Tukwila is just south of Seattle and close to the Interstate 5 and 405 freeways.

The school district has one of the highest percentages of minority and immigrant populations in the Puget Sound region and more than 70% of its students come from low-income families.

But this is the little district that can. It has used a number of state and national grants to address its challenges, and is working with the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership to use student assessment data to guide and improve instruction.

The district has an average student to teacher ratio of 1:25, some 25 National Board certified teachers and more working on certification, and a number of partnerships designed to raise the achievement levels of all students, such as a collaboration with the Tukwila Children's Foundation to offer regular parent-education classes to help families prepare their young children for kindergarten.

Superintendent: Ethelda Burke, who initially served as interim superintendent from October, 2007, was named superintendent in July, 2008.

The numbers: 23.9% African-America, 18.4% Asian-American, 22.6% Hispanic, 1.6% Native American, 28.8% White, 71% low-income, 8.6% special-education, 34% ESL.

Funding: A four-year, $31.7 million operations levy was approved by voters in 2008.