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Central Avenue Elementary

Public Grades K-5

862^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,138 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Central Avenue Elementary is a K–5 school in Tacoma serving 355 students in the Franklin Pierce School District. The school serves a largely low-income community, with 59.15% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–2025. Its student-teacher ratio is 13.6:1, the lowest among nearby Franklin Pierce schools with comparable data. Even with these favorable staffing and resource measures, Central Avenue Elementary ranks in the 24th statewide percentile, or 862nd out of 1,138 Washington schools.

The school performs better than its district in all three latest tested subjects: 40.46% of students are proficient in English language arts, 35.84% in math, and 36.54% in science. Its strongest relative area is math, which is nearly 9 points above the district average. Fourth-grade math is a particular bright spot at 49.06%, close to the statewide rate. However, fifth-grade math drops sharply to 18.87%, making it the clearest immediate concern. Science is another priority: performance fell from 50.98% in 2023–2024 to 36.54% in 2025–2026. English language arts has been comparatively steady near 40%–43%. The school also has a notably strong English Language Learner effectiveness ranking, at the 83rd percentile.

Within the district, Collins Elementary and Midland Elementary currently outperform Central Avenue Elementary overall, while the school is stronger than Elmhurst Elementary School in all three subjects and ahead of Harvard Elementary in ELA and math. Nearby Woodland Elementary and Fruitland Elementary post substantially higher results, reflecting the broader gap between the Franklin Pierce School District and the Puyallup School District. Key questions for families and school leaders are how to strengthen fifth-grade math, reverse the science decline, and apply successful ELL practices more broadly.

355

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,200

Per pupil spending ?

59.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4505 104th St E
Tacoma, WA 98446

(253) 298-3205

District: Franklin Pierce School District

Students who attend Central Avenue Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Morris Ford Middle School
High:	Franklin Pierce High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

34.6%

Hispanic:

29.9%

Two or more races:

12.1%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Central Avenue Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (38% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg32%

Washington avg48%

862^nd of 1,138

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 44% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Franklin Pierce School District

192^nd of 238Franklin Pierce 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	24.6	862 of 1138	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.4	895 of 1160	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.8	858 of 1168	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.6	804 of 1169	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.4	873 of 1169	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.5	659 of 1107	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.2	673 of 1130	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.3	679 of 1054	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.6	716 of 1056	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	45.6	592 of 1053	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	42.4	634 of 1067	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.9	464 of 1106	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.2	478 of 1097	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.9	447 of 1092	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	54.7	485 of 1088	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.6	456 of 1072	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.5	540 of 1067	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	33.9	763 of 1069	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	30.1	796 of 1051	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	37.5	697 of 1031	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	27.7	793 of 1026	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	71.8	56 of 326	82.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	36.4	680 of 1020	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.3	789 of 1092	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	728 of 1093	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.1	679 of 1094	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.2	853 of 1100	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.1	666 of 1008	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	610 of 1068	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.2	605 of 1004	39.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	22.5	550 of 649	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.3	519 of 659	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	65.3	198 of 651	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.2	492 of 633	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.8	511 of 694	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	51.6	180 of 501	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.6	264 of 697	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.6	319 of 540	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	695 of 1008	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.2	790 of 1013	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.5	627 of 1024	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.1	611 of 1013	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.7	803 of 1019	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.1	406 of 854	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.4	372 of 979	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.8	424 of 835	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	28.8	798 of 1059	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.6	925 of 1098	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	878 of 1099	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	841 of 1099	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.5	826 of 1113	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.1	587 of 1025	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.0	657 of 1075	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.0	676 of 999	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	33.6	221 of 303	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	65.0	308 of 901	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.2	686 of 1007	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.2	882 of 1009	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.0	755 of 1011	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	949 of 1031	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.6	790 of 943	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.6	750 of 1027	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	652 of 833	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)83rd percentile+59 vs school

White (2026)66th percentile+42 vs school

Female (2026)33rd percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)31st percentile+7 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)27th percentile-13 vs school

Male (2026)25th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)15th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts40%-12 vs state

Science37%-14 vs state

Math36%-7 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 20, 2019

Teachers are crap! If you want an education for your child, don’t go. Get out of the district! If you want a child bullied (say you will contact your lawyer if you want anything done) teacher won’t correspond with you, teachers are mean! They really need more training on how to handle kids here. The principal when my child started was great, the new does not compare. The school has went down hill. I’m so happy to be out of that district! Close Quote

