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Fife Elementary School

Q: Is Fife Elementary School a good school?

Fife Elementary School ranks 724 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Fife Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 866 students attended Fife Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Fife Elementary School?

Students at Fife Elementary School are 29% White, 24% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 12% Pacific Islander, 10% Asian, 10% African American.

Public Grades K-5

724^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Fife Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Tacoma, WA, serving 866 students in the Fife School District, and it stands out for making steady academic improvements despite having fewer resources per student than many neighboring schools.

The school is on a positive upward trend, climbing in statewide rankings over the past few years. Its math scores are notably stronger than the district average, and it shows particular effectiveness in supporting specific student groups. While the school serves a community with significant economic need, it outperforms several nearby schools with similar challenges, such as Enterprise Elementary School and Waller Road Elementary. Interestingly, Fife Elementary achieves these results with lower per-student spending compared to higher-funded schools like Roosevelt Elementary School and Lister Elementary School, which have much lower rankings.

Performance varies by grade level, with fourth grade being a particular strength, while third grade scores indicate an area for focused support. The school is positioned in the middle of a wide range of performance in the area, performing better than some lower-ranked schools but still behind higher performers like Northwood Elementary. Overall, Fife Elementary represents a case of a school efficiently using its resources to drive consistent improvement for its students.

866

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,328

Per pupil spending ?

60.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5804 20th Street E
Tacoma, WA 98424

(253) 517-1400

District: Fife School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

28.8%

Hispanic:

23.9%

Two or more races:

14.2%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Fife Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 22nd percentile in 2023 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2023

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (43% vs 48% meeting standards)

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

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg42%

Washington avg48%

724^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 16 pts since 2023

From bottom 22% (2023) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Fife School District

147^th of 247Fife 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
2025	36.4	724 of 1160	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.1	740 of 1168	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.0	915 of 1169	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	59.1	23 of 75	69.3%	★★★★☆
2024	64.8	19 of 71	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	60.6	23 of 66	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	115 of 189	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.2	110 of 163	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.6	145 of 170	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	32.3	203 of 303	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.6	257 of 320	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.6	218 of 254	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	30.2	777 of 1092	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.3	604 of 1093	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.2	881 of 1094	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	35.7	441 of 659	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	372 of 651	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.6	528 of 633	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	8 of 10	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	41.3	622 of 1013	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	651 of 1024	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	863 of 1013	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	41.7	637 of 1098	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.1	786 of 1099	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	842 of 1099	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	41.6	127 of 197	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	114 of 188	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.2	141 of 194	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	13.2	2 of 2	0.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	53.9	125 of 308	59.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.9	520 of 1007	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.1	611 of 1009	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	679 of 1011	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2025)69th percentile+32 vs school

Special Education (2023)59th percentile+38 vs school

White (2025)48th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile+4 vs school

Asian (2025)39th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)36th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)33rd percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)33rd percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)29th percentile-9 vs school

Homeless (2025)20th percentile-18 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)<1st percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science45%-5 vs state

