Total enrollment
44,412
+394 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Thurston County
Washington · Public K-12
Parents in Thurston County researching K-12 options have 86 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 44,412 (45 elementary, 16 middle, and 21 high).
4-year change in Thurston County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
84
+2 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Thurston County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Washington | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.9% | #9 of 26 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 44,412 | #7 of 37 | #242 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 84 | #7 of 37 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 18.5:1 | #35 of 37 | #2,502 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 43.5% | #29 of 37 | #1,948 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 63.3% | #5 of 36 | #402 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Thurston County school rankings
Residents
299,067
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
86
12 districts
Enrollment
44,412
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$96,563
Above Washington avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.5%
Below Washington avg
Elementary
45
19,130 students
Middle
16
8,984 students
High
21
13,477 students
Combined / other
4
2,821 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
North Thurston Public Schools
15,167 students · 12 districts in Thurston County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Thurston County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
38.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
40
20.9% under 18
Test scores in Thurston County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 68 schools ranked. Washington state average: 58.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Tumwater High School· 80.3%
- Olympia High School· 76.0%
- A G West Black Hills High School· 72.7%
- Aspire Middle School· 70.9%
- Centennial Elementary· 70.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lydia Hawk Elementary· 36.1%
- Mountain View Elementary· 37.7%
- Lackamas Elementary· 38.0%
- Garfield Elementary School· 39.1%
- Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight· 39.6%
Cities in Thurston County
About Thurston County
Across the broad Washington county of Thurston County of about 299,067 residents, the public-school footprint covers 86 schools and about 44,412 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $96,563, about 39% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 22% noticeably above the Washington median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Thurston County spans 45 elementary schools (19,130 students), 16 middle schools (8,984), 21 high schools (13,477), and 4 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Thurston County is North Thurston Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 15,167 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Thurston County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 44,018 students to 44,412. The school count climbed from 82 to 84 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for Thurston County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data