The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in English language arts. The lowest is 52% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lake Stevens Middle School
Lake Stevens Middle School serves just two grade levels, sixth and seventh, as a regular public school within the Lake Stevens School District in Snohomish County. Because it is a middle school that does not serve the full high school span, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s size falls in a modest range for a two-grade building, and its student body is diverse in background, with a white majority alongside notable shares of Asian, Hispanic, and two-or-more-races students. A substantial portion of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a mix of economic circumstances that is neither extremely high nor extremely low.
Academically, the school performs better than many of its peers. On state assessments in English language arts and math, the share of students meeting proficiency standards is above the midpoint for districts in Snohomish County; overall, the school’s combined proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Snohomish County. That is a genuine strength. In ELA, proficiency rates across both grade levels are solidly above half, with seventh graders performing a bit higher than sixth graders. Math performance is more varied. Sixth-grade math proficiency is in the same general range as ELA, but seventh-grade math drops off noticeably, a pattern that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Science assessment data is available only from an older test year and for a grade that this school does not currently serve, so it does not give a clear picture of current science instruction.
The school environment data is thin. There is no reported information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, course access, or staffing ratios, so families will need to ask the school directly about class sizes, support services, and how the school handles student behavior. Likewise, the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status is not available in the data.
The community around Lake Stevens has grown noticeably in recent years, and the school district has responded with voter-approved bonds and levies that funded a new elementary school and ongoing facility upgrades, safety improvements, and capacity additions. Housing in the area is expensive relative to national benchmarks. Home values have slipped a little year over year, but rents have edged up, and the typical cost of buying a home here is well above what many American households can afford. That economic pressure is reflected in the school’s moderate free-lunch rate, which suggests a mix of families who own homes and those who rent in a tight market.
For a family considering Lake Stevens Middle School, the standout feature is academic performance that is clearly above the county average. The school does not offer high school pathways or career programs at this level—those come later in the district—but the solid test results indicate a foundation that should prepare students well for the upper grades. The two-grade structure means students will transition to a different school for eighth grade, which is something to factor into planning. The lack of publicly available data on discipline and support programs means a visit or conversation with school staff would be worthwhile to fill in the gaps. Overall, this is a school where a family with a academically oriented middle schooler may find a strong fit, especially if they value a school that performs well on state measures and sits within a district that is actively investing in its facilities.
See more original research from School Decision →