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Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School

Q: Is Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School a good school?

Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School ranks 276 th of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

276^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,138 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Tacoma’s Bethel area serving 592 students, and it stands out as one of the strongest-performing elementary schools in the Bethel School District. The school ranks 276th out of 1,138 Washington schools, placing it in the 76th percentile with a four-star rating. Its 2025–26 proficiency rates were 59.63% in English language arts, 57.76% in math, and 67.74% in science—higher than both district and statewide rates in every subject.

The school’s recent academic trend is encouraging: results improved in all three subjects from the prior year, including a 9.60-point gain in science. Science is a particular strength, while math is also notable because the school’s 57.76% proficiency rate is well above the district’s 38.16%. Performance is strong across tested grades as well, with especially good fourth- and fifth-grade ELA and math results. The school also performs well for students from low-income households, whose subgroup ranking is in the 93rd percentile statewide. However, the special education subgroup ranks in the 16th percentile, making support and outcomes for these students an important area for families and school leaders to examine.

Among nearby schools, Clover Creek Elementary is the closest and most useful comparison. The two schools are nearly identical in ELA, but Katherine G. Johnson is ahead in math, science, and statewide ranking. It also outperforms Camas Prairie Elementary by 10.02 points in ELA, 4.40 points in math, and 19.78 points in science, while leading most other nearby Bethel schools by even wider margins. These results are notable because Katherine G. Johnson reports a relatively high 17.4-to-1 student-teacher ratio and lower per-student spending than nearby comparison schools. Overall, it is a strong, improving school with broad academic strengths, though families may want to ask specifically about special education services and whether recent science gains can be sustained.

592

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,576

Per pupil spending ?

54.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

16720 Waller Rd E
Tacoma, WA 98446

(253) 800-3000

District: Bethel School District

Students who attend Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Cedarcrest Middle School
High:	Spanaway Lake High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

26.5%

Two or more races:

20.8%

Hispanic:

18.9%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 62nd percentile in 2023 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (60% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Washington elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2023

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg44%

Washington avg48%

276^th of 1,138

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 14 pts since 2023

From top 38% (2023) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 19Elementary Schools in the Bethel School District

116^th of 238Bethel School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	73.7	276 of 1138	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	63.4	393 of 1160	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.8	340 of 1168	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.7	447 of 1169	61.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	87.1	2 of 82	97.6%	★★★★★
2025	46.5	40 of 75	46.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.5	10 of 71	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	79.3	9 of 66	86.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	85.0	34 of 303	88.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	39 of 320	87.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	86.5	131 of 1020	87.2%	★★★★☆
2025	66.9	313 of 1092	71.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.0	273 of 1093	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	334 of 1094	69.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	94.0	14 of 649	97.8%	★★★★★
2025	78.1	83 of 659	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	83.4	63 of 651	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	73.0	113 of 633	82.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	83.9	70 of 1008	93.1%	★★★★★
2025	79.1	126 of 1013	87.6%	★★★★☆
2024	82.0	95 of 1024	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	75.3	173 of 1013	82.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	64.4	353 of 1059	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.0	420 of 1098	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.8	391 of 1099	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.5	495 of 1099	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	50.5	26 of 45	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	76.6	5 of 39	87.2%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	74.5	13 of 119	89.1%	★★★★☆
2025	40.3	131 of 197	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	129 of 188	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	123 of 194	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	24.0	365 of 432	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	79.0	154 of 901	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	76.0	218 of 1007	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	266 of 1009	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	63.6	358 of 1011	64.6%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)98th percentile+22 vs school

African American (2026)98th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile+17 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)89th percentile+13 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)89th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)87th percentile+11 vs school

White (2026)83rd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)67th percentile-9 vs school

Military Connected (2025)42nd percentile-24 vs school

Special Education (2026)16th percentile-60 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

