Washington High School

Washington High School is a public high school serving about 990 students in grades 9-12 within the Franklin Pierce School District in Tacoma, a district that ranks in the lower quarter statewide.

The school has a clear and significant strength: it graduates students at an exceptionally high rate, consistently above 90%, which is better than both the district and state averages and notably higher than its district counterpart, Franklin Pierce High School. It also has a very low dropout rate. However, this success in getting students to graduation stands in contrast to its academic proficiency scores, which are generally below state averages, particularly in mathematics where only about 15% of students are proficient. This creates a complex picture where student persistence is strong but core academic achievement faces challenges.

When compared to other local schools, Washington High outperforms several comprehensive high schools like Spanaway Lake High School in graduation rates but lags behind nearby specialized schools such as Industrial Design Engineering and Arts and General William H. Harrison Preparatory School in academic performance. The school's effectiveness varies widely for different student groups, with some, like English Language Learners, performing relatively well, while others face significant achievement gaps that require attention.