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Fern Hill Elementary School

Q: Is Fern Hill Elementary School a good school?

Fern Hill Elementary School ranks 668 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

668^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 42% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Fern Hill Elementary School is a public Pre-K through 5th grade school in Tacoma, WA, serving about 311 students within the Tacoma School District, and it stands out for its remarkable academic recovery and strong science program.

The school has made an impressive comeback, climbing from being ranked in the bottom 6% of state elementary schools four years ago to the top 58% today, a much faster improvement than most nearby schools. It particularly excels in science, where student proficiency far exceeds both district and state averages, and its fifth graders perform very well. Fern Hill is also notably effective in supporting Hispanic students and students from lower-income families, outperforming neighboring schools like Birney Elementary School and Larchmont Elementary School which have similar student populations.

While Fern Hill's math scores are better than the district average, there is room for growth in English Language Arts, especially in the 4th grade. The school spends more per student than many area schools, though some schools like James Sales Elementary in the Franklin Pierce School District achieve similar results with less funding. Overall, Fern Hill is a strong example of a school successfully supporting its community and achieving significant academic gains.

311

Students ?

18.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,035

Per pupil spending ?

71.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8442 S Park Ave
Tacoma, WA 98444

(253) 571-3888

District: Tacoma School District

Students who attend Fern Hill Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Baker Middle School
High:	Mount Tahoma High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

38.3%

White:

20.3%

Two or more races:

16.1%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Fern Hill Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 44th percentile in 2015 → 42nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg40%

Washington avg48%

668^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

15^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	40.8	668 of 1160	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.2	606 of 1168	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.6	587 of 1169	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.8	1014 of 1169	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.9	1044 of 1107	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	43.9	651 of 1130	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.3	609 of 1054	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.8	598 of 1056	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	48.2	559 of 1053	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.4	594 of 1067	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.0	615 of 1106	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.9	662 of 1097	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.1	678 of 1092	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	41.3	682 of 1088	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	29.9	814 of 1072	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	35.1	747 of 1067	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	22.3	897 of 1069	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	20.9	902 of 1051	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	30.8	757 of 1031	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	33.7	724 of 1026	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	48.2	48 of 110	56.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	44.0	590 of 1092	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.9	387 of 1093	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.8	516 of 1094	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.1	793 of 1100	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.2	938 of 1008	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	39.1	695 of 1068	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.8	501 of 1004	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	61.8	221 of 659	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.3	108 of 651	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	57.0	247 of 633	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	21.5	607 of 694	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.6	352 of 697	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.1	263 of 540	51.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	62.6	327 of 1013	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.7	268 of 1024	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	58.2	372 of 1013	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.9	664 of 1019	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.3	340 of 979	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.9	390 of 835	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	48.5	545 of 1098	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.3	731 of 1099	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.9	591 of 1099	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	10.5	1047 of 1113	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	48.2	566 of 1075	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.0	657 of 999	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	21.3	167 of 188	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	225 of 252	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	50.1	503 of 1009	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.1	539 of 1027	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.5	476 of 833	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)68th percentile+25 vs school

Hispanic (2025)66th percentile+24 vs school

African American (2019)56th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)50th percentile+8 vs school

White (2024)50th percentile~ school

Female (2025)46th percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)11th percentile-37 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science56%+7 vs state

English Language Arts42%-11 vs state

Math40%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Fern Hill 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
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
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
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
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
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
Fawcett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	126 E. 60th Street	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4700	426	26	16.1	65.3%	129 (30.3%)	36 (8.5%)	108 (25.4%)	39 (9.2%)	6 (1.4%)	22 (5.2%)	86 (20.2%)	21.9	950^th of 1160 public elementary schools	18.1%		22.8	932^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	20.2%	18	36.0	36.0	38.0	35.6	36.5	36.6	38.0	36.1	22.5	31.6	98.4	98.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	98.4	100.0	98.4	98.4	98.4	$20,834	$2,100	$18,734
Arlington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7202 South Pine Street	Tacoma	98409	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-3200	390	23	17.2	75.9%	86 (22.1%)	74 (19.0%)	100 (25.6%)	39 (10.0%)	6 (1.5%)	25 (6.4%)	60 (15.4%)	10.1	1090^th of 1160 public elementary schools	6.0%		10.4	1092^nd of 1168 public elementary schools	6.5%	2	17.5	17.5	26.8	30.2	17.5	24.7	32.1	30.2	12.3	24.7	86.4	88.6	90.9	90.9	90.9	88.6	90.9	90.9	88.6	88.6	$21,816	$2,456	$19,360
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
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
Boze Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1140 E 65th St	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4105	485	28	17.3	67.6%	47 (9.7%)	50 (10.3%)	182 (37.5%)	67 (13.8%)	4 (0.8%)	43 (8.9%)	92 (19.0%)	22.1	946^th of 1160 public elementary schools	18.4%		23.6	921^st of 1168 public elementary schools	21.1%	25	47.3	47.3	24.2	25.8	47.3	33.3	25.8	11.5	41.1	27.0	93.0	98.6	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.2	100.0	94.4	97.2	97.2	$22,103	$1,607	$20,496

Frequently Asked Questions about Fern Hill Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Fern Hill Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Fern Hill Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Baker Middle School
High : Mount Tahoma High School

What is the racial makeup of Fern Hill Elementary School?

Students at Fern Hill Elementary School are 38% Hispanic, 20% White, 16% Two or more races, 10% African American, 8% Asian, 7% Pacific Islander.

Is Fern Hill Elementary School a good school?

Fern Hill Elementary School ranks 668^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Fern Hill Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 311 students attended Fern Hill Elementary School.

What district is Fern Hill 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.