Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Bethel School District

Washington · Public School District
34
Schools
21,156
Students
$18,928
Per-Pupil Spend
+32% nat'l
55.7%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
88.2%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Bethel School District is a public school district in Washington serving 21,156 students across 34 schools. It includes 20 elementary, 6 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 88.2% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $18,928 is above average for a US public school district. 56% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 41/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (34)
Middle Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bethel Middle School06–08697
Cedarcrest Middle School06–08764
Cougar Mountain Middle School06–08614
Frontier Middle School06–08647
Liberty Middle School06–08936
Spanaway Middle School06–08720
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Acceleration Academy09–12343
Bethel High School09–121,739
Challenger High School07–12271
Graham Kapowsin High School09–122,011
Pierce County Skills Center08–12279
Spanaway Lake High School09–121,817
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bethel Virtual AcademyKG–12499
Thompson PreschoolPK–PK452
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,928+32% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
67%
25%
State
66.9%
Local (property tax)
24.6%
Federal
8.5%

State funding accounts for 67% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
34
Schools
21,156
Students
56%
Free Lunch
$19K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate88.2%
Opportunity Score41/100
StateWashington →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $18,928 per pupil — 32% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 34 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bethel School District?
Bethel School District has 34 public schools, serving a total of 21,156 students.
What is the graduation rate for Bethel School District?
The graduation rate is 88.2%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Bethel School District spend per student?
Bethel School District spends $18,928 per pupil — 32% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Bethel School District?
56% of students in Bethel School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Bethel School District?
No, Bethel School District does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Bethel School District serve?
Bethel School District serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Bethel School District?
The median opportunity score across schools in Bethel School District is 41/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.