The Tahoma School District is located in Maple Valley, a suburban community about 30 miles southeast of Seattle, and includes the communities of Ravensdale and Hobart.

Students coined the district's name in 1926 taking the first two letters of what had been three independent school districts: Taylor, Hobart and Maple Valley.

In 2005, the district completed a construction and remodeling program that included the construction of Tahoma Junior High and the renovation of Tahoma High School, Shadow Lake Elementary and Cedar River and Tahoma middle schools. Funds from a 2006 tech levy replaced old computers, bought new laptops, wireless Internet connections, document cameras and electronic whiteboards.

The district's WASL test scores, on average, are among the state's top 10 percent,

Superintendent: Mike Maryanski , who grew up in South King County, started working in the district as an elementary school teacher in 1970. He was deputy superintendent from 1989 to 1994 when he was appointed superintendent.

Alternative/home school programs: Maple Valley High School, Russell Ridge Center.

The numbers: 2.1% African-American, 4.3% Asian-American, 4.7% Hispanic, 1% Native American, 87.5% White, 10.8% low-income, 11.5% special-education, 2% ESL.

Funding: In 2006 voters approved a four-year, $46.5 million operations levy and a four-year, $10 million technology levy.