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Jefferson Elementary School

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 152 nd of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

152^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,138 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 87% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary School is a public PK–5 school in Tacoma, Washington, serving 358 students in a neighborhood with several nearby elementary options, and it stands out as a high-performing school within the Tacoma School District. Jefferson ranked 152nd out of 1,138 Washington elementary schools in 2025–26, placing it at the 87th percentile and earning a four-star rating. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 18.5, and 37.99% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch.

Jefferson’s latest test results are well above district and state averages: 74.72% of students were proficient in English language arts, 67.42% in math, and 69.09% in science. That compares with 44.33%, 31.16%, and 42.31%, respectively, across the district. Among nearby traditional schools, Jefferson had the highest all-grades ELA result, narrowly ahead of Sherman Elementary School, and the second-highest math result, behind Washington Elementary School. Jefferson also substantially outperformed nearby Downing Elementary School in all three subjects. Tacoma Online Elementary School posted higher ELA and math percentages, but its online format and smaller enrollment make it a less direct comparison.

A major strength is third-grade math, where Jefferson reached 83.33%, higher than every nearby traditional school listed. However, math proficiency declined to 49.09% by fifth grade, making upper-grade math the clearest area to monitor. Science also remains above district and state levels but fell from 87.72% in 2023–24 to 69.09% in 2025–26. Lowell Elementary School offers a useful local comparison, with especially strong science results at 80.36%. Overall, Jefferson’s stable upper-tier rankings, consistently strong ELA, and broad advantages over nearby schools make it one of the stronger neighborhood elementary choices in this Tacoma comparison.

358

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,768

Per pupil spending ?

38%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4302 North 13th St
Tacoma, WA 98406

(253) 571-4000

District: Tacoma School District

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Mason Middle School
High:	Dr. Dolores Silas High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.2%

Two or more races:

20.4%

Hispanic:

14.0%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 52nd percentile in 2016 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (71% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of Washington elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 35 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg38%

Washington avg48%

152^nd of 1,138

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 34 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to top 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 34Elementary Schools in the Tacoma School District

151^st of 238Tacoma 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
2026	87.3	152 of 1138	86.6%	★★★★☆
2025	84.0	178 of 1160	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	86.2	152 of 1168	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	87.8	134 of 1169	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	78.0	243 of 1169	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	70.3	307 of 1107	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	82.0	183 of 1130	83.8%	★★★★☆
2018	60.5	412 of 1054	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	50.6	540 of 1056	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	52.3	501 of 1053	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	49.0	549 of 1067	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.6	532 of 1106	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	41.3	701 of 1097	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	36.7	751 of 1092	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	34.4	772 of 1088	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	43.7	649 of 1072	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	26.9	849 of 1067	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	29.2	812 of 1069	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.1	757 of 1051	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	38.3	687 of 1031	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	39.5	646 of 1026	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	85.3	147 of 1020	85.6%	★★★★☆
2025	88.5	110 of 1092	89.9%	★★★★★
2024	88.1	108 of 1093	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	88.7	105 of 1094	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	81.8	179 of 1100	83.7%	★★★★☆
2021	73.4	234 of 1008	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	84.6	134 of 1068	87.5%	★★★★☆
2018	60.2	407 of 1004	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	91.0	33 of 697	95.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	91.1	23 of 1008	97.7%	★★★★★
2025	77.5	142 of 1013	86.0%	★★★★☆
2024	80.5	107 of 1024	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	75.4	170 of 1013	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	60.8	312 of 1019	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	22.0	733 of 854	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	86.1	47 of 979	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	62.9	266 of 835	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	89.6	105 of 1059	90.1%	★★★★★
2025	76.5	220 of 1098	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	82.0	187 of 1099	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	85.5	146 of 1099	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	71.1	298 of 1113	73.2%	★★★★☆
2021	59.6	370 of 1025	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.5	209 of 1075	80.6%	★★★★☆
2018	58.9	404 of 999	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	61.6	60 of 188	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.3	23 of 194	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	60.8	107 of 252	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.8	143 of 303	52.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2019	54.6	198 of 566	65.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	81.4	138 of 901	84.7%	★★★★☆
2025	83.2	128 of 1007	87.3%	★★★★☆
2024	86.2	100 of 1009	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	88.5	81 of 1011	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	81.1	166 of 1031	83.9%	★★★★☆
2021	72.4	242 of 943	74.3%	★★★★☆
2019	81.5	162 of 1027	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	53.0	403 of 833	51.6%	★★★☆☆

