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James Sales Elementary

Q: Is James Sales Elementary a good school?

James Sales Elementary ranks 554 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

554^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

James Sales Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 387 students in the Franklin Pierce School District in Tacoma, and it stands out as a strong and improving school within its community, particularly for how well it supports its students' academic growth.

Academically, the school is on a clear upward trend, now ranking in the top half of all Washington elementary schools and earning a 3-star rating, a significant recovery from lower rankings a few years ago. It performs better than the district average in all subjects and excels in mathematics, where it surpasses the state average. What's most notable is that James Sales achieves these strong results while serving a high-need population, and it demonstrates exceptional effectiveness with students from low-income families and those in special education, performing well above typical expectations for schools with similar demographics.

When compared to nearby schools like Midland Elementary, Elmhurst Elementary School, and Fern Hill Elementary School, James Sales ranks higher academically despite similar or greater challenges. It also operates efficiently, achieving better outcomes with mid-range per-student spending than some neighboring schools that spend more. The school's success story shows that with effective practices, strong student outcomes are achievable in the local area.

387

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,098

Per pupil spending ?

75.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1301 113th Street S
Tacoma, WA 98444

(253) 298-4205

District: Franklin Pierce School District

Students who attend James Sales Elementary usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

33.3%

White:

26.1%

Two or more races:

14.2%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare James Sales Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2015 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

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

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Franklin Pierce School District

✓Above the Washington median (52nd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg33%

Washington avg48%

554^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 23 pts since 2015

From bottom 29% (2015) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st 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	50.2	554 of 1160	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.0	434 of 1168	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.9	581 of 1169	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.7	632 of 1169	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.6	908 of 1107	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	51.4	566 of 1130	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	603 of 1054	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	37.4	684 of 1056	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.0	649 of 1053	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.1	757 of 1067	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	46.6	649 of 1106	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	53.5	543 of 1097	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	39.1	721 of 1092	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	24.1	900 of 1088	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	32.7	784 of 1072	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	19.8	919 of 1067	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	15.4	968 of 1069	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	20.6	909 of 1051	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	57.2	447 of 1031	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	28.5	782 of 1026	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	43.1	602 of 1092	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.8	352 of 1093	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.5	541 of 1094	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	589 of 1100	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.5	879 of 1008	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.0	645 of 1068	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.0	608 of 1004	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	80.3	74 of 659	88.8%	★★★★☆
2024	88.1	28 of 651	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	70.4	129 of 633	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	56.5	241 of 694	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	273 of 501	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.7	200 of 697	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	57.8	202 of 540	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	69.7	238 of 1013	76.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.8	114 of 1024	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	71.8	216 of 1013	78.7%	★★★★☆
2022	60.7	316 of 1019	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.4	580 of 854	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.3	151 of 979	84.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	423 of 1098	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.5	458 of 1099	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	583 of 1099	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.8	605 of 1113	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.6	863 of 1025	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.0	422 of 1075	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.2	543 of 999	45.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	51.0	99 of 197	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.5	153 of 194	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	63.3	98 of 252	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	69 of 128	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.0	133 of 303	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.7	103 of 212	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	70.3	73 of 363	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	51.1	161 of 339	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.0	333 of 566	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.8	461 of 637	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	583 of 1007	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.0	407 of 1009	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	430 of 1011	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.2	714 of 1031	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.0	319 of 1027	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	29.7	623 of 833	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)89th percentile+37 vs school

Special Education (2025)80th percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)77th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2025)61st percentile+9 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)50th percentile~ school

Female (2025)45th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)42nd percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science50%~ state avg

English Language Arts49%-4 vs state

Math48%+6 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Tuesday, March 2, 2021

It was a very great school back in the middle 70,s Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, February 13, 2009

The teachers really want to be there working with the students. Much of the leadership works hard for parent involvement. They offer many evening activities such as movie night and farmers markets. This is my first experience as a parent with public schools and so far I am very impressed. Close Quote

Schools Near James Sales 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Lakeview Hope Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	10501 47th AVE SW	Lakewood	98499	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 583-5320	540	39	13.8	84.1%	59 (10.9%)	52 (9.6%)	271 (50.2%)	24 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (8.9%)	50 (9.3%)	12.9	1051^st of 1160 public elementary schools	9.4%		10.2	1096^th of 1168 public elementary schools	6.2%	45	30.1	30.1	22.1	24.7	41.8	30.6	27.3	15.1	27.2	23.3	89.7	95.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	90.7	95.9	94.9	90.7	90.7	$22,791	$2,358	$20,433
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
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%)	36	729^th of 1160 public elementary schools	37.2%		35.5	747^th of 1168 public elementary schools	36.0%	18	51.6	51.6	33.3	43.6	52.4	42.9	34.8	37.7	42.2	38.1	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

Frequently Asked Questions about James Sales Elementary

What district is James Sales Elementary in?

Franklin Pierce School District

How many students attend James Sales Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 387 students attended James Sales Elementary.

What schools do graduates of James Sales Elementary attend?

Students who attend James Sales Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

What is the racial makeup of James Sales Elementary?

Students at James Sales Elementary are 33% Hispanic, 26% White, 14% Two or more races, 13% African American, 9% Pacific Islander, 3% Asian, 2% American Indian.

Is James Sales Elementary a good school?

James Sales Elementary ranks 554^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate James Sales Elementary!

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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.