Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 32 schools in district

Thomas Middle School

11509 Holden Rd SW, Lakewood, WA 98498Clover Park School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
974
Students
Total enrolled
$18,954
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 32% vs nat'l
20.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 32% vs nat'l
43/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 14% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 974 students in grades 06–08 in Lakewood, Washington.
32% above average funding
District spends $18,954 per pupil, 32% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 43th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Thomas Middle School is a large middle in Lakewood, Washington, serving grades 06–08 with 974 students. The district invests $18,954 per student — 32% above the national average of $14,347, with a 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 61% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Thomas Middle School

974
Total Students
20.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
61%
Free Lunch
48
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution490 male · 470 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility61%
National avg 52% · 591 students
Student Composition
37%
26%
13%
14%
Asian3%
White37%
Hispanic / Latino26%
Black13%
Multiracial14%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 530141000272

Academic Outcomes at Thomas Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
43
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 43th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 47th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 98498

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,954Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,954
State avg
$50,309
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,340
Student Support$3,601
Administration$2,275
Operations$2,843
Other$1,895
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,954 spent per student, an estimated $8,397 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
66%
State government
66.0%
Local (property tax)
13.7%
Federal programs
20.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,954/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Rainier Elementary SchoolFour Heroes ElementaryHillside Elementary SchoolLakeview Hope Academy
+13 more
↓
Middle
Hudtloff Middle SchoolLochburn Middle SchoolRe-Entry Middle School
↓
High School
Clover Park High SchoolLakes High SchoolGeneral William H. Harrison Preparatory SchoolCPSD Open Doors Program
+3 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyPierce County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictClover Park School District →
Phone: (253)583-5440
NCES ID: 530141000272
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Lakewood seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Clover Park School District
High
Clover Park High School
1,315 students · 09–12
● 41 opp84% FRL
High
Lakes High School
1,286 students · 09–12
● 43 opp53% FRL
High
General William H. Harrison Preparatory School
727 students · 06–12
● 41 opp68% FRL
Mid
Hudtloff Middle School
627 students · 06–08
● 43 opp77% FRL
Elem
Rainier Elementary School
574 students · PK–05
50% FRL
Elem
Four Heroes Elementary
559 students · PK–05
● 41 opp92% FRL
Elem
Hillside Elementary School
537 students · PK–05
67% FRL
Elem
Lakeview Hope Academy
534 students · PK–05
● 41 opp84% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
11509 Holden Rd SW, Lakewood, WA 98498
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

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.