The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in English language arts. The lowest is 75% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Peter Kirk Elementary
Peter Kirk Elementary is a regular public school in Kirkland, Washington, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Lake Washington School District. The enrollment is substantial for an elementary school. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of Asian students and smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Hispanic, or Black. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The overall message from state testing data is one of high academic performance. In English language arts, the school posted proficiency rates that, across the tested grades, averaged well above the midpoint found among districts in King County. The pattern in math showed proficiency rates that were also strong, with the school’s composite index placing it in the top quartile among its county peers. That math performance was not uniform across every grade, however. While the lower elementary grades showed very high proficiency rates, the fifth-grade math proficiency rate was notably softer than the upper elementary grades’ performance in English language arts. In science, which is assessed in fifth grade, proficiency was solid. The school’s overall proficiency index across all subjects and grades positions it robustly compared with other King County elementary schools.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and the data provided does not include chronic absenteeism rates, the share of students with an individualized education program, or the English learner population. A parent might want to ask the school directly about those student-support figures if they matter to their child's needs.
Kirkland itself is a dense suburban city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. The downtown area, along the lake, is compact and walkable, with a mix of restaurants, art galleries, parks, and a performing arts center. A rail-trail called the Cross Kirkland Corridor bisects the city. The area includes established waterfront neighborhoods and newer condominium and apartment development, particularly downtown and in the Moss Bay neighborhood. The population has grown substantially in recent years, driven partly by a large annexation. The top local employers include the EvergreenHealth hospital system, Google, the school district, and several other technology and healthcare firms. Higher education options include Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Northwest University, both within the city.
The housing market in Kirkland’s zip code is expensive. Home values and rents are high, and the typical home commands a price well above the national median. Zillow data for the area shows a recent modest decline in the weighted home value index, while the county-wide housing market has seen a slight dip in median listing prices year over year but still reflects a high-cost environment that exceeds state and national benchmarks. The broader King County market, as of mid-2026, shows a moderate increase in active listings compared to the prior year, with homes spending a median of about a month on the market.
For a family considering Peter Kirk Elementary, the school presents a strong academic profile, particularly in English language arts and early-grade math, set in a well-resourced suburban community with a dense, walkable downtown and access to Lake Washington. The student population reflects the area’s affluence and its limited socioeconomic and racial diversity. The Lake Washington School District, which draws from Kirkland and nearby communities, has a strong reputation. A family with a child entering fifth grade may want to follow up directly with the school about any targeted math support, given the softer fifth-grade results relative to the school’s otherwise high performance.
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