📊 Directory: NCES CCD 2024–2025·📈 Ratings: SBAC 2024–25·🔄 Updated: August 2026·Editorial standards
📍 South Prairie, WA · Pierce County

School District for
Zip Code 98385 — South Prairie, WA

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ZIP 98385 is served by White River School District, rated 9/10 — 86th percentile in Washington.Ratings are percentile ranks within a single state, so they are not comparable across states.
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White River School District · Grades Pre-K – 12th

9
out of 10 Rating Excellent
State reading & math tests (SBAC 2024–25) · 86th percentile in WA
● Steady — within 0.1 points of 2021–22
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Can I rent in South Prairie and still attend schools in this district?▼
Yes. School district assignment is based on your home address, not whether you own or rent. As long as your rental address falls within the White River School District boundaries, your children are eligible to attend district schools.
How does the White River School District rating compare to other districts in WA?▼
The White River School District has an overall rating of 9/10 (Excellent) based on students’ reading and math proficiency on state assessments. Use our best districts in WA page to compare with other districts statewide.
School District · South Prairie, WA
White River School District
📍 Pierce County, WA · Zip Code 98385
9/10
Rating
4,408
Students
10
Schools
Pre-K – 12th
Grade Span
Great About this district: Public school district serving South Prairie, WA
District Contact & InformationSource: NCES 2024–2025
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Grades Served
Pre-K – 12th
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District Phone
🌐
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District Office
240 N A ST, BUCKLEY, WA 98321
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District Type
Public School District
Assigned Schools for Zip 98385
Based on NCES district data · Always verify directly with the district
Schools Nearest Zip Code 98385NCES 2024–2025
  • White River High School — 1.1 mi · Grades 9–12 · 1,340 students
  • White River Reengagement Program — 1.1 mi · Grades 9–12 · 40 students
  • White River Early Learning Center — 1.7 mi · Grades PK–K · 360 students
  • Foothills Elementary — 1.8 mi · Grades 1–5 · 470 students
  • Mountain Meadow Elementary — 1.9 mi · Grades 1–5 · 443 students
  • Wilkeson Elementary School — 3.5 mi · Grades K–5 · 253 students
  • White River Special Ed Services — 3.8 mi · Grades PK–K · 6 students
  • White River Homeschool — 3.8 mi · Grades K–12
Distance is measured from the center of zip code 98385 to each school, using Census ZCTA centroids and NCES school coordinates. This is a proximity list, not an attendance-zone assignment — the school your child is assigned to depends on your exact address, so confirm with the district.
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Elementary Schools
Pre-K – 5th Grade
Contact White River School District for your specific school assignment within zip code 98385.
Verify
with district
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Middle School
Grades 6 – 8
Contact White River School District for your specific school assignment within zip code 98385.
Verify
with district
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High School
Grades 9 – 12
Contact White River School District for your specific school assignment within zip code 98385.
Verify
with district
District Statisticsvs. National Average
MetricWhite River School DistrictNational AverageComparison
Student Enrollment4,4083,544↑ Larger than avg
Number of Schools107Varies by district
Per-Pupil Spending$15,052/yr$17,619/yr↓ 15% below avg
District TypePublic School DistrictPublic District—
Overall Rating9/10 — Excellent—Above average
Per-pupil figure: US Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, FY2024 — current spending per pupil, which excludes capital outlay and debt service. National averages: NCES Common Core of Data 2024–25, mean of the 13,327 regular operating districts (the median district enrolls about 1,100 students).
🌏 District Map Boundary from U.S. Census TIGER
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Always verify before deciding: Contact White River School District directly to confirm your exact school assignment. Boundaries change annually and open enrollment may alter your options. Nearby zip codes are served by Sumner School District and Orting School District — if your address is near a district line, your assignment may differ from this zip-level estimate.
How White River School District Compares NearbyState percentile · SBAC 2024–25
DistrictRatingPercentileStudents
White River School District (this district)9/1086th4,408
Sumner School District10/1095th10,414
Orting School District5/1045th2,748
Puyallup School District8/1071st23,104
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Reading proficiency: 65% · Math proficiency: 49.4% · Combined average: 57.2%
Ranked against 242 rated districts in WA → 86th percentile → 9/10.
Source: Washington OSPI SBAC ELA & Math, Meets/Exceeds Standard, 2024–25 school year. Full methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades does White River School District serve?▼
White River School District serves students from Pre-K – 12th. The district operates schools at multiple levels to serve all students in zip code 98385. Contact the district directly to confirm grade configurations at specific schools.
How do I contact White River School District?▼
You can reach White River School District via phone: (360)829-0600 or website: www.whiteriver.wednet.edu. The district office can help with school assignment questions, enrollment, registration, and general inquiries about programs and services in zip code 98385.
Is White River School District a public school district?▼
White River School District is classified as a public school district. Public school districts are funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars and are open to all students residing within district boundaries. Enrollment is generally free of charge, and students are assigned to schools based on home address. To confirm eligibility and enrollment requirements for zip code 98385, contact White River School District directly.

About White River School District

Zip code 98385 in White River, Washington is served by White River School District for public school enrollment. The district covers grades Pre-K – 12th. This page provides a data-driven overview of White River School District’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.

Understanding the 9/10 Rating

White River School District has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 9/10, placing it in the top-tier tier. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in Washington’s SBAC ELA & Math assessments (2024–25 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Washington is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.

White River School District ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Washington on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 98385 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.

Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 98385

Children in zip code 98385 are assigned to White River School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 98385, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.

To confirm your specific school assignments, contact White River School District at (360)829-0600 or visit www.whiteriver.wednet.edu. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Washington districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.

School Districts and Home Values in South Prairie

School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because White River School District serves zip code 98385, homes in and around zip code 98385 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.

Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Washington, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support White River School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 98385.

Data Sources and Accuracy

All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments and phone numbers are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring; per-pupil spending comes from the US Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances, released about two years after the fiscal year it covers. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with White River School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 98385 data.

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District at a Glance
Overall Rating9/10
GradeGreat
Grades ServedPre-K – 12th
District TypePublic School District
Total Students4,408
Total Schools10
Per-Pupil Spending$15,052/yr
Phone(360)829-0600
Data SourceNCES 2024