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2020 Best School Districts in Thurston CountyAbout this List

The 2020 Best School Districts ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and more. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 7 of 7
Best Districts
7 results

  1. Olympia School District

    • School District
    • Olympia, WA
    • 49 reviews
    #1 Best School Districts in Thurston County

    Senior: The Olympia School District is fantastic at preparing students for college. The IB program at Capital High School teaches students the correct way to take notes and listen, and the teachers are very good at helping students in need of assistance. The teachers are also very knowledgeable and trustworthy and create strong connections with their students that help everyone feel that they have someone to talk to.
    Read 49 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 21 Total Schools
    • 10,196 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  2. North Thurston Public Schools

    • School District
    • Lacey, WA
    • 37 reviews
    #2 Best School Districts in Thurston County

    Parent: I couldn't agree more with Angela's review. At Meadows, you feel like a community. Your community. We too are a military family so for us, we move often. It is so nice to feel welcome each time we step foot in Meadows. They are always available should you have any concerns or needs. My son's teacher and para are amazing! My son truly looks forward to going to school every day. They're attentive to each child's needs. I've seen them first hand how they manage behavior issues and it's always with kindness and always with the intention to build the child up. I once asked if they had some sort of merit system like the Yelm school district. The response shocked me. They do not believe in merit systems where the child's lack of progress or regression is paraded to the entire class and therefore, humiliating the child and lowering their self esteem. Instead, they reward good behavior and reguide the children who need the extra help. Pure kindness and love.
    Read 37 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 22 Total Schools
    • 14,962 Students
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  3. Tumwater School District

    • School District
    • Tumwater, WA
    • 29 reviews
    #3 Best School Districts in Thurston County

    Senior: The teachers and staff are amazing! I’ve never experienced a poor teacher. I’m constantly engaged and learning in a safe, fun environment. The only downfall of Tumwater School district was the teacher strike this past year. It caused a delay for school, but it did get faculty the raise they deserve.
    Read 29 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 14 Total Schools
    • 6,741 Students
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  4. Rainier School District

    • School District
    • Rainier, WA
    • 9 reviews

    Junior: The teachers are very educated and driven to help the students learn to accomplish their goals in life. The academics are well structured and the class options are just the right amount. Rainier offers a safe environment for the students, but that does not mean the students dont find a way to make destructive comments or actions towards others under the radar. Typical school district all round, but the staff have goals that are completely derived towards the success of the students.
    Read 9 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3 Total Schools
    • 812 Students
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  5. Rochester School District

    • School District
    • Rochester, WA
    • 14 reviews

    Alum: I attended Rochester School District for all of my years in public school and I absolutely loved it! With such a small tight-knit community, it was so easy to connect with my community members and gain amazing experiences and opportunities over my years in the district. The schools consist of amazing teachers and administrators who were always excited to learn new ways to make learning more fun for the students who attended Rochester School District. I saw the district grow from a small, little-known area, to a place where everyone was moving within a few years! The academics are great, and the schools were given many awards from the state and other institutions for the state-testing scores and other criteria. I would recommend Rochester School District to anyone, and would even have my own children attend the schools for their education in the future.
    Read 14 Reviews

    • C+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 5 Total Schools
    • 2,301 Students
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  6. Yelm School District

    • School District
    • Yelm, WA
    • 13 reviews

    Alum: The Yelm School Distict is a very student oriented run district. They take care of their students and their faculty. This school district from my experience has a very low tolerance for bullying and many of the upper classman exhibit great behavior toward one another. The Yelm School Distict is also extremely FFA orientated and this provides many opportunities for the students who attend at any Yelm School. Being a graduate student from the Yelm School District, and attending many of the schools I can garuntee they are one of the more involved districts in their community. Overall, the Yelm District provides an important part of the Yelm community and continues to be a motivating factor toward higher education.
    Read 13 Reviews

    • C
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 10 Total Schools
    • 5,856 Students
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  9. Tenino School District

    • School District
    • Tenino, WA
    • 6 reviews

    Senior: I enjoy Tenino High school! I am able to have as many opportunities as other schools which is amazing. THS is a very small school but I am not going without because it is small. The setting of Tenino and THS is family like and makes me feel wanted and safe. I love THS.
    Read 6 Reviews

    • C-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 4 Total Schools
    • 1,246 Students
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  10. Sponsored

    Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

    • Private School
    • Bellevue, WA
    • 5-12
    • 47 reviews

    Senior: Forest Ridge is a great school to attend, the academics are very challenging and the teachers know how to push students to create the best work possible. Since the academics are quite rigorous, there is a slightly stressed and competitive environment at the school. However, this does not mean that the student community is not strong. From my personal experience, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, especially new student entering the high school. I would recommend this school to prepare for college readiness as some of the courses mimic college level work. Athletics is also another fun part of the Forest Ridge experience, there is a no-cut policy that ensure that all students can participate in any sports; this is a great place to meet new people in other grades and where I made some of my best friendships!
    Read 47 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 300 Students
    • 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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