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Downing Elementary School

Q: Is Downing Elementary School a good school?

Downing Elementary School ranks 325 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

325^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Downing Elementary School is a public PK-5 school serving about 300 students in the Tacoma School District, known for its strong academic results while serving a community with significant economic need.

What truly sets Downing apart is its exceptional effectiveness in supporting students from low-income families, ranking in the state's top 2% for this group, and its standout science program where nearly 70% of students are proficient. The school invests significantly more per student than most neighbors, which likely supports these strong outcomes. While its overall state ranking dipped slightly this year, it remains a well-regarded 4-star school that consistently outperforms both district and state averages. This is notable when compared to nearby schools like Skyline Elementary School, which serves a similar population but ranks lower, and contrasts sharply with the much lower scores at the local Tacoma Online Elementary School.

However, parents should note that some other area schools, such as Sherman Elementary School and Washington Elementary School, achieve higher overall test scores, but they serve far fewer students in need. Downing's performance shows some variation by grade level, with fifth graders excelling in English and third graders in math, suggesting some areas for focused growth. Ultimately, Downing represents a compelling option for families, demonstrating that a school can achieve notable success while serving a high-need community.

298

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,124

Per pupil spending ?

53.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5130 N. 26th Street
Tacoma, WA 98406

(253) 571-7100

District: Tacoma School District

Students who attend Downing Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Dr. Dolores Silas High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.4%

Two or more races:

19.8%

Hispanic:

11.4%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Downing Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2015 → 72nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (62% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Tacoma School District

✓Above the Washington median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school62%

District avg40%

Washington avg48%

325^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From top 15% (2015) to top 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 34Elementary Schools in the Tacoma School District

157^th of 247Tacoma 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	68.6	325 of 1160	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	192 of 1168	83.6%	★★★★☆
2023	83.1	188 of 1169	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.0	221 of 1169	81.1%	★★★★☆
2021	65.3	352 of 1107	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.9	360 of 1130	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	392 of 1054	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.5	340 of 1056	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.4	431 of 1053	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	82.2	161 of 1067	84.9%	★★★★☆
2013	56.0	511 of 1106	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.9	455 of 1097	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.0	471 of 1092	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	40.4	692 of 1088	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.0	700 of 1072	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.2	481 of 1067	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.8	379 of 1069	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.5	499 of 1051	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	50.2	525 of 1031	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	50.9	519 of 1026	49.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	64.6	344 of 1092	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.3	243 of 1093	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	175 of 1094	84.0%	★★★★☆
2022	71.8	288 of 1100	73.8%	★★★★☆
2021	66.6	301 of 1008	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	64.1	384 of 1068	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	375 of 1004	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	76.1	159 of 1013	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	92.3	20 of 1024	98.0%	★★★★★
2023	78.8	138 of 1013	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	87.4	47 of 1019	95.4%	★★★★★
2019	65.3	283 of 979	71.1%	★★★★☆
2018	74.5	129 of 835	84.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	70.1	300 of 1098	72.7%	★★★★☆
2024	81.2	194 of 1099	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	75.8	239 of 1099	78.3%	★★★★☆
2022	87.3	124 of 1113	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	327 of 1025	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.9	322 of 1075	70.0%	★★★★☆
2018	55.1	449 of 999	55.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	279 of 1007	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.8	195 of 1009	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	79.7	182 of 1011	82.0%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	219 of 1031	78.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.7	322 of 943	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.9	416 of 1027	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.6	331 of 833	60.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)73rd percentile~ school

White (2025)72nd percentile~ school

Female (2025)68th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science68%+19 vs state

English Language Arts62%+9 vs state

Math55%+12 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★0

4★1

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, March 28, 2021

The principal is rude and speaks poorly about you’re a child when they’re having a bad day. Also there is absolutely zero recycling, everything goes straight to the trash. Close Quote

