In Federal Way Public Schools, we are committed to providing high quality education and safe, supportive learning environments for the 23,000 scholars we serve.

I would like to address the concerns related to school ratings and taxes that were raised by a community member in a letter to the editor published July 13.

There are many school ratings systems, and depending on the system, FWPS ratings range from high to moderately low. Some of these systems are based off of state test scores, which capture one piece of information at one point in time. While an important piece of data, these test scores do not consider student growth or other highlights and achievements of our school system.

Across our 38 school sites, we have high performing schools, such as TAF Academy (now merged with TAF@Saghalie), which has been named a school of distinction for five consecutive years, as well as schools that are still emerging as high performing.

We have some of the highest graduation rates in the region, with an increase each year over the past five years. The class of 2017 reached 83.3 percent, the highest in recent history for Federal Way Public Schools.

As of the most recent data available (class of 2015), three of our four comprehensive high schools are outperforming the state in terms of scholars who persist two or more years in college and acquire a college or post-secondary degree.

We also share score cards and school improvement plans on each school’s website, so parents and community members have easy access to data around how each school is performing in various areas and what steps are being taken to ensure growth.

Washington state collects a statewide schools tax in support of public education. In 2018, as part of the Legislature’s compliance with the McCleary decision, local property owners paid more due to the increase in the Washington State Schools tax. However, this was a one-time increase, and beginning in 2019, local property owners will pay less for local school levy funding approved by Federal Way Public Schools’ voters.

With the changes to the local levies, even when considering the state schools tax increase, property owners will be paying less beginning in 2019. When our community and taxpayers invest in our schools, they place us in stewardship of Federal Way’s most valuable resource – our children.

We take this responsibility very seriously, and are grateful for our community’s collective commitment to bringing out the best in each of our 23,000 scholars in our care.

Superintendent Tammy Campbell, Federal Way Public Schools