Public schools in Kent, now the state's fourth-largest district, are located in 73 square miles in South King County that includes unincorporated King County and portions of Auburn, Black Diamond, Maple Valley, Renton and SeaTac.

Test scores in the Kent School District are above the state average in math and near the state average in reading, while SAT scores are above the national average in reading and math.

Superintendent: Barbara Grohe has led the district since 1999.

Alternative/home schooling programs: Kent Mountain View Academy, Kent Night Academy.

The numbers: 10.3% African-American, 15% Asian-American, 9.5% Hispanic, 1.3% Native American, 1.4% Pacific Islander, 3.7% multi-racial and 57% White; 34.7% low-income, 12.2% special-education, 13.3% ESL.

Funding: In 2006 voters approved a four-year, $184 million operations levy; a four-year, $20 million technology levy and a 20-year, $106 million construction bond measure.