Acclaimed for being a leader in public-school innovation, the Federal Way District is among the top 10 highest-achieving districts in the state.

Schools across the district have adopted the small-school model, the district has expanded admission criteria for gifted and talented programs to draw a more diverse student population, and its most ambitious goal is attempting to close the achievement gap between minority and white students.

Federal Way provides statewide Internet-based education through its Internet Academy and beginning in 2008-09 will have a Technology Access Foundation Academy, aimed at encouraging girls and minority students to pursue science and math.

Focusing curriculum and instructional strategies on literacy helped raise WASL reading scores. Now the district is turning similar attention toward math one goal is for all 8th graders will take algebra to prepare them for rigorous math courses in high school.

Free summer school is available for students who are not performing at grade level, thanks to the support of Community in Schools Foundation of Federal way.

Superintendent: Tom Murphy has been superintendent since January 2000. He served as assistant superintendent from 1988-1999.

Alternative program: Harry S. Truman High School.

The numbers: 13.5% African-American, 15.4% Asian-American, 16.2% Hispanic, 1.4% Native American, 48.3% White; 43.6% low-income, 12.7% special-education, 10.5% ESL.

Funding: A four-year, $122 million operations levy and a six-year, $10.8 million tech levy were approved in 2004. A 20-year, $149 bond measure to rebuild five schools, three district facilities and upgrade all schools passed in May 2007.