English Language Arts42%-11 vs state

Math42%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Fife Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)					SBAC Math (2025)					% 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th 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
Fife Elementary School	Public	K-5	5804 20th Street E	Tacoma	98424	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 517-1400	866	52	16.6	60.3%	249 (28.8%)	88 (10.2%)	207 (23.9%)	90 (10.4%)	4 (0.5%)	105 (12.1%)	123 (14.2%)	36.4	724^th of 1160 public elementary schools	37.6%		36.1	740^th of 1168 public elementary schools	36.6%	16	44.9	44.9	28.7	49.3	47.8		42.2	33.3	50.7	40.8		41.6	85.7	86.6	88.2	88.2	88.2	86.6	90.8	87.4	86.6	86.6	$18,328	$659	$17,668
Discovery Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1205 19th Avenue	Milton	98354	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 517-1200	506	32	15.8	50.0%	213 (42.1%)	29 (5.7%)	127 (25.1%)	47 (9.3%)	2 (0.4%)	18 (3.6%)	70 (13.8%)								(n/a)													81.3	86.1	83.3	83.3	83.3	86.1	88.2	84.0	86.1	86.1	$21,999	$1,026	$20,973
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3550 E Roosevelt Ave	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4400	270	17	15.9	75.9%	35 (13.0%)	53 (19.6%)	89 (33.0%)	18 (6.7%)	11 (4.1%)	22 (8.1%)	41 (15.2%)	11.4	1070^th of 1160 public elementary schools	7.8%		17.9	1000^th of 1168 public elementary schools	14.4%	70	20.5	20.5	21.2	37.5	18.6		25.9	21.2	38.5	9.3		22.6	84.2	86.8	89.5	89.5	89.5	92.1	94.7	89.5	92.1	92.1	$25,563	$2,777	$22,786
Northwood Elementary	Public	K-6	9805 24th St E	Edgewood	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 841-8740	732	43	16.9	43.3%	318 (43.4%)	44 (6.0%)	108 (14.8%)	112 (15.3%)	6 (0.8%)	27 (3.7%)	117 (16.0%)	62.6	402^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	65.3%		61.6	425^th of 1168 public elementary schools	63.6%	23	64.1	64.1	54.2	47.8	61.2		56.3	56.1	49.6	56.3		55.6	91.5	94.0	96.6	96.6	96.6	92.3	92.3	94.0	92.3	92.3	$16,794	$328	$16,466
Lister Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2106 E 44th St	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-2900	376	22	17.3	78.7%	49 (13.0%)	85 (22.6%)	68 (18.1%)	58 (15.4%)	3 (0.8%)	30 (8.0%)	83 (22.1%)	9.6	1099^th of 1160 public elementary schools	5.3%		20	969^th of 1168 public elementary schools	17.0%	130	32.7	32.7	22.2	25.0	34.6		27.3	20.4	13.5	20.0		18.0	82.1	89.7	89.7	89.7	89.7	82.1	89.7	87.2	82.1	82.1	$23,364	$3,717	$19,647
Impact Public Schools	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1301 E 34th Street	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Impact \| Commencement Bay Elementary	Yes	No	No	Yes	(206) 769-3429	232	17	13.6	65.9%	50 (21.6%)	56 (24.1%)	63 (27.2%)	7 (3.0%)	3 (1.3%)	5 (2.2%)	48 (20.7%)	44.9	613^th of 1160 public elementary schools	47.2%					(n/a)			46.3	48.6			47.4	41.5	51.4			46.1	86.9	86.9	90.2	90.2	90.2	86.9	93.4	88.5	86.9	86.9	$21,390	$699	$20,692
Blix Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1302 E 38th St	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-7400	442	26	17.1	71.9%	88 (19.9%)	43 (9.7%)	187 (42.3%)	53 (12.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.6%)	54 (12.2%)	16	1013^th of 1160 public elementary schools	12.7%		13.2	1064^th of 1168 public elementary schools	8.9%	51	38.4	38.4	31.9	32.4	35.1		33.2	28.6	29.9	16.4		24.8	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	$21,433	$2,124	$19,309
Waller Road Elementary	Public	K-6	6312 Waller Rd E	Tacoma	98443	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8745	306	22	13.8	60.8%	159 (52.0%)	6 (2.0%)	65 (21.2%)	15 (4.9%)	16 (5.2%)	3 (1.0%)	42 (13.7%)	29.4	831^st of 1160 public elementary schools	28.4%		28.8	837^th of 1168 public elementary schools	28.3%	6	39.0	39.0	35.4	21.7	52.4	46.2	38.3	45.8	37.0	28.6	29.0	35.6	84.6	87.2	87.2	87.2	87.2	89.7	89.7	84.6	89.7	89.7	$20,703	$1,166	$19,537
Karshner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1328 8th Ave NW	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8736	405	28	14.3	53.8%	153 (37.8%)	27 (6.7%)	147 (36.3%)	29 (7.2%)	3 (0.7%)	9 (2.2%)	37 (9.1%)	26.6	873^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	24.7%		18	994^th of 1168 public elementary schools	14.9%	121	41.1	41.1	24.2	32.7	46.4	46.6	37.3	41.3	32.7	27.3	31.0	33.3	90.6	90.6	98.1	98.1	98.1	92.5	96.2	94.3	92.5	92.5	$17,213	$957	$16,257
N.E. Tacoma Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5412 29th St Ne	Tacoma	98422	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-6933	418	23	17.8	53.8%	138 (33.0%)	27 (6.5%)	110 (26.3%)	62 (14.8%)	6 (1.4%)	8 (1.9%)	67 (16.0%)	61.2	421^st of 1160 public elementary schools	63.7%		45.3	617^th of 1168 public elementary schools	47.2%	196	52.5	52.5	48.6	60.0	52.5		53.2	58.6	61.8	50.8		57.0	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	85.7	$21,142	$654	$20,488

Frequently Asked Questions about Fife Elementary School

What district is Fife Elementary School in?

Fife School District

How many students attend Fife Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 866 students attended Fife Elementary School.

Is Fife Elementary School a good school?

Fife Elementary School ranks 724^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Fife Elementary School?

Students at Fife Elementary School are 29% White, 24% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 12% Pacific Islander, 10% Asian, 10% African American.

Rate Fife Elementary School!

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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.