year, the share of students meeting proficiency in math and English language arts was below what is typical for the county. In math, proficiency rates in third, fourth, and fifth grades were each in the low twenties. In English language arts, the range was similar, though fifth graders showed a slightly higher rate. Science results for fifth graders were also in the low twenties. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in King County. Only a single year of test data is available here, so there is no trend to indicate whether these scores are stable, improving, or declining. A parent may want to ask the school about its academic improvement plans and how it supports students who are behind.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by white students, those who identify as two or more races, Black students, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and Asian students. A substantial majority of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. That rate is high, and it shapes the school’s context: many families are balancing economic pressures alongside their children’s education. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the data provided, so those dimensions of the school’s student support are not available here.
Lake Grove is a regular public elementary school without charter or magnet status. No data was reported on course access, staffing ratios, discipline, or chronic absenteeism, all of which would give a fuller picture of daily life at the school. Without those pieces, a family considering the school would need to visit and speak with staff to understand class size, climate, and enrichment opportunities. The district brief turned up little about recent changes or initiatives, so the broader institutional context is thin.
The housing market in the zip code serving Lake Grove shows home values that are above the national median but below the King County median. Rents are also elevated, consistent with the Seattle metro area. The city’s population has seen a slight decline since the 2020 census, and voters rejected a proposed annexation of an unincorporated area a few years ago. The largest employers in Federal Way include the school district itself, a hospital, and World Vision International. The former Weyerhaeuser headquarters campus has been redeveloped into a corporate park. These economic facts matter because they influence the tax base and the resources available to schools in the district.
For families, this is a school where academic proficiency rates are low relative to the county, where the student population is economically diverse and majority low-income, and where the surrounding city is stable but not booming. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. A parent looking for higher test scores or a wider range of academic pathways may want to explore other options in the district or region. A parent who values a school that reflects the community’s full diversity and who is comfortable being an active partner in their child’s learning will want to see how Lake Grove addresses its challenges and what supports it offers.
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