Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 24 schools in district

Chinook Middle School

4301 6th Ave NE, Lacey, WA 98516North Thurston Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
788
Students
Total enrolled
$19,649
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 37% vs nat'l
18.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 23% vs nat'l
41/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 788 students in grades 06–08 in Lacey, Washington.
37% above average funding
District spends $19,649 per pupil, 37% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 41th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Chinook Middle School is a large middle in Lacey, Washington, serving grades 06–08 with 788 students. The district invests $19,649 per student — 37% above the national average of $14,347, with a 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Chinook Middle School

788
Total Students
18.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
54%
Free Lunch
42
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 Distribution426 male · 357 female
54%
46%
Male 54%Female 46%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility54%
National avg 52% · 423 students
Student Composition
8%
43%
27%
13%
Asian8%
White43%
Hispanic / Latino27%
Black4%
Multiracial13%
Pacific Islander4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 530585000862

Academic Outcomes at Chinook Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
41
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 41th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 37th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 98516

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,649Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$19,649
State avg
$50,309
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,646
Student Support$3,733
Administration$2,358
Operations$2,947
Other$1,965
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $19,649 spent per student, an estimated $8,705 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
61%
30%
State government
61.3%
Local (property tax)
30.4%
Federal programs
8.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $19,649/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
Meadows ElementaryPleasant Glade ElementaryMountain View ElementaryOlympic View Elementary
+10 more
↓
Middle
Nisqually Middle SchoolSalish Middle SchoolKomachin Middle SchoolAspire Middle School
↓
High School
River Ridge High SchoolNorth Thurston High SchoolTimberline High SchoolEnvision Career Academy
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyThurston County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictNorth Thurston Public Schools →
Phone: (360)412-4760
NCES ID: 530585000862
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Lacey 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 North Thurston Public Schools
High
River Ridge High School
1,476 students · 09–12
● 43 opp44% FRL
High
North Thurston High School
1,440 students · 09–12
● 40 opp47% FRL
High
Timberline High School
1,404 students · 09–12
36% FRL
Mid
Nisqually Middle School
831 students · 06–08
57% FRL
Elem
Meadows Elementary
759 students · PK–05
● 43 opp37% FRL
Mid
Salish Middle School
735 students · 06–08
● 41 opp52% FRL
Elem
Pleasant Glade Elementary
644 students · PK–05
● 41 opp55% FRL
Mid
Komachin Middle School
643 students · 06–08
50% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
4301 6th Ave NE, Lacey, WA 98516
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.