The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Science. The lowest is 72% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ridgewood Elementary School
Ridgewood Elementary School serves pre-K through fifth grade and is part of the Kent School District, one of Washington State's larger districts. The school sits within the city of Renton, an industrial and residential suburb southeast of Seattle on Lake Washington. Renton is a place with a dual identity, Boeing’s massive commercial airplane assembly plant and corporate offices for companies like Paccar and Wizards of the Coast sit alongside a redeveloped downtown core with new housing and a transit center. The wider city runs on a car-oriented freeway network, though the downtown area itself offers a more walkable, mixed-use feel. Housing costs in the area are considerable, reflecting the broader King County market, and the typical home value and rent are well above national medians.
Ridgewood is a regular public school with an enrollment that aligns with many suburban elementary schools serving this age range. Its student body is marked by significant diversity. The largest racial or ethnic groups are white students and Asian students, each making up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by a smaller but noticeable proportion of students who identify as two or more races. Hispanic and Black students each represent a more modest segment of the population. Just over a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a figure that sits lower than many surrounding schools. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was not available, which is a gap a parent may want to fill directly with the school.
Academically, Ridgewood posts strong results on the Washington state assessments. In math, the proportion of students meeting the standard was near three-quarters of fourth graders and above two-thirds of third and fifth graders. Those rates position the school comfortably above typical proficiency levels for its county. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with roughly two-thirds of third and fourth graders meeting the standard and a higher share of fifth graders. Science testing is administered at the fifth-grade level, and a sizable majority of students there scored proficient. Across all tested grades and subjects, Ridgewood’s overall proficiency places it in the top quartile of districts in King County. This is a school where most students are performing at or above grade level on state standards, and the results are consistently strong across grade levels. Because the data covers only a single school year, there is no trend to assess, but the one-year snapshot is clearly positive.
Ridgewood is a neighborhood elementary school, not a magnet or charter school. It operates within the Kent School District, which has been navigating some significant financial shifts. Voters in the district passed a large capital bond in 2023 after a series of failed attempts, funding a new middle school and safety upgrades. The same election approved technology and enrichment levies, restoring local funding for classroom devices and extracurricular programs after prior levies failed. However, the district faced a substantial budget shortfall and in mid-2024 voted to close two elementary schools effective for the 2025-2026 year, a direct result of declining enrollment and expiring pandemic relief funds. Families living in Ridgewood’s attendance area may want to confirm whether any boundary changes are planned. The district also recently adopted standards-based grading at the elementary level, which replaces traditional letter grades with progress reports tied to specific learning goals, a change that alters how a parent reads their child’s report card.
The school itself has no available data on chronic absenteeism or discipline patterns, and no information on staffing ratios or course access was provided. Because Ridgewood serves only elementary grades, it has no graduation rate to report, and state science testing only applies to fifth grade. A parent seeking a fuller picture of non-academic supports or classroom climate would need to reach out to the school directly.
For a family, Ridgewood offers a strong academic profile in a diverse suburban setting within a larger district that has recently made financial and programmatic adjustments. The school’s results suggest most students are gaining a solid foundation in math and reading before they move on to middle school. The Kent School District’s recent elementary closures and levy history mean that district-level funding and attendance boundaries are worth monitoring. The high cost of area housing is a real factor for any family considering a move into this attendance zone. Ridgewood appears well suited for a family prioritizing consistent academic proficiency in a diverse elementary school, with the understanding that the district context is one of ongoing financial recalibration rather than stability.
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