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Foss High School

Public Grades 9-12

431^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Washington High Schools

Better than 2% of Washington high schools

Summary

Foss High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 to about 600 students in the Tacoma School District, which faces significant academic challenges across the region.

The school is currently ranked among the lowest-performing high schools in Washington state, with academic proficiency rates in core subjects like math and English that are substantially lower than those at nearby comprehensive schools such as Dr. Dolores Silas High School. Despite this, Foss maintains a relatively strong graduation rate of 88.6%, creating a notable gap between students earning diplomas and those demonstrating grade-level proficiency. The school receives significantly more funding per student than other schools in the district, including the higher-performing Dr. Dolores Silas, raising questions about how resources are being used to support student learning.

When compared to other alternative education options in the area, like Oakland High School or Tacoma Open Doors, Foss's performance appears more moderate, suggesting it serves a student population with needs distinct from a traditional comprehensive high school. The school's ranking has declined steadily over the past decade, indicating deep-rooted challenges that require targeted solutions to improve academic outcomes while maintaining its success in helping students graduate.

599

Students ?

19.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,147

Per pupil spending ?

69.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2112 S Tyler St
Tacoma, WA 98405

(253) 571-7300

District: Tacoma School District

Feeder schools for Foss High School:

Elementary:	Delong Elementary School
	Edison Elementary School
	Franklin Elementary School
	Geiger Montessori School
	More...
	Reed Elementary School
	Stanley Elementary School
	Whittier Elementary School
Middle:	Wainwright Intermediate School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

24.7%

White:

24.4%

African American:

21.0%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare Foss High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 25th percentile in 2012 → 2nd in 2025

Strengths

✓89% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (18% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 23 percentile points since 2012

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school18%

District avg40%

Washington avg48%

431^st of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 12 pts since 2017

From bottom 14% (2017) to bottom 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8High 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	5.0	431 of 438	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	409 of 437	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	411 of 442	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.1	408 of 434	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	427 of 455	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.2	360 of 417	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.0	282 of 315	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.1	259 of 301	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.2	350 of 454	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	29.5	339 of 450	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.0	331 of 440	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	31.5	314 of 423	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	26.7	319 of 402	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	39.3	279 of 396	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	42.3	271 of 399	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	24.7	319 of 395	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	40.6	258 of 394	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2004	40.9	257 of 390	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	17.1	63 of 70	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.5	86 of 89	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.1	109 of 111	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.2	82 of 86	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.0	54 of 54	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	25.3	88 of 118	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	46.2	72 of 136	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	4.7	119 of 121	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.6	78 of 87	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	55.5	22 of 65	66.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	9.5	337 of 347	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.2	349 of 357	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	330 of 368	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.0	318 of 390	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	307 of 358	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.8	226 of 243	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	17.2	221 of 249	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	212 of 248	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	236 of 249	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.7	206 of 261	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.1	257 of 278	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.7	186 of 241	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.5	124 of 156	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	37.7	27 of 45	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	6.9	346 of 355	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	317 of 356	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.0	345 of 362	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.1	349 of 370	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	376 of 392	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.1	312 of 344	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.6	221 of 227	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	5.2	356 of 359	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.1	347 of 362	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	338 of 358	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.2	354 of 363	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.1	385 of 395	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	321 of 355	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.0	238 of 254	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	4.4	168 of 170	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.2	160 of 161	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	166 of 166	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.1	159 of 195	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.9	150 of 163	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	30.1	149 of 212	29.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	3.5	365 of 373	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	343 of 374	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	322 of 379	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.5	331 of 390	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	5.2	405 of 413	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.9	322 of 382	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.3	199 of 222	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2018)66th percentile+56 vs school

Homeless (2021)40th percentile+34 vs school

Special Education (2021)30th percentile+24 vs school

Asian (2023)25th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)11th percentile+10 vs school

African American (2024)10th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2024)3rd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)3rd percentile~ school

White (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)1st percentile~ school

Male (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts32%-21 vs state

Science14%-35 vs state

Math7%-35 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, March 13, 2020

My daughter had a good experience at Foss. The teachers and staff were amazing in the ways that they cared for her and helped her learn. Close Quote

