Pioneer Valley Elementary School
Spanaway, WA 98387
Phone: (253) 800-8900
District: Bethel School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 544 students
Pioneer Valley Elementary School, a public school located in Spanaway, WA, serves grades K-5 in the Bethel School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 6 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Pioneer Valley Elementary School is a public school located in Spanaway, WA. 544 students attend Pioneer Valley 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: November 19, 2023
This school emphasizes perfect attendance to an insane degree. Weekly, pictures are up in the hallway and online of the teachers with the perfect attendance. Then they allow the class with the best attendance of the month school to choose a spirit day. The kids in other classes that make it to school everyday have no special reward and feel it is very unfair. Also, to put such emphasis on perfect attendance makes it feel that when kids are sick they are expected to still attend school. It just doesn't make much sense. The one spirit day that the class with best attendance chooses is usually shared with the parents last minute as well. This school is not the best with communication.
They also lack fun experiences for the kiddos. They have a movie night once or twice a year, one spirit day a month, popcorn Friday sometimes, and a student store sometimes. Last year they did have a community dance thing.
There are no award ceremonies for the students. We had to switch to this school due to boundary changes and miss Clover Creek Elementary School so much. Much better communication and so many friendly faces. The teachers at Pioneer seem pretty nice and friendly, but I'm on the fence about the Principal and Vice principal.
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: November 19, 2023
Posted: April 16, 2019
Me. Hyde teaches kindergarten. She has proven to be amazing!! Constantly sending out updates on Email, including school activities and student learning whats happening In The class room. What to practice weekly. Exceptional person and honored my daughter is in her class.
Posted: April 16, 2019
Posted: April 16, 2019
Posted: April 16, 2019
Happy the school is pushing my kids to be better. My Daughter was struggling with school. After extra support and Lap classes. Shes reading 100% and my daughters confidence just growing the staff truly cares!!!
Posted: April 16, 2019
Posted: April 16, 2019
I wish all the staff was like Ms. Hyde not saying others are bad. I am saying that she has outstanding communication! Her love for her students shows and reflects on my kids confidence. Inspiring teacher!!
Posted: April 16, 2019
Posted: September 11, 2018
MR GONTHER IS AMAZING!! Im generally speaking about one teacher only, because thats basically all we got to really talk to today. My daughter is going to be attending a special ed class with Mr. gonther tomorrow. Me and my wife are super excited about him! This man truly loves what he does, he goes out of his way to make sure he does the best job he can do with these children. The man has a big heart and you can just tell that he cares so much! Im very thankful to have met him and that our daughter is in his class! I felt the mans vibe! Hes so loving and caring! Mr. gonther has brought a sense of calming to me and my wife knowing that our daughter is in good hands for the day. THANK YOU MR GONTHER! YOU ROCK!
Posted: October 10, 2016
I like the online math program, engage ny. I like that it incorporates higher math into an elementary classroom. As parents, we have the opportunity to be taught online how the students are learning so no more confused kids. As well as, smarter parents. I am thankful that this school uses the program.
Posted: August 25, 2016
The kids are great but most of the teachers and office staff are not helpful everybody acts they are they are being bothered , and that parents basically shouldn't question or have opinions about anything going on in the classroom.They are short tempered and I have personally witnessed staff embarrass children in front or other students and speak about the children's parents in a derogatory manner.This school does not have a welcoming feeling and I think most of these people are in the wrong line of work a better choice for most of the staff in my opinions s correction officer
Posted: December 28, 2015
I have had three children attend this school. All their teachers have been great. My kids truly enjoy going to school and have learned lots!
Posted: March 24, 2015
I dont even know where to begin. The principle is horrible and refuses to include ALL parents with any issues. My son was threatened w/ a broken bottle just off school campus. My children told him and he told them if nobody was hurt it wasnt an issue. But since another parent went to him about a different issue (which i have witnesses telling me this other issue did not happen) now my son is the one being punished. He kept all my kids after school w/out my concent. When i addressed this with him and my concern about this he stated "he was the principle and he has the authority to do so" my son even told him he needed to contact me.
