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Christensen Elementary

Q: Is Christensen Elementary a good school?

Christensen Elementary ranks 826 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

826^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Christensen Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 346 students in Tacoma, Washington, within the Franklin Pierce School District, and it stands out as a school showing significant academic improvement in recent years despite serving a community with high economic need.

The school's statewide ranking has made a remarkable climb from the bottom 4% of schools three years ago to the top 29% in the 2024-2025 school year, a faster rate of improvement than most nearby schools. This progress is particularly notable because the student population has remained consistent, suggesting the gains come from effective school practices. Christensen shows special strength in supporting English Language Learners and Hispanic students, with these groups performing well above the school's average. However, the school faces a clear challenge in 4th-grade math, where proficiency rates are much lower than in other grades and compared to schools like James Sales Elementary or Brookdale Elementary.

When comparing resources and results, Christensen gets more academic return for its spending than several neighboring schools in the Tacoma School District, such as Arlington Elementary School and Larchmont Elementary School, which spend more per student but have lower rankings. The most compelling local comparison is with James Sales Elementary, located less than a mile away in the same district with nearly identical demographics and resources, yet ranking significantly higher, highlighting how factors like teaching methods or school leadership can create different outcomes even in similar settings.

346

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,640

Per pupil spending ?

74.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10232 Barnes Lane S
Tacoma, WA 98444-2799

(253) 298-3305

District: Franklin Pierce School District

Students who attend Christensen Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Perry G Keithley Middle School
High:	Washington High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

32.1%

White:

19.4%

Two or more races:

16.5%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Christensen Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 6th percentile in 2015 → 29th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 23 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (37% vs 48% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg31%

Washington avg48%

826^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 23 pts since 2015

From bottom 6% (2015) to bottom 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

200^th of 247Franklin 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
2025	29.8	826 of 1160	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.2	1023 of 1168	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	1036 of 1169	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	1117 of 1169	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.6	1016 of 1107	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.2	1031 of 1130	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.2	847 of 1054	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	11.6	982 of 1056	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.8	975 of 1053	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	10.3	1000 of 1067	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	45.3	658 of 1106	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	31.5	831 of 1097	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.2	744 of 1092	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	32.0	807 of 1088	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.0	759 of 1072	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.0	810 of 1067	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	20.0	924 of 1069	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	10.7	996 of 1051	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	20.2	865 of 1031	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	19.8	873 of 1026	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	35.2	81 of 107	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	54.3	121 of 320	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.6	87 of 254	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	29.1	792 of 1092	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.1	1024 of 1093	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	873 of 1094	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	1040 of 1100	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	840 of 1008	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.4	951 of 1068	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.6	801 of 1004	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	45.7	356 of 659	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	384 of 651	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	431 of 633	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.2	655 of 694	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	33.0	335 of 501	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.2	548 of 697	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.2	295 of 540	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	46.8	530 of 1013	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.1	776 of 1024	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.2	846 of 1013	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	907 of 1019	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.6	723 of 854	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.0	795 of 979	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	36.0	709 of 1098	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.1	873 of 1099	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.1	971 of 1099	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.4	1048 of 1113	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.6	990 of 1025	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.2	1013 of 1075	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.0	800 of 999	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	12.3	187 of 194	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.9	294 of 303	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	69.4	1 of 3	66.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	25.1	808 of 1009	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	854 of 1011	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.1	920 of 1031	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.3	841 of 943	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.8	919 of 1027	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.9	664 of 833	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Pacific Islander (2024)67th percentile+54 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)62nd percentile+50 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2025)46th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2025)35th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile~ school

African American (2018)24th percentile+5 vs school

White (2024)20th percentile+8 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)4th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts42%-11 vs state

Math33%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Christensen Elementary

