Tacoma School District


Summary:

The Tacoma School District is a large, diverse system of 64 schools serving about 30,000 students from preschool through high school, though its overall state ranking falls in the lower half.

Performance varies dramatically across schools, with clear standouts like Stadium High School, known for its very high graduation rate, and Science and Math Institute (SAMi), which excels in science and English. At the elementary level, Browns Point Elementary and Sherman Elementary are top performers, while Edna Travis Elementary faces significant challenges. Specialized programs, such as the Tacoma School of the Arts and Industrial Design Engineering and Arts (IDEA), consistently rank well, suggesting these models are effective.

While the district's graduation rate is strong, proficiency in core subjects like math lags behind the state average. Some schools, including Dr. Dolores Silas High School, achieve excellent graduation outcomes despite lower test scores, highlighting different measures of success. Conversely, schools like Foss High School and Tacoma Open Doors struggle with very low proficiency or high dropout rates, even with substantial per-student funding in some cases, indicating that complex factors beyond spending influence results.

District Detail

 601 S 8th
Tacoma, WA 98401-1357

 (253) 571-1000

SchoolDigger Rank:
157th of 247 Washington districts

See the 2025 Washington District rankings!
Grades served: PK, KG-12
Students: 28,847

Primary Schools: 36
Middle Schools: 13
High Schools: 17
Alternative Schools: 1
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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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