Posted: August 27, 2013
As far as the school goes it's the parents, principal and staff (teachers) that make a school work. We've been attending this school since 2009 and am highly discouraged by the processes the principal has in place to address issues. Teachers have overall been great with the exception of Mr. Marquart, there is something off about him. Going to back to school night last night there were a lot of teachers that left and appeared to be a lot of unhappy teachers that stayed behind. Mr. Rushing was NO help and couldn't answer any of the questions that I asked him. Mrs. White in the office is always amazing to talk to and so friendly however Ms. Jones is awful. I think the school has lost some great teachers. 1st grade parents weren't given the notification of the teacher change prior to last night either. It was just a SURPRISE as we entered the school that no one had the teachers they were assigned because of the very clear changes. The transition/change could've been handled better. Can't wait to be out of Pioneer Valley.
Posted: May 19, 2013
I have a handicapped child. It was so difficult to get the accommodations he needed. Once he was hurt at school for lack of a teacher failing to follow his care plan. Thompson was 200% better.
Posted: January 2, 2012
I have felt nothing but judgment from the teacher's and office staff, the pick up line after school is ATROCIOUS, no one enforces the rules of the blue line, people pick up their kids where ever, and then come tearing out of the line, I have been almost run over twice trying to leave the parking lot after getting my kids. I had a woman, who I guess thought driving 15 mph in the parking lot to get to the pick up line, was to slow for her, so she went speeding around me and got in line RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!! The whole pick up line is just sooooo messed up.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Puyallup | WA | 1.4 mi | |
| 2 | Lost Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Graham | WA | 2.3 mi | |
| 3 | Gem Heights | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Puyallup | WA | 2.5 mi | |
| 4 | Hawaiian Village | Apartment Complex | Lakewood | WA | 12.7 mi | |
| 5 | Stadium District | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Tacoma | WA | 14.6 mi | |
| 6 | Clocktower | Neighborhood/Subdivision | DuPont | WA | 14.8 mi | |
| 7 | North End | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Tacoma | WA | 15.4 mi | |
| 8 | westridge apartments | Apartment Complex | Tacoma | WA | 15.7 mi | |
| 9 | Tahoma Meadows | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Yelm | WA | 16.4 mi | |
| 10 | Avonlea | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Lacey | WA | 23.9 mi | |
| 11 | Woodsmuir | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Olympia | WA | 24.4 mi | |
| 12 | The Carriages at Fairwood Downs | Apartment Complex | Renton | WA | 27.2 mi | |
| 13 | McCormick Woods | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Port Orchard | WA | 34.1 mi | |
| 14 | The Ridge at McCormick Woods | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Port Orchard | WA | 34.5 mi | |
| 15 | Manette | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Bremerton | WA | 36.9 mi | |
| 16 | Kitsap Lake | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Bremerton | WA | 38.7 mi | |
| 17 | Fairway Lane | Apartment Complex | Bremerton | WA | 40.2 mi | |
| 18 | Blueberry Meadows | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Bremerton | WA | 40.3 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Diamond | Black Diamond | WA | 22.5 mi | |
| 2 | Stonegate | Olympia | WA | 23.8 mi | |
| 3 | Maple Valley | Maple Valley | WA | 24.2 mi | |
| 4 | Port Orchard | Port Orchard | WA | 35.4 mi | |
| 5 | Downtown Seattle | Seattle | WA | 36.8 mi | |
| 6 | Bainbridge Island | Bainbridge Island | WA | 39.4 mi | |
| 7 | East Bremerton | Bremerton | WA | 41.2 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| McChord AFB | 8.5 mi. |
| Fort Lewis | 10.9 mi. |
| Coast Guard Seattle | 35.9 mi. |
| Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton | 37 mi. |
| Naval Base Kitsap Bangor | 48.1 mi. |