Science68%+17 vs state

English Language Arts60%+7 vs state

Math58%+15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Math (2026)				% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16720 Waller Rd E	Tacoma	98446	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-3000	592	34	17.4	54.9%	157 (26.5%)	87 (14.7%)	112 (18.9%)	57 (9.6%)	9 (1.5%)	47 (7.9%)	123 (20.8%)	73.7	276^th of 1138 public elementary schools	75.7%		63.4	393^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	66.1%	117	67.7	67.7	53.3	62.3	63.4	59.6	58.9	60.7	52.7	57.8	89.9	92.1	92.1	92.1	92.1	91.0	96.6	92.1	91.0	91.0	$16,576	$1,246	$15,330
Clover Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	16715 36th Avenue East	Tacoma	98446	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-7800	617	39	15.9	51.5%	201 (32.6%)	63 (10.2%)	133 (21.6%)	44 (7.1%)	3 (0.5%)	53 (8.6%)	120 (19.4%)	70.8	306^th of 1138 public elementary schools	73.1%		64.7	381^st of 1160 public elementary schools	67.2%	75	65.4	65.4	48.1	66.7	65.4	59.8	52.4	59.8	53.9	55.2	94.8	94.8	97.9	97.9	97.9	94.8	99.0	96.9	94.8	94.8	$17,145	$1,176	$15,968
Naches Trail Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	15505 Waller Road East	Tacoma	98446	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8700	519	32	16.4	57.4%	193 (37.2%)	50 (9.6%)	117 (22.5%)	28 (5.4%)	5 (1.0%)	22 (4.2%)	104 (20.0%)	30.4	787^th of 1138 public elementary schools	30.8%		33.6	772^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	33.4%	15	41.1	41.1	35.9	41.6	33.9	37.6	46.9	45.5	16.1	37.6	91.1	92.9	96.4	96.4	96.4	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	$22,960	$1,689	$21,271
Evergreen Elementary	Public	K-5	1311 172nd Street East	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8200	530	36	14.6	66.4%	187 (35.3%)	42 (7.9%)	118 (22.3%)	28 (5.3%)	5 (0.9%)	33 (6.2%)	117 (22.1%)	36.3	733^rd of 1138 public elementary schools	35.6%		30.8	815^th of 1160 public elementary schools	29.7%	82	39.3	39.3	49.4	38.8	41.7	43.3	50.6	45.7	25.0	40.3	86.8	89.0	89.0	89.0	89.0	86.8	92.3	89.0	86.8	86.8	$18,239	$1,631	$16,608
Chester H Thompson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	303 159th St E	Tacoma	98445	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5800	688	41	16.6	67.2%	141 (20.5%)	45 (6.5%)	339 (49.3%)	17 (2.5%)	3 (0.4%)	46 (6.7%)	97 (14.1%)	29.3	802^nd of 1138 public elementary schools	29.5%		27.8	856^th of 1160 public elementary schools	26.2%	54	35.6	35.6	38.2	44.6	35.0	39.0	42.2	43.4	29.0	37.9	85.3	86.2	86.2	86.2	86.2	87.1	94.8	86.2	87.1	87.1	$20,098	$1,707	$18,391
Camas Prairie Elementary	Public	K-5	320 176th Street East	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-7400	529	39	13.5	67.9%	151 (28.5%)	47 (8.9%)	140 (26.5%)	29 (5.5%)	1 (0.2%)	57 (10.8%)	104 (19.7%)	55.5	486^th of 1138 public elementary schools	57.3%		62.1	410^th of 1160 public elementary schools	64.7%	76	48.0	48.0	46.6	55.6	47.9	49.6	55.8	53.5	51.0	53.4	86.4	89.8	89.8	89.8	89.8	87.5	94.3	88.6	87.5	87.5	$20,664	$1,504	$19,160
Bethel Hope Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	214 167th St. S	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-4100	163	7	23.2	74.2%	56 (34.4%)	13 (8.0%)	51 (31.3%)	3 (1.8%)	6 (3.7%)	5 (3.1%)	29 (17.8%)								(n/a)																					$20,475	$1,175	$19,300
Spanaway Elementary	Public	K-5	412 165th St S	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5300	371	26	14.3	70.9%	127 (34.2%)	31 (8.4%)	90 (24.3%)	14 (3.8%)	4 (1.1%)	31 (8.4%)	74 (19.9%)	37.5	712^th of 1138 public elementary schools	37.4%		35.3	744^th of 1160 public elementary schools	35.9%	32	29.1	29.1	40.4	45.3	45.5	43.9	48.1	43.8	40.0	43.9	88.7	94.4	93.0	93.0	93.0	94.4	97.2	91.6	94.4	94.4	$21,595	$1,533	$20,062
Collins Elementary	Public	K-5	1920 128th Street E	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-3405	466	31	15.0	55.4%	178 (38.2%)	41 (8.8%)	115 (24.7%)	40 (8.6%)	3 (0.6%)	23 (4.9%)	66 (14.2%)	46	598^th of 1138 public elementary schools	47.5%		36	729^th of 1160 public elementary schools	37.2%	131	61.8	61.8	34.7	42.7	60.5	45.0	37.8	50.0	42.1	42.6	93.1	93.1	94.3	94.3	94.3	93.1	94.3	93.1	93.1	93.1	$17,541	$1,011	$16,531
Elmhurst Elementary School	Public	K-5	420 133rd ST E	Tacoma	98445	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-3505	335	24	14.0	68.7%	105 (31.3%)	56 (16.7%)	71 (21.2%)	14 (4.2%)	3 (0.9%)	20 (6.0%)	66 (19.7%)	11.3	1019^th of 1138 public elementary schools	10.5%		14.2	1036^th of 1160 public elementary schools	10.7%	17	34.0	34.0	31.5	16.7	29.6	25.6	37.0	28.3	13.0	26.2	92.1	94.7	92.1	92.1	92.1	94.7	97.4	92.1	94.7	94.7	$21,953	$992	$20,961

Frequently Asked Questions about Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School

How many students attend Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 592 students attended Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School.

Is Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School a good school?

Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School ranks 276^th of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School in?

Bethel School District

What schools do graduates of Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cedarcrest Middle School
High : Spanaway Lake High School

What is the racial makeup of Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?

Students at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School are 27% White, 21% Two or more races, 19% Hispanic, 15% African American, 10% Asian, 8% Pacific Islander, 2% American Indian.

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.