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 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
Christensen Elementary	Public	K-5	10232 Barnes Lane S	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-3305	346	23	15.0	74.3%	67 (19.4%)	55 (15.9%)	111 (32.1%)	9 (2.6%)	5 (1.4%)	42 (12.1%)	57 (16.5%)	29.8	826^th of 1160 public elementary schools	28.8%		16.2	1023^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	12.4%	197			46.8	29.3	51.1	41.9	44.4	19.0	33.3	32.5	87.5	94.6	96.4	96.4	96.4	91.1	96.4	92.9	91.1	91.1	$19,640	$1,042	$18,598
James Sales Elementary	Public	K-5	1301 113th Street S	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-4205	387	24	16.1	75.2%	101 (26.1%)	49 (12.7%)	129 (33.3%)	11 (2.8%)	6 (1.6%)	36 (9.3%)	55 (14.2%)	50.2	554^th of 1160 public elementary schools	52.2%		61	434^th of 1168 public elementary schools	62.8%	120	50.0	50.0	43.2	46.0	61.5	49.2	43.2	48.4	54.7	48.2	86.9	88.5	91.8	91.8	91.8	88.5	90.2	88.5	88.5	88.5	$20,098	$1,027	$19,072
Helen Stafford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1615 South 92nd St	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4300	453	24	19.0	74.4%	67 (14.8%)	59 (13.0%)	134 (29.6%)	79 (17.4%)	2 (0.4%)	35 (7.7%)	77 (17.0%)	16.3	1009^th of 1160 public elementary schools	13.0%		17	1011^th of 1168 public elementary schools	13.4%	2	26.7	26.7	28.2	37.9	24.3	29.5	32.1	39.7	20.0	29.9	84.4	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	85.9	$20,167	$1,389	$18,777
Fern Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8442 S Park Ave	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-3888	311	17	18.1	71.1%	63 (20.3%)	32 (10.3%)	119 (38.3%)	26 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.8%)	50 (16.1%)	40.8	668^th of 1160 public elementary schools	42.4%		46.2	606^th of 1168 public elementary schools	48.1%	62	56.4	56.4	37.1	26.7	66.7	42.2	41.7	31.1	48.7	39.8	91.4	94.3	91.4	91.4	91.4	94.3	100.0	91.4	94.3	94.3	$23,035	$2,656	$20,379
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%)	23.2	932^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	19.7%		21.1	954^th of 1168 public elementary schools	18.3%	22	37.8	37.8	35.0	37.0	43.2	38.2	45.0	26.1	21.6	30.9	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
Birney Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7627 South Sheridan Ave	Tacoma	98408	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4600	476	33	14.3	71.6%	102 (21.4%)	59 (12.4%)	145 (30.5%)	60 (12.6%)	5 (1.1%)	37 (7.8%)	68 (14.3%)	12.9	1050^th of 1160 public elementary schools	9.5%		13.1	1066^th of 1168 public elementary schools	8.7%	16	32.9	32.9	32.0	20.0	41.7	31.3	24.3	15.7	20.8	20.4	89.7	91.0	91.0	91.0	91.0	91.0	94.9	91.0	91.0	91.0	$23,598	$3,293	$20,305
Brookdale Elementary	Public	K-5	611 132nd St S.	Tacoma	98444	Pierce County	Franklin Pierce School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 298-3105	483	32	15.0	69.2%	132 (27.3%)	59 (12.2%)	154 (31.9%)	19 (3.9%)	3 (0.6%)	34 (7.0%)	82 (17.0%)	33.3	778^th of 1160 public elementary schools	32.9%		29.9	817^th of 1168 public elementary schools	30.1%	39	48.1	48.1	39.7	39.8	46.3	41.9	39.7	42.1	32.9	38.3	80.4	82.1	83.9	83.9	83.9	80.4	85.7	83.9	80.4	80.4	$18,847	$1,005	$17,842
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%)	14.2	1036^th of 1160 public elementary schools	10.7%		12.8	1071^st of 1168 public elementary schools	8.3%	35	22.2	22.2	23.6	35.2	39.3	32.7	16.4	25.5	30.4	24.1	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
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%)	37.4	713^th of 1160 public elementary schools	38.5%		26.6	876^th of 1168 public elementary schools	25.0%	163	46.7	46.7	39.7	41.3	53.3	44.6	35.9	48.4	36.7	40.3	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
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%)	14.5	1034^th of 1160 public elementary schools	10.9%		12.1	1080^th of 1168 public elementary schools	7.5%	46	40.3	40.3	22.1	16.7	37.5	25.3	20.8	23.6	31.9	25.3	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Christensen Elementary

What district is Christensen Elementary in?

Franklin Pierce School District

Is Christensen Elementary a good school?

Christensen Elementary ranks 826^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Christensen Elementary attend?

Students who attend Christensen Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Perry G Keithley Middle School
High : Washington High School

How many students attend Christensen Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 346 students attended Christensen Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Christensen Elementary?

Students at Christensen Elementary are 32% Hispanic, 19% White, 16% Two or more races, 16% African American, 12% Pacific Islander, 3% Asian, 1% American Indian.

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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.