South Shore Pk-8 School, Seattle WA

Original Research by School Decision on South Shore Pk-8 School

South Shore PK-8 School is a regular public school within Seattle Public Schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of southeast Seattle, a diverse residential area of the city.

The school’s student body is notable for its racial and economic diversity. Black students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by white students, Asian students, students who identify as two or more races, and Hispanic students. A substantial share of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this school in a higher-need category compared to many in the district. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs or English learner status was not available; a parent may want to ask the school for these figures directly.

State testing results from the most recent school year show a mixed academic picture across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency rates varied from grade to grade, with some elementary grades reaching around the midpoint on the state assessment, while other elementary and middle school grades fell below that mark. In math, proficiency rates were lower overall, with a wider range across grade levels, including some where fewer than a quarter of students met the state standard. In science, performance also varied by grade, with a lower proficiency rate in eighth grade than in fifth grade. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places South Shore below the midpoint when compared to other districts within King County. This signals that academic attainment is an area where families will want to look closely and discuss with the school.

Because South Shore is a PK-8 school, it does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is available here. The school also does not offer high-school-level college credit or career pathway programs, which is typical for this grade configuration.

The school sits within the Seattle Public Schools district, which has faced recent financial pressures. The district has been managing a projected budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and the expiration of federal relief funds. This led to proposals for school closures and program cuts, though the district later scaled back closure plans after community opposition. Families considering South Shore may want to follow ongoing district budget discussions and how they might affect staffing or programming at the school level. On the capital side, Seattle voters approved a major capital levy in 2022, which funds school construction, renovations, and technology upgrades across the district, and that work may affect school facilities over time.

The surrounding housing market is expensive. The typical home value in the school’s ZIP code is high, and the median listing price in King County reflects a pricey region. Rents are also well above the national average. This is a costly area of the country to live in, which is relevant for families weighing their options.

South Shore PK-8 offers a full pre-kindergarten through middle school pathway in one building, which some families value for continuity. Its student body is economically and racially diverse, and it operates within a large urban district that is navigating significant budget challenges. Academically, the school’s state test results are below the county median overall, and a parent looking at this school will want to engage directly with staff about student support, instructional approaches, and how the school is working to raise achievement.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 67% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 64% · ▼ 42 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 48% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 631%

School 31% · District 60% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 734%

School 34% · District 56% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 54% · ▼ 30 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 341%

School 41% · District 31% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 428%

School 28% · District 64% · ▼ 36 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 24% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 67% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 38% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 845%

School 45% · District 66% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Science

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 32% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 60% · ▼ 37 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

This schoolSeattle School District No. 1, 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 3Lower-income33%Higher-income60%27 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income74%33 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income32%Higher-income73%40 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income38%Higher-income67%29 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income28%Higher-income47%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income74%45 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income21%Higher-income64%44 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income21%Higher-income73%52 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income22%Higher-income33%12 pp gap