Donald Eismann Elementary, Bonney Lake WA

Original Research by School Decision on Donald Eismann Elementary

Donald Eismann Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Bonney Lake, part of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. This is a regular public school with a sizable enrollment for an elementary, drawing from a suburban community that has seen rapid population growth over recent decades. Bonney Lake itself is a residential area centered near several small lakes, with commercial activity strung along the state highway corridor rather than in a walkable downtown. The city has invested in parks, trails, and ball fields, but daily life here is car-dependent; public transit service within Bonney Lake ended some time ago, though a park-and-ride lot connects commuters to the Sounder train in Sumner.

The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students, reflecting the broader demographics of the surrounding community. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that positions the school in a relatively lower-poverty context compared to many schools in Pierce County. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported.

Academically, Donald Eismann posts proficiency rates that are strong across the board. In English language arts, the share of students meeting state standards climbs with each grade, from a solid showing in third grade to a notably higher result in fifth grade. Math proficiency follows a similar pattern, with each grade level scoring well above what is typical for an elementary school in the county. Science, which is tested only in fifth grade, also shows a strong rate. Looking at the school's overall performance across all tested subjects and grades, Donald Eismann sits in the top quartile relative to other schools in Pierce County. The district as a whole has seen rising state rankings in recent years, now placing among the higher-performing districts in the county, and this school's numbers align with that trajectory.

Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available. Course access information and staffing ratios were also not part of the data provided, so a family interested in class sizes or enrichment offerings would need to follow up with the school directly.

The school does not have a magnet or charter designation, and its Title I status was not listed. Housing in the area is expensive relative to national medians, with home values and rents that place Bonney Lake among the pricier suburban options in the region. The typical rent consumes a significant share of household income, making affordability a real consideration for families moving into the attendance zone.

For a parent evaluating this school, the picture is one of consistent academic strength in a growing, family-oriented suburb. The test results are clearly above what is typical for the county, and the district's recent upward trajectory adds to that. The downsides are the limited public transit and the high cost of housing, neither of which is a school issue but both matter for daily life. The missing data on special populations and staffing means a thorough look would require a conversation with the school office. For a family that can manage the housing market and values strong elementary academics in a suburban setting, Donald Eismann appears to deliver.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 77% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 69% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 569%

School 69% · District 68% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 366%

School 66% · District 54% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 71% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 579%

School 79% · District 75% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Science

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

This schoolSumner-Bonney Lake School District, 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-income46%Higher-income70%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income76%Higher-income74%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income56%Higher-income87%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income69%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income66%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income47%Higher-income76%29 pp gap