Lakes Elementary School

Lacey, WA 98503

Phone: (360) 412-4600
District: North Thurston Public Schools

6

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 486 students

Lakes Elementary School, a public school located in Lacey, WA, serves grades K-5 in the North Thurston Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 6 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Lakes Elementary School is a public school located in Lacey, WA. 486 students attend Lakes Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 7/10 The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessment data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and using 2025 Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Student Growth 5/10 The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Posted: June 13, 2023

Absolutely love this school & its teachers! I feel good sending my children to school. All staff i have encountered are amazing & there a lots of family events the school puts on. I as a parent felt supported.

Posted: June 13, 2023

Posted: June 13, 2023

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Posted: June 13, 2023

Posted: May 12, 2023

I believe this school is very prejudice , I have heard and seen some things that I don’t believe are right.

I have hear mixed things. The principal is great the vice principal is very harsh.
Our kids do Come home with complaints.

I interacted once with the principal very kind.

Posted: May 12, 2023

Posted: May 12, 2023

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Posted: May 12, 2023

Posted: May 12, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Teachers are great!!! Kids don’t complain. Front desk staff is rude, vice principal is rude. I saw him being rude to students during field trip.

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 24, 2023

Posted: March 2, 2023

This school has the rule, that all the students must wait outside and line up in a single file line until 8:05 am each day (sometimes it takes longer till 8:10) to enter the classroom. Lately, it's been VERY COLD in the morning. The temperature is in the 10s or lower 20s as the time the school bus drops them to school is around 7:48 am. We are asking the school to make an appropriate change for those times when morning temperatures drop below 32 degrees. The students should not be standing outside just to wait for teachers to finish preparing in the morning, such as making a few copies as stated in your previous email when announcing the rule last year. The students standing outside waiting for the classroom to open in way below-freezing temperatures is Not acceptable. It's different with recess time. During recess, their bodies are moving and running, instead of standing in a single file line, and the temperature also improves. Standing still outside in the morning cold causes many children to get sick. I noticed my child's stuffy nose and sneezing last Friday after he came back from school, and those symptoms continue through the weekends. He told me "it's too cold waiting for the classroom to open". And yes we dress him in extra warm clothing, gloves/hats just to hope it would help. As a parent, it's very sad to know the adults stay inside but keep the children waiting outside. They are too young. The morning rule is causing unnecessary risk and increasing their chances of getting sick. Unfortunately, many families like us have to work, so I'm not available to drop my son at school at 8:05 am every day. Most importantly, as educators, providing a safe and healthy environment to the students should be paramount and should not be sacrificed to make a few copies, etc. We are not asking this morning waiting rule to be completely disregarded; we are asking when the weather is cold like this when morning temperatures drop to freezing or below, the students should be allowed inside and not asked to line up waiting outside until 8:05 am. Those young children have been doing a phenomenal job by following the rule, and many children got sick because of that or relevant of that, including mine. The school principal told me he's not planning to make a change this year. I hope he reconsiders it and makes appropriate changes in the near future. He knows how many children have to go to the nurse office and how many called in sick.

Posted: March 2, 2023

Posted: March 2, 2023

Posted: March 2, 2023

Posted: March 2, 2023

Posted: March 2, 2023

Posted: March 9, 2022

Some teachers and principal bully students especially those on the spectrum and do not support learning. They treat kids like they are trouble. No kindness anywhere. Definitely do not recommend based on personal experience. (2018)

Posted: March 9, 2022

Posted: March 9, 2022

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Posted: March 9, 2022

Posted: September 21, 2021

We LOVED our time at Lakes. The teachers and staff made the experience the best. My daughter loved each teacher she had during her time here. She found confidence and leadership skills while attending lakes. Her second grade teacher EXCEEDED every expectation we had for our childs teacher. We are so grateful for our time here!! Keep up the good work staff!!

Posted: September 21, 2021

Posted: September 21, 2021

Posted: September 21, 2021

Posted: September 21, 2021

Posted: September 21, 2021

Posted: April 11, 2018

Most Teachers are very attentive to the students needs and progress. They take a genuine unbiased interest in educating their students. There are a few that pick their favorites and pick the ones they’re not going to like and pick on and that’s it.

Posted: April 11, 2018

It’s not that I disagree with the teaching effectiveness of the students with learning disabilities but some of the disability students, While in class with the general population are acting up and acting out and there’s no discipline to stop this, they’re just allowed to act up & out and this affects the other children greatly making some of them petrified and scared.

Posted: April 11, 2018

In my opinion some bullying is dealt with effectively and Sam is somewhat ignored and looked at it’s not a big deal, but to an elementary child it is a big deal. Big enough to make all the difference in the world to that child

Posted: April 11, 2018

I feel this school is an above average school, I would recommend it.

Posted: November 16, 2016

The staff is awesome !! Very helpful with anything that may arise.

Posted: June 17, 2016

There are Kindergarteners coming home with packets of homework. It's Kindergarten why so much homework?