Schools Near Downing 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 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
Downing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5130 N. 26th Street	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-7100	298	17	18.0	53.4%	174 (58.4%)	20 (6.7%)	34 (11.4%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	59 (19.8%)	68.6	325^th of 1160 public elementary schools	72.0%		83	192^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	83.6%	133	68.2	68.2	56.1	52.8	75.0	62.0	56.1	47.2	59.1	54.6	90.7	90.7	93.0	93.0	93.0	90.7	93.0	90.7	90.7	90.7	$23,124	$1,909	$21,215
Skyline Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6301 N. 23rd St	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-7800	329	22	15.1	53.2%	162 (49.2%)	30 (9.1%)	58 (17.6%)	11 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	65 (19.8%)	45.9	603^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	48.0%		50.8	552^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	52.7%	51	51.0	51.0	40.8	47.6	56.9	48.6	44.0	46.5	45.1	45.1	93.3	95.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	93.3	93.3	95.0	95.0	$21,344	$1,257	$20,087
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4302 North 13th St	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-4000	358	19	18.5	38.0%	187 (52.2%)	24 (6.7%)	50 (14.0%)	18 (5.0%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.8%)	73 (20.4%)	84	178^th of 1160 public elementary schools	84.7%		86.2	152^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	87.0%	26	80.3	80.3	74.1	66.0	83.6	75.0	74.1	50.9	60.0	61.7	82.9	90.2	95.1	95.1	95.1	90.2	92.7	92.7	90.2	90.2	$22,768	$3,463	$19,306
Tacoma Online Elementary School	Public, Virtual	K-5	6501 N.23rd St.	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(253) 571-1545	144	11	12.8	66.0%	34 (23.6%)	28 (19.4%)	37 (25.7%)	7 (4.9%)	2 (1.4%)	8 (5.6%)	28 (19.4%)								(n/a)			66.7			41.7	66.7			38.5	71.4	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	76.2	$21,210	$1,472	$19,738
Washington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2615 N. Adams Street	Tacoma	98407	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-5700	383	19	19.8	20.9%	277 (72.3%)	11 (2.9%)	35 (9.1%)	15 (3.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (11.5%)	85.3	165^th of 1160 public elementary schools	85.8%		90	112^th of 1168 public elementary schools	90.4%	53	75.9	75.9	71.2	76.2	74.1	73.7	61.5	81.0	53.7	64.2	96.7	96.7	98.3	98.3	98.3	96.7	96.7	98.3	96.7	96.7	$20,644	$1,359	$19,286
Sherman Elementary School	Public	K-5	4415 N 38th St	Tacoma	98407	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-5488	432	22	20.0	19.4%	315 (72.9%)	4 (0.9%)	48 (11.1%)	13 (3.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.3%)	84.2	175^th of 1160 public elementary schools	84.9%		87.1	140^th of 1168 public elementary schools	88.0%	35	77.6	77.6	77.6	66.2	75.0	73.0	71.1	55.4	61.8	62.8	93.2	93.2	93.2	93.2	93.2	93.2	96.6	93.2	93.2	93.2	$18,251	$629	$17,623
Point Defiance Elementary School	Public	K-5	4330 N Visscher St	Tacoma	98407	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-6900	301	19	16.2	33.9%	191 (63.5%)	13 (4.3%)	39 (13.0%)	16 (5.3%)	4 (1.3%)	7 (2.3%)	31 (10.3%)	78.5	227^th of 1160 public elementary schools	80.4%		78.3	237^th of 1168 public elementary schools	79.7%	10	64.2	64.2	64.2	65.2	69.2	66.2	66.0	60.9	59.6	62.3	88.9	88.9	97.2	97.2	97.2	91.7	91.7	97.2	91.7	91.7	$20,644	$680	$19,964
Delong Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4901 S 14 st St	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-5800	349	22	15.8	62.8%	104 (29.8%)	65 (18.6%)	79 (22.6%)	11 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.9%)	72 (20.6%)	47	592^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	49.0%		48.9	576^th of 1168 public elementary schools	50.7%	16	46.6	46.6	45.3	57.7	52.6	51.5	40.0	61.5	32.1	43.9	90.9	90.9	90.9	90.9	90.9	90.9	95.5	90.9	90.9	90.9	$21,463	$2,206	$19,257
Geiger Montessori School	Public	PK, KG-5	7401 S 8th St	Tacoma	98465	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-6800	521	25	20.9	39.7%	264 (50.7%)	52 (10.0%)	91 (17.5%)	27 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	83 (15.9%)	65.2	376^th of 1160 public elementary schools	67.6%		64.6	392^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	66.4%	16	61.8	61.8	45.7	70.3	65.7	59.9	44.4	66.2	48.5	52.9	90.2	96.3	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	96.3	91.5	93.9	93.9	$20,484	$1,601	$18,882
Grant Elementary School	Public	K-5	2510 N 11th St	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-5400	378	22	17.5	31.0%	217 (57.4%)	26 (6.9%)	47 (12.4%)	8 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	74 (19.6%)	66.7	357^th of 1160 public elementary schools	69.2%		69.4	327^th of 1168 public elementary schools	72.0%	30	77.6	77.6	53.4	52.1	71.9	59.0	49.3	47.9	58.6	52.0	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	98.5	97.1	97.1	97.1	$20,312	$1,006	$19,306

Frequently Asked Questions about Downing Elementary School

Is Downing Elementary School a good school?

Downing Elementary School ranks 325^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Downing Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Downing Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Dr. Dolores Silas High School

How many students attend Downing Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 298 students attended Downing Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Downing Elementary School?

Students at Downing Elementary School are 58% White, 20% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 7% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

What district is Downing Elementary School in?

Tacoma School District

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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.