The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Science. The lowest is 56% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty Ridge Elementary
Liberty Ridge Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Sumner, part of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. It is a standard neighborhood elementary school, not a magnet or charter, and its student body reflects the surrounding community. The school has a moderately sized enrollment, with classes spread across each grade from kindergarten through fifth, plus a sizable prekindergarten program. The student population is majority white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a notable share of students who identify as two or more races; smaller groups of Asian, Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander students round out the demographics. Nearly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a meaningful share of households with lower incomes.
On state assessments for the 2024-25 school year, Liberty Ridge Elementary posts results that place it above the midpoint among districts in Pierce County in overall proficiency. The strongest showing comes in fifth grade, where English language arts proficiency reaches a high level and science proficiency is also well above half. Fourth and third grade ELA proficiency rates are more moderate, sitting around the middle. In math, the pattern shifts: third grade has a solid proficiency rate, fourth grade dips slightly, and fifth grade settles at exactly half proficient. This downward slope in math from third to fifth grade is something a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand how math instruction and support are structured across the upper elementary years. The single-year snapshot does not allow for trend analysis, so it is unclear whether this pattern is typical or a one-year variation.
The school lacks publicly reported data on special education and English learner populations, as well as on chronic absenteeism and discipline. For an elementary school that serves the youngest students, these gaps limit a full picture of student support. A parent interested in services for students with disabilities or multilingual learners would want to contact the school directly to learn about available programs. Prekindergarten is offered, which is a plus for families seeking early learning within the same building.
Sumner itself is a small city in northern Pierce County with a historic downtown Main Street, a Sounder commuter rail station that connects to Seattle and Tacoma, and a handful of major employers including REI’s distribution center and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. The city brands itself as the “Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World” and hosts annual community events like Rhubarb Days and the Daffodil Parade. Housing in the area is expensive relative to national averages, with home values above the state benchmark and rents climbing. Owner-occupancy is high, and the housing supply is tight, which contributes to affordability challenges for many families. The city’s population has grown modestly in recent years, and the tight land area limits large-scale expansion.
The Sumner-Bonney Lake district has been on an upward trajectory. Publicly reported improvements include a major expansion at Sumner High School completed in 2023, district-wide 1:1 device access funded through voter-supported levies and bonds, and a rising state ranking that now places the district among the top-performing in Pierce County. These district-level investments suggest that Liberty Ridge Elementary benefits from broader resource commitments and a system that has been trending positive in recent years.
For a family considering this school, the profile is that of a solid, middle-of-the-pack elementary with some bright spots, particularly in fifth grade reading and science, housed in a district that is investing in facilities and technology. The declining math proficiency across the upper grades is a soft spot worth investigating. The school sits in a community with a small-town feel, good transit access to the Seattle-Tacoma corridor, and a housing market that is expensive and competitive. Liberty Ridge Elementary likely fits a family seeking a regular public school in a growing suburban district with a track record of improvement, but someone whose child needs strong math support or specialized services will want to look into what is offered before enrolling.
See more original research from School Decision →