Can I use Thurston County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Thurston County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Thurston County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Thurston County?

Start with the 84 listed public schools and 10 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Thurston County Schools & Education

Name: Thurston County, Washington Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Thurston County, Washington

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

83.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

83.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 81.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,953

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 51/100

State Score Position

#24

of 39 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Thurston County

Measured School Summary

Thurston County has midrange measured school signals (score: 48/100) with a graduation rate of 83.3%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Thurston County spends $8,953 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% below the Washington average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Thurston County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

84 public schools and 10 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

48/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #24 of 39 Washington counties with school score data.

Completion

83.3%

1.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,953

$297 below the state average

School coverage

10 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Thurston County has 84 public schools across 10 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Thurston County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Thurston County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#24

of 39 Washington counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

North Thurston Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

15,119 students

Elementary 14Middle 5High 4Other 1

24 listed schools in this county slice.

Olympia School District

Elementary to high school visible

9,633 students

Elementary 11Middle 4High 4Other 1

20 listed schools in this county slice.

Tumwater School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,461 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 6Other 1

15 listed schools in this county slice.

Yelm School District

Elementary to high school visible

5,298 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 2Other 0

9 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

North Thurston Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 24 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Thurston County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Thurston County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Thurston County, Washington

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Massive Educational Infrastructure

Thurston County supports a robust network of 84 schools serving 42,586 students across 10 districts. The landscape includes 43 elementary schools and 21 high schools, making it a major educational hub in the state.

North Thurston Public Schools Leads the Way

North Thurston Public Schools is the dominant district, managing 24 schools and over 15,000 students. Olympia School District also plays a significant role, educating 9,633 students in the state's capital region.

Urban Hubs with Large Campuses

Most schools are situated in city locales, contributing to a larger average school size of 513 students. Olympia High School stands as the county's largest, hosting 1,838 students in a bustling academic environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Thurston County

Reported Enrollment

42,586

84 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary43

Middle17

High21

Other3

10 School Districts in Thurston County

North Thurston Public Schools

Olympia School District

Tumwater School District

Yelm School District

Rochester School District

6 schools

2,150 students

Tenino School District

4 schools

1,287 students

Mary M Knight School District

2 schools

1,045 students

Rainier School District

3 schools

931 students

Griffin School District

1 school

577 students

Capital Region ESD 113

1 school

268 students

84 Public Schools in Thurston County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 84 matching schools

Public schools in Thurston County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Olympia High School	Profile	Olympia School District	OLYMPIA, 98501City: Small	9–12	High	1,838
Yelm High School 12	Profile	Yelm School District	Yelm, 98597Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,634
River Ridge High School	Profile	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98513City: Small	9–12	High	1,476
North Thurston High School	Profile	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98506City: Small	9–12	High	1,440
Timberline High School	Profile	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98503City: Small	9–12	High	1,404
Capital High School	Profile	Olympia School District	OLYMPIA, 98502City: Small	9–12	High	1,326
Tumwater High School	Profile	Tumwater School District	Tumwater, 98501City: Small	9–12	High	1,111
Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight	Record	Mary M Knight School District	Tumwater, 98501City: Small	KG–8	Primary	862
A G West Black Hills High School	Record	Tumwater School District	Tumwater, 98512City: Small	9–12	High	833
Nisqually Middle School	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98503Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	831
Chinook Middle School	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98516City: Small	6–8	Middle	788
Meadows Elementary	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98513Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	759
Washington Middle School	Record	Olympia School District	OLYMPIA, 98501City: Small	6–8	Middle	750
George Bush Middle School	Record	Tumwater School District	Tumwater, 98512City: Small	6–8	Middle	747
Salish Middle School	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98516City: Small	6–8	Middle	735
Yelm Middle School	Record	Yelm School District	Yelm, 98597Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	696
Pleasant Glade Elementary	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98516Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	644
Komachin Middle School	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98503City: Small	6–8	Middle	643
Southworth Elementary	Record	Yelm School District	Yelm, 98597Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	628
Mountain View Elementary	Record	North Thurston Public Schools	Lacey, 98503City: Small	PK–5	Primary	625

Olympia High School

Olympia School District

OLYMPIA, 98501 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,838 students

Yelm High School 12

Yelm School District

Yelm, 98597 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,634 students

River Ridge High School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98513 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,476 students

North Thurston High School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98506 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,440 students

Timberline High School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98503 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,404 students

Capital High School

Olympia School District

OLYMPIA, 98502 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,326 students

Tumwater High School

Tumwater School District

Tumwater, 98501 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,111 students

Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight

Mary M Knight School District

Tumwater, 98501 / City: Small

RecordKG–8Primary862 students

A G West Black Hills High School

Tumwater School District

Tumwater, 98512 / City: Small

Record9–12High833 students

Nisqually Middle School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98503 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle831 students

Chinook Middle School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98516 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle788 students

Meadows Elementary

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98513 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary759 students

Washington Middle School

Olympia School District

OLYMPIA, 98501 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle750 students

George Bush Middle School

Tumwater School District

Tumwater, 98512 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle747 students

Salish Middle School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98516 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle735 students

Yelm Middle School

Yelm School District

Yelm, 98597 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle696 students

Pleasant Glade Elementary

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98516 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary644 students

Komachin Middle School

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98503 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle643 students

Southworth Elementary

Yelm School District

Yelm, 98597 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary628 students

Mountain View Elementary

North Thurston Public Schools

Lacey, 98503 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary625 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,953

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Thurston County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Washington counties have the highest graduation rates?

Wahkiakum County (95.0%), Lincoln County (91.7%), and Garfield County (90.0%) currently lead Washington among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Washington?

Across Washington counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Skamania County ($10,545), Ferry County ($10,380), and Pend Oreille County ($10,253). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Thurston County?

Thurston County has a school score of 48/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Thurston County?

The high school graduation rate in Thurston County is 83.3%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Thurston County spend per student?

Thurston County spends $8,953 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Thurston County, Washington — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Thurston County, Washington?

What are the major school districts in Thurston County, Washington?

What is the school experience like in Thurston County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Grays Harbor County

Washington

0 pts

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School score

Skagit County

Washington

0 pts

48/100

School score

Mason County

Washington

+0 pts

48/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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