Posted: June 17, 2016

We moved into this school district this year. My children previously loved going to school, were always upset by the end of the year, and then excited about the return of the school year. With this school they had a countdown for the end of the school year. They didn't want to go to school, it's a complete turn of behavior. While they are satisfied with their individual teachers I was not 100%. I found it frustrating that my youngest child's teacher was so against a child excelling in learning and stated that she didn't think we should push children, but instead keep them at their expected levels only. Just an overall feel that this is less school than the school we came from. The staff feels less friendly and inviting and it shows in my child's attitudes about school. Rather disappointed since Great Schools listed this as an 8 when we came and we came from a school that was a 2 rating and it by far exceeded this school. I'll never fully believe the Great Schools rating again. Just a warning to other parents.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Posted: September 17, 2015

Posted: September 17, 2015

When my child was bullied continuously and reached out to teachers and staff and they did nothing. Then, he took it into his own hands and after 5 assaults he finally hit the child back and he got in trouble for it. This is just one example. We dealt with this all year with the same bully who, for some reason, was allowed to get away with whatever he wanted.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Both my son and daughter attended this school and it is still etched in their minds as the worst experience possible. My kids are very different from each other. My son excels academically and it comes easy to him and he is outgoing. Where my daughter is shy and tries really hard and gets good grades too. They both would come home crying regularly. They do not take bullying seriously and will punish a kid for finally sticking up for themselves. My son had always been well liked at his other schools but this one he had a very hard time. The teacher didn't help as she singled him out and even graded him very low on stuff e.g. reading, when I could clearly see his reading score was 6th grade level in the 3rd grade. When I asked her she just ignored me during the conference. He cried every morning before school not wanting to go and I ended up meeting with the teacher and principal weekly to keep on top of the happenings. I have never had to do this with any other school and am pretty laid back. But the experience my children had was completely terrible! My son still remembers his experience here and he is now in the 6th grade. It has affected him and he has worked hard to overcome his lack of confidence this school gave him. We moved after 2 years and thankfully my daughter only had to endure one year of it since she was a 6th grader when we started. I would not recommend this school to anyone! Some teachers may be great, but the experience we had w/ the ones my son had and the principal were the worst I could ever imagine!

Posted: June 10, 2013

My children attended Lakes for two years. Under different leadership, I would recommend the school to anyone. The outgoing principal was the worst leadership I've seen in a school in 30 years. The teachers are amazing--they're supportive to the children and are never out of line with the them. However, beware if you're coming in from another school system or out of state. The school system as a whole caters to state testing, there's barely any emphasis on science, and they really push being politically correct---so no one loses or wins anything or makes an "A" or a "B". The 1-4 grading system is 90% subjective and how the teacher "feels" the child did.

Posted: March 19, 2013

We couldn't ask for a better school for our children! We got a waiver to attend Lakes after hearing from friends how exceptional the teachers and staff are. I can't believe the difference! Our children have attended 2 other elementary schools in Lacey....there is no comparison! If you want your children to be in the best hands, with the most attentive and caring teachers, Lakes is the school for you!

Posted: January 2, 2013

Wow i love this school.it is a good one for my cchild.but they are too sleepy

Posted: November 20, 2012

This school is very well run! The teachers care about the students, and the principals can often been seen walking around and checking on things.

Posted: June 7, 2012

The teachers are excellent, but the office staff are unhelpful and cold. They are not great about keeping parents informed of policy and procedure.

Posted: May 9, 2012

The learning experience my child has had at this school is great. She learns how to work well with other and how to make good choices. The only problem I have is there is no Open Door Policy. If you want to drop in on your kids and see how their doing you Can Not. You have to make a appointment a day in advance to check on your child. I really disagree with that policy and it needs to be changed. A parent should never have to make an appointment to check on their child. It is very uncomfortable for parents from other states. Who is concerned with the transition of their child.

Posted: October 15, 2011

Three of my children attended Lakes in the past. Ms. Quiocho is the best teacher any of my children have ever had. The staff is friendly and they truly care about the students.

Reviews provided by GreatSchools

# Name Type City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Avonlea Neighborhood/Subdivision Lacey WA 1.3 mi
2 Woodsmuir Neighborhood/Subdivision Olympia WA 1.9 mi
3 Tahoma Meadows Neighborhood/Subdivision Yelm WA 9.2 mi
4 Clocktower Neighborhood/Subdivision DuPont WA 9.6 mi
5 Hawaiian Village Apartment Complex Lakewood WA 17.3 mi
6 westridge apartments Apartment Complex Tacoma WA 19.9 mi
7 North End Neighborhood/Subdivision Tacoma WA 23.3 mi
8 Silver Creek Neighborhood/Subdivision Puyallup WA 23.7 mi
9 Gem Heights Neighborhood/Subdivision Puyallup WA 24.1 mi
10 Stadium District Neighborhood/Subdivision Tacoma WA 24.4 mi
11 Lost Creek Neighborhood/Subdivision Graham WA 24.8 mi
12 McCormick Woods Neighborhood/Subdivision Port Orchard WA 34.7 mi
13 The Ridge at McCormick Woods Neighborhood/Subdivision Port Orchard WA 35.3 mi
14 Kitsap Lake Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 39.5 mi
15 Manette Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 40 mi
16 Fairway Lane Apartment Complex Bremerton WA 41 mi
17 Blueberry Meadows Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 42.9 mi
18 Whisper Ridge Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 43 mi
19 The Carriages at Fairwood Downs Apartment Complex Renton WA 43.3 mi
# Name City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Stonegate Olympia WA 1.3 mi
2 Port Orchard Port Orchard WA 37.8 mi
3 Black Diamond Black Diamond WA 42.9 mi
4 Maple Valley Maple Valley WA 43.3 mi
5 East Bremerton Bremerton WA 44.1 mi
6 Silverdale Silverdale WA 44.4 mi
Base Distance
Fort Lewis 12.5 mi.
McChord AFB 16.5 mi.
Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton 39.2 mi.
Coast Guard Seattle 45.9 mi.
Naval Base Kitsap Bangor 49.3 mi.
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