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 (2026)98th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2019)95th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)90th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

White (2026)85th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2024)68th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2019)65th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts75%+22 vs state

Science69%+18 vs state

Math67%+24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Jefferson Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)					SBAC Math (2026)				% 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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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 6th 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
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%)	87.3	152^nd of 1138 public elementary schools	86.6%		84	178^th of 1160 public elementary schools	84.7%	26	69.1	69.1	75.0	77.8	70.9		74.7	83.3	68.3	49.1	67.4	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
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%)	89	128^th of 1138 public elementary schools	88.8%		85.3	165^th of 1160 public elementary schools	85.8%	37			67.3	69.2	76.1		70.6	72.7	69.2	65.2	69.3	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
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%)	39.8	683^rd of 1138 public elementary schools	40.0%		68.6	325^th of 1160 public elementary schools	72.0%	358	52.8	52.8	47.6	35.7	52.8		45.0	54.8	26.2	31.4	37.8	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
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%)	49.8	546^th of 1138 public elementary schools	52.0%		47	592^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	49.0%	46	56.9	56.9	43.6	50.0	60.0		50.6	40.3	40.9	50.0	43.3	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
Nell Hoyt Day School	Public	K-8	2708 N Union Ave	Tacoma	98407	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(253) 571-1224	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Franklin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1402 S Lawrence St	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-1400	260	18	14.4	61.2%	90 (34.6%)	44 (16.9%)	53 (20.4%)	7 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.0%)	52 (20.0%)	7.9	1058^th of 1138 public elementary schools	7.0%		17.7	989^th of 1160 public elementary schools	14.7%	69	21.6	21.6	25.0	36.4	16.7		24.5	19.4	22.7	11.1	17.0	92.9	92.9	92.9	92.9	92.9	92.9	95.2	92.9	92.9	92.9	$24,809	$4,334	$20,475
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%)	70.4	312^th of 1138 public elementary schools	72.6%		66.7	357^th of 1160 public elementary schools	69.2%	45	66.7	66.7	60.4	60.9	64.6		61.8	60.4	46.9	50.0	52.1	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
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%)	41.1	660^th of 1138 public elementary schools	42.0%		45.9	603^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	48.0%	57	47.4	47.4	34.9	46.8	57.9		46.1	44.2	51.1	21.1	39.8	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
Lowell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	810 Mr. Dahl DR	Tacoma	98403	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-7200	331	17	19.0	30.2%	203 (61.3%)	6 (1.8%)	45 (13.6%)	14 (4.2%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	58 (17.5%)	78.1	239^th of 1138 public elementary schools	79.0%		85.5	159^th of 1160 public elementary schools	86.3%	80	80.4	80.4	63.5	54.0	60.7		59.5	59.6		58.2	63.1	88.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.2	90.2	90.2	92.2	90.2	90.2	$20,151	$639	$19,512
Tacoma Online Elementary School	Public, Virtual	K-5	3319 S. Adams Street	Tacoma	98409	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)							78.6				71.4	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary School

What district is Jefferson Elementary School in?

Tacoma School District

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Mason Middle School
High : Dr. Dolores Silas High School

Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 152^nd of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 358 students attended Jefferson Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are 52% White, 20% Two or more races, 14% Hispanic, 7% African American, 5% Asian.

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresNewSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.