Schools Near Foss High 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 11th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 10th 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
Foss High School	Public	9-12	2112 S Tyler St	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-7300	599	31	19.1	69.4%	146 (24.4%)	126 (21.0%)	148 (24.7%)	45 (7.5%)	9 (1.5%)	26 (4.3%)	96 (16.0%)	5	431^st of 438 public high schools	1.6%		12.2	409^th of 437 public high schools	6.4%	22	14.5	14.5	31.8	31.8	7.3	7.3											$24,147	$1,308	$22,839
Oakland High School	Public	9-12	3319 S Adams St	Tacoma	98409	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-5102	112	5	22.4	82.1%	37 (33.0%)	26 (23.2%)	21 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	9 (8.0%)	17 (15.2%)								(n/a)			44.4	44.4													$34,851	$2,223	$32,628
The School at Pearl Youth Residence	Public	6-12	815 South Pearl Street	Tacoma	98465	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 396-5937	21	0	11.5	28.6%	9 (42.9%)	1 (4.8%)	2 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)	1 (4.8%)	6 (28.6%)								(n/a)																	$30,335	$13,194	$17,141
Insight School of WA Open Doors Program	Public, Virtual	9-12	2601 S 35th St Ste 100	Tacoma	98409	Pierce County	Quillayute Valley School District	No	No	Yes	No	(253) 292-5817	8	0			5 (62.5%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (25.0%)								(n/a)							69.1	70.6	73.5	73.5	73.5	76.5	79.4	73.5	76.5	76.5	$10,849	$237	$10,613
Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center	Public	6-12	5501 6th Ave	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-2670	21	1	21.0	19.0%	2 (9.5%)	10 (47.6%)	4 (19.0%)	1 (4.8%)	1 (4.8%)	1 (4.8%)	2 (9.5%)								(n/a)																	$37,782	$10,418	$27,365
Dr. Dolores Silas High School	Public	9-12	1202 N Orchard St	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-6000	1,160	50	23.0	41.9%	576 (49.7%)	119 (10.3%)	152 (13.1%)	80 (6.9%)	7 (0.6%)	16 (1.4%)	200 (17.2%)	40	263^rd of 438 public high schools	40.0%		37.6	278^th of 437 public high schools	36.4%	15	49.3	49.3	60.6	60.6	18.3	18.3											$17,981	$816	$17,164
Bates Technical High School	Public	9-12	1101 South Yakima Avenue	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Bates Technical College	No	No	No	No	(253) 680-7584	343	0			231 (67.3%)	43 (12.5%)	24 (7.0%)	7 (2.0%)	5 (1.5%)	5 (1.5%)	25 (7.3%)								(n/a)
Bates Technical College - Open Doors	Public	9-12	1101 South Yakima Ave.	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Bates Technical College	No	No	No	No	(253) 680-7184	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Tacoma Online High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	6501 N.23rd St.	Tacoma	98406	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(253) 571-1545	497	31	15.7	67.4%	172 (34.6%)	62 (12.5%)	110 (22.1%)	25 (5.0%)	4 (0.8%)	19 (3.8%)	100 (20.1%)								(n/a)			37.5	37.5													$14,892	$496	$14,396
Tacoma Open Doors	Public	9-12	1818 Tacoma Ave S	Tacoma	98402	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-3270	392	5	75.8	63.3%	120 (30.6%)	82 (20.9%)	99 (25.3%)	19 (4.8%)	5 (1.3%)	12 (3.1%)	55 (14.0%)								(n/a)																	$9,835	$1,083	$8,752

Frequently Asked Questions about Foss High School

How many students attend Foss High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 599 students attended Foss High School.

Is Foss High School a good school?

Foss High School ranks in the bottom 1.6% of Washington high schools.

What district is Foss High School in?

Tacoma School District

What is the racial makeup of Foss High School?

Students at Foss High School are 25% Hispanic, 24% White, 21% African American, 16% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 4% Pacific Islander, 2% American Indian.

What schools feed into Foss High School?

Foss High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Delong Elementary School
Elementary : Edison Elementary School
Elementary : Franklin Elementary School
Elementary : Geiger Montessori School
Elementary : Reed Elementary School
Elementary : Stanley Elementary School
Elementary : Whittier Elementary School
Middle : Wainwright Intermediate School

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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.