Schools Near Central Avenue Elementary

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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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th 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 7th 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
Central Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	4505 104th St E	Tacoma	98446	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-3205	355	26	13.6	59.2%	123 (34.6%)	38 (10.7%)	106 (29.9%)	38 (10.7%)	4 (1.1%)	3 (0.8%)	43 (12.1%)	24.6	862^nd of 1138 public elementary schools	24.3%		25.4	895^th of 1160 public elementary schools	22.8%	33	36.5	36.5	35.8	45.3	41.5			40.5	38.8	49.1	18.9			35.8	89.5	89.5	93.0	93.0	93.0	91.2	93.0	93.0	91.2	91.2	$22,200	$1,020	$21,180
Midland Elementary	Public	K-5	2300 105th St E	Tacoma	98445	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-4500	399	27	14.7	69.4%	96 (24.1%)	54 (13.5%)	115 (28.8%)	25 (6.3%)	4 (1.0%)	38 (9.5%)	67 (16.8%)	40.3	671^st of 1138 public elementary schools	41.0%		37.4	713^th of 1160 public elementary schools	38.5%	42	38.6	38.6	55.7	42.0	42.1			46.9	59.2	29.0	33.3			41.1	92.5	92.5	94.3	94.3	94.3	92.5	96.2	94.3	92.5	92.5	$21,406	$1,008	$20,397
Woodland Elementary	Public	K-6	7707 112th St E	Puyallup	98373	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8747	606	34	17.6	49.8%	279 (46.0%)	33 (5.4%)	140 (23.1%)	38 (6.3%)	6 (1.0%)	23 (3.8%)	87 (14.4%)	71.8	297^th of 1138 public elementary schools	73.9%		64.7	379^th of 1160 public elementary schools	67.3%	82	68.7	68.7	52.9	54.9	68.2	59.8		58.6	50.6	53.6	53.6	61.0		54.6	92.9	94.3	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	95.7	97.1	98.6	98.6	$17,281	$493	$16,788
Harvard Elementary	Public	K-5	1709 85th Street E	Tacoma	98445	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-4105	445	29	15.6	75.7%	58 (13.0%)	45 (10.1%)	268 (60.2%)	23 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.0%)	41 (9.2%)	29	809^th of 1138 public elementary schools	28.9%		14.5	1034^th of 1160 public elementary schools	10.9%	225	49.3	49.3	27.6	20.6	52.2			33.3	32.0	20.9	49.3			34.1	92.7	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	95.6	97.1	94.1	95.6	95.6	$20,089	$1,063	$19,026
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
Fruitland Elementary	Public	K-6	1515 Fruitland Ave	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 841-8734	566	31	18.1	29.7%	366 (64.7%)	12 (2.1%)	59 (10.4%)	40 (7.1%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.5%)	80 (14.1%)	72.5	290^th of 1138 public elementary schools	74.5%		79.2	217^th of 1160 public elementary schools	81.3%	73	61.9	61.9	55.3	51.1	57.8	69.0		58.2	72.9	58.5	51.8	46.0		57.3	95.2	95.2	96.4	96.4	96.4	95.2	95.2	96.4	95.2	95.2	$16,777	$170	$16,607
Puyallup Parent Partnership Program	Public	K-8	1501 39th Ave SW	Puyallup	98373	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 864-5700	96	3	32.0	52.1%	47 (49.0%)	6 (6.3%)	20 (20.8%)	3 (3.1%)	2 (2.1%)	3 (3.1%)	15 (15.6%)								(n/a)	50.0	50.0		63.6				53.6						19.2											$18,121	$170	$17,951
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%)	36.1	735^th of 1138 public elementary schools	35.4%		29.4	831^st of 1160 public elementary schools	28.4%	96	39.5	39.5	30.8	32.1	25.6	62.5		37.1	53.9	30.2	30.2	55.0		41.1	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
Larchmont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8601 E B St	Tacoma	98445	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-6200	303	20	14.9	71.6%	56 (18.5%)	36 (11.9%)	104 (34.3%)	30 (9.9%)	2 (0.7%)	24 (7.9%)	51 (16.8%)	15.7	956^th of 1138 public elementary schools	16.0%		23.2	932^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	19.7%	24	23.4	23.4	33.3	32.4	27.7			30.9	35.9	37.8	14.9			28.5	93.0	95.4	95.4	97.7	97.7	95.4	97.7	93.0	95.4	95.4	$25,507	$3,983	$21,524
Dessie F Evans Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	7911 144th St E	Puyallup	98375	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 864-5500	919	51	17.9	49.9%	378 (41.1%)	60 (6.5%)	288 (31.3%)	54 (5.9%)	7 (0.8%)	22 (2.4%)	110 (12.0%)	46.1	594^th of 1138 public elementary schools	47.8%		51.3	546^th of 1160 public elementary schools	52.9%	48	48.8	48.8	43.8	41.4	45.3	51.7		45.7	47.9	46.2	37.5	39.9		42.9	93.9	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	96.6	98.0	95.2	96.6	96.6	$17,051	$377	$16,674

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Avenue Elementary

What district is Central Avenue Elementary in?

Franklin Pierce School District

How many students attend Central Avenue Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 355 students attended Central Avenue Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Central Avenue Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Avenue Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Morris Ford Middle School
High : Franklin Pierce High School

What is the racial makeup of Central Avenue Elementary?

Students at Central Avenue Elementary are 35% White, 30% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 11% African American, 11% Asian, 1% American Indian.

Is Central Avenue Elementary a good school?

Central Avenue Elementary ranks in the bottom 24.3% of Washington elementary schools.

Rate Central Avenue Elementary!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresNewSep 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.