Hi - We are moving to the Seattle / Tacoma area and I've never been there before! Our main priority is a good school system and I really need help in this area. We have been focusing on the University Place / Gig Harbor / Federal Way areas and I would really like some ideas of the best schools in the area. Thanks!
Update: thanks so much for everyone's help! Our kids are 8 and 6 so they would be in elementary or primary school. I am so glad I have some more details and will now be looking into the Sumner area as well. I only have 2 house hunting trips and 6 days total to decide where to live, so I can and will use any advice!!
I know this isn't one of the areas you said you were looking in but we live in downtown Puyallup and love it and have some of the best schools in the area.
Hi there, A..
Welcome to Washington. :) My husband and I have a two year old girl plus a baby on the way. We live in Federal Way now, but we are doing everything we can to move before our daughter gets to Kindergarden. Gangs, drop-out rates... we just don't want our kids going to school in this district. I've heard great things about Gig Harbor, and University Place (UP). With Gig Harbor, the other poster was right to warn you about the tolls. $4 everytime you go across into Tacoma. If you do end up in Federal Way though, parts of Twin Lakes are pretty good, and the northern most part of the FW district is the best.
Good Luck!
I don't know about university place but don't move into the Federal Way School district. they are the worst in the state. alot of gangs and dropout rate is high. In the 70's they were the best but they have really gone down hill. the puyallup school district is one of the best. if you consider going a bit more south. If you want a smaller district I would look into fife. Gig harbor is good but you will probably be crossing the narrows bridge for almost everything and it is a toll. of $4 every time you cross. good luck
Hi A.;
The only advice I can give is to stay away from Federal Way. We used to live there (14 years ago), but my husband's parents still live on the Federal Way/Auburn border, so we are over there frequently. The people aren't very nice, I've had my truck broken into while at dinner, and I've only heard negative bits about the schools.
Gig Harbor is beautiful, although it's been quite some time since I've been there. UP is nice from what I've heard. As for the school systems, I haven't really heard anything so I can't guess on those.
Like the person who responded before me I am also in the Sumner/Bonney Lake area. My kids are in the Sumner school district and we've been pretty happy with it. I don't know the ages of your children, but my 15 yr.old is in band and Sumner High has one of the best band programs.
I grew up in Montana (very small town)and Sumner reminds me of a nice calm quaint town. The older side of the city has gorgeous old homes and sidewalks for walking. I love the town,even though I live in Bonney Lake. Bonney Lake is nice, but it doesn't have the character that Sumner has. A great thing about living there is that it gives you the small town atmosphere, but you aren't far from anything. Puyallup is minutes away and has the mall, Bonney Lake is 4 minutes up the hill and has the movie theater and Sumner has a big Fred Meyer, so everything is right nearby.
Now, that I'm done selling Sumner, if I were choosing one of your options it would be Gig Harbor first, University Place second, and I would stay put rather than go to Federal Way.
Have a great day,
D. J.
Hi A.. Yes, Sumner is a good district. I also recommend the Fife School District. I have my kids out of district going to the Fife District, we actually live in the Puyallup district. What I like best about the Fife district is that it is smaller so you know many of the families. The schools are broken up in a different way - they keep similar ages together to minimize the influeces from the older kids. All Kindergarter & 1st graders in the entire district go to one school, all 2nd thru 5th graders go to one of 2 schools, 6th & 7th graders all go to one school, 8th & 9th is one school for the entire district and all 10th thru 12th go to Fife HS. I have 2 girls ages 5 and 8. Fife-Milton-Edgewood also has great sports clubs (soccer, wrestling, baseball, basketball).
Hi A.-
I know that UP has a good reputation for their school district. I'm not sure about specific schools or what ages your children are. We live in Sumner, WA (about 20 min from Tacoma and 20 min from Seattle) and love our school system. Maple Lawn is our local elementary school and we have been very impressed and pleased. Sumner is a great community and worth checking out! Welcome to the North West and good luck!
Of the tree you gave, Gig Harbor is the best schools. Then University Place and no Federal way. Gangs are an issue in Federal Way.
LOL after reading the other responses, I just wanted to say that I also live in Bonney Lake. Right next to Sumner.
We live in University Place and love it. They have some of the best schools in the state. Gig Harbor is nice however you do have to pay tolls every time you want to come over to the Tacoma/Seattle area as it is on the other side of the Narrow's Bridge. Federal Way is in King County so be aware of higher taxes there. Welcome to the neighborhood.
We live in Puyallup and have for 10 years, I grew up in the Federal Way area and we have been trying to get to the Gig Harbor area, they have the best schools!
Puyallup has a great school system we have two kids there.
Federal way is okay. I don't know anything about the University Place area.
Good luck with your search, but I am rooting for Gig Harbor! :)
Feel free to email me if you have further questions. :)
T.
