As a parent or guardian, the holistic well-being of your child and family is of utmost priority. Living in a Rob Rice Homes community is an investment in your family’s future. Our amenities are exceptional, and the locations are premium, but as the adult in your child’s life you must evaluate a home by more than square footage and comfort. You also need to consider what schools are in the area. In this blog post, we explore the top-tier Washington State schools that are right in our neighborhoods.
Choosing the Right School For Your Child
School season is fast approaching! Finding the right school for your family can be challenging. Fortunately, both Tumwater and North Thurston offer various education options to cater to your family’s specific needs. When choosing a school for your child, consider the following factors:
- School’s academic performance: This reflects the quality of education in each school, demonstrating an effective and conducive learning environment. This positive foundation enhances the students’ academic and professional prospects, thereby raising parents’ confidence in their investment.
- Family’s (or child’s) lifestyle: Families should think about their lifestyle when making a decision. The local area offers both private and public schools. For those who travel often, or favor child-led learning, online education or parent-led homeschooling may be better options.
- Budget: Education can be a major part of family expenses. With numerous school options available, there’s surely a fitting choice for your family.
- Location: As in-person schools start around at the same time across the county, you will want to factor in travel time and traffic. Luckily, Bradbury and Steilacoom Ridge are mere minutes away from top local educational institutions. You can refer to the North Thurston District Map and the Tumwater School District Map.
If you’re searching for the best school for your family, we have compiled a comprehensive list in the Tumwater and North Thurston areas. This also includes each district’s academic calendars and ratings to aid in making an informed choice for your family’s education.
Public schools in Tumwater
Tumwater School District, located near Bradbury, comprises 12 public schools with a student enrollment of 6,487 for the 2022-2023 school year. The district maintains an average student-teacher ratio of 17:1. It is also the home of New Market Skills Center which provides career and technical education to 25 high schools in ten local districts.
The Tumwater District also achieved the following academic ratings from the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), as follows:
- Graduation Rate is at 91% (Based on School Year 2021-22).
- 2% of the total number of students met Math standards (as of Spring 2022).
- 9% of the total number of students met English Language Arts (ELA) standards.
- 9% of the total number of students met Science standards.
Please note the following academic year start dates for Tumwater District:
- Elementary, Middle, and High School students begin on September 6, 2023.
- Kindergarten students start on September 11, 2023.
For a full view of the district’s 2023-2024 academic calendar, you can visit this page for more information.
Rob Rice Homes’ Bradbury community (shown in red) is conveniently located near educational institutions within the Tumwater School District. (Map source: Tumwater School District Official Website)
Bradbury schools:
- East Olympia Elementary
- 603 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- George Bush Middle School
- 746 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- Tumwater High School
- Cascadia High School
- 115 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- Graduation rate: 51%
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- New Market High School
- 31 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- New Market Skills Center
- 129 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
Public schools in North Thurston
Conveniently located near Steilacoom Ridge, the North Thurston School District has 15,208 enrolled students as of School Year 2022-2023, with a student-teacher ratio of 18:1.
Here is information about the district’s academic data and performance from the Washington OSPI:
- Graduation Rate: 89% (Based on School Year 2021-22).
- 5% of the total number of students met Math standards (as of Spring 2022).
- 3% of the total number of students met English Language Arts (ELA) standards.
- 2% of the total number of students met Science standards.
Please note the following academic year start dates for North Thurston District:
- Elementary, Middle, and High School students begin on September 6, 2023.
- Kindergarten students start on September 11, 2023.
For a full view of the district’s 2023-2024 academic calendar, you can visit this page for more information.
Rob Rice Homes’ Steilacoom Ridge (shown in red) is situated near educational institutions within the North Thurston School District.
(Map source: North Thurston School District Official Website)
Steilacoom Ridge schools:
- River Ridge High School
- 1,494 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- Aspire Performing Arts Academy (Choice school) is a performing-arts-focused middle school. Applications are required for admission.
- 303 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- Envision Career Academy is a project-based, hands-on learning high school. Serves Grades 9-12 and applications are required for admission.
- 117 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- Ignite Family Academy is a family partnership school that supports home-based learning. The institution serves Grades K-8.
- 83 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
- Summit Virtual Academy is a 100% online school taught by local NTPS teachers and serves Grades K-12.
- 368 students enrolled as of School Year 2022-2023.
- View their full Washington OSPI Report Card here.
List of private schools in Tumwater and North Thurston
There are also a host of private schools within proximity of our communities.
Private schools in Lacey:
- Temple Baptist Academy
- Pope John Paul II High School
- Revelation Christian Academy
- Northwest Christian High School
- Holy Family School
- Faith Lutheran School
Private schools in Olympia:
- Sunrise Beach School
- Michael Parish School
- Olympia Christian School
- NOVA Middle School
- Gospel Outreach School
- Evergreen Christian School
- Capital Montessori School
Should you wish to get in touch with any of the schools, you may contact them directly for additional information. The Rob Rice Homes team wishes you a successful search and a fulfilling school year ahead!
About Rob Rice Homes
Rob Rice has been developing residential real estate in the South Puget Sound market for over 35 years. Having developed over 50 neighborhoods, Rob Rice Homes is Thurston County’s largest local home builder and has received the area’s Best of South Sound award for several years.