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Tacoma School of the Arts

Q: Is Tacoma School of the Arts a good school?

Tacoma School of the Arts ranks 194 th of 396 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

194^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 396 Washington High Schools

Better than 51% of Washington high schools

Summary

Tacoma School of the Arts is a public high school serving 658 students in grades 9–12 in downtown Tacoma, Washington, within the Tacoma School District. The school earned a statewide ranking at the 51st percentile in 2025–2026, an improvement from the previous year but well below its 92nd-percentile performance in 2015–2016. Its smaller enrollment and arts-focused setting may appeal to families seeking a specialized high school environment, though the available data do not describe admissions or program requirements.

The school’s strongest academic area is English language arts: 66.89% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, compared with 44.33% in the district and 52.81% statewide. Science was also solid at 51.89%, slightly above both district and state results. Mathematics is the major concern. Only 8.16% of students were proficient, compared with 31.16% in the district and 43.11% statewide. This has been a persistent issue over several years rather than a one-year decline. By comparison, nearby Stadium High School had much stronger math results at 38.36%, while Lincoln High School recorded 10.49%. Tacoma School of the Arts had higher ELA results than both schools.

Graduation is a significant strength: 96.9% of students graduated in 2024–2025, essentially matching Stadium and exceeding Lincoln’s 91.6%. The school also has a moderate student-teacher ratio of 19.5, lower than Stadium’s 23.4 and Lincoln’s 20.5. Families should view the school as academically uneven: it offers notably strong literacy, respectable science, and excellent completion outcomes, but mathematics needs substantial attention. Comparisons with alternative programs such as Oakland Secondary School and Tacoma Open Doors are less direct because those programs serve different student populations and missions.

658

Students ?

19.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,847

Per pupil spending ?

45.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

302 S. Ninth Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

(253) 571-7900

District: Tacoma School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.4%

Hispanic:

20.4%

Two or more races:

17.2%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare Tacoma School of the Arts to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 24th percentile in 2019 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 51st (2026) from a 24th-percentile low (2019)

✓Above the Washington median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (42% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Math scores 35 pts below the Washington average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg38%

Washington avg48%

194^th of 396

Washington public high schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 41 pts since 2016

From top 8% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8High 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	48.6	194 of 396	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.4	251 of 438	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.9	219 of 437	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.8	246 of 442	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.2	311 of 434	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.1	232 of 455	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.7	318 of 417	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.6	222 of 315	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.6	178 of 301	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	86.6	23 of 306	92.5%	★★★★★
2015	56.2	126 of 341	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.3	107 of 454	76.4%	★★★★☆
2012	67.2	103 of 450	77.1%	★★★★☆
2011	69.7	68 of 440	84.5%	★★★★☆
2010	79.9	62 of 423	85.3%	★★★★☆
2009	80.0	57 of 402	85.8%	★★★★☆
2008	71.7	96 of 396	75.8%	★★★★☆
2007	85.1	30 of 399	92.5%	★★★★★
2006	67.6	130 of 395	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	79.6	61 of 394	84.5%	★★★★☆
2004	94.7	9 of 390	97.7%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	79.4	10 of 70	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	64.7	23 of 78	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	25.9	70 of 89	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	73.6	19 of 111	82.9%	★★★★☆
2019	27.3	69 of 86	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	64.9	17 of 54	68.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	45.3	164 of 309	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.7	230 of 350	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.6	201 of 347	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.5	192 of 357	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.8	270 of 368	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.9	201 of 390	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.2	267 of 358	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.1	180 of 243	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	76.4	41 of 236	82.6%	★★★★☆
2025	65.6	74 of 249	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	56.8	99 of 248	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.0	92 of 249	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.7	131 of 261	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.4	102 of 278	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	16.1	218 of 241	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	58.5	58 of 156	62.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	84.8	26 of 325	92.0%	★★★★★
2025	36.1	226 of 355	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.4	137 of 356	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	199 of 362	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.7	262 of 370	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.8	157 of 392	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.7	273 of 344	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	58.8	96 of 227	57.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	167 of 326	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.6	164 of 359	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	161 of 362	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.1	261 of 358	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	303 of 363	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.4	229 of 395	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	12.5	326 of 355	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	34.9	188 of 254	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	49.9	54 of 121	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	26.2	135 of 170	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	63.2	51 of 161	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.5	97 of 166	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.6	158 of 179	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	158 of 195	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	53.7	70 of 212	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.5	60 of 139	56.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	46.8	183 of 319	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.9	211 of 373	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	239 of 374	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	218 of 379	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.2	305 of 390	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	54.7	162 of 413	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.1	298 of 382	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.4	182 of 222	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)92nd percentile+41 vs school

African American (2024)86th percentile+36 vs school

Hispanic (2026)83rd percentile+32 vs school

Special Education (2021)67th percentile+18 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)55th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)49th percentile~ school

Female (2026)47th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)43rd percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts67%+14 vs state

Science52%~ state avg

Math8%-35 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Saturday, March 6, 2021

Things could have changed since I went but it was a lot more clique-y than they said it was. Close Quote

Schools Near Tacoma School of the Arts

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)		SBAC Math (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 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	Vaccination: Kindergartners complete for all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Tacoma School of the Arts	Public	9-12	302 S. Ninth Street	Tacoma	98402	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-7900	658	34	19.5	45.7%	292 (44.4%)	64 (9.7%)	134 (20.4%)	22 (3.3%)	10 (1.5%)	7 (1.1%)	113 (17.2%)	48.6	194^th of 396 public high schools	51.0%		42.4	251^st of 438 public high schools	42.7%	57	51.9	51.9	66.9	66.9	8.2	8.2			$17,847	$406	$17,441
Tacoma Pierce County Education Center	Public	9-12	930 Tacoma Ave S	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-1032	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Community Based Trans Program	Public	12	601 S 8th St	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-2603	71	4	17.7	45.1%	26 (36.6%)	9 (12.7%)	14 (19.7%)	5 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.0%)	12 (16.9%)								(n/a)									$40,805	$2,825	$37,980
Alternative Spcl Needs Div Occ	Public	10-12	601 S 8th St	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-1040	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)									$5,574	$264	$5,310
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)
Maritime 253 Skills Center	Public	11-12	1208 East D Street	Tacoma	98421	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(253) 571-1126	0			—															(n/a)
Tacoma Open Doors	Public	10-12	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)									$10,523	$781	$9,743
Stadium High School	Public	9-12	111 N E St	Tacoma	98403	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-3100	1,700	72	23.4	38.2%	818 (48.1%)	125 (7.4%)	309 (18.2%)	155 (9.1%)	9 (0.5%)	20 (1.2%)	259 (15.2%)	68.8	112^th of 396 public high schools	71.7%		66.7	121^st of 438 public high schools	72.4%	9	57.6	57.6	63.2	63.2	38.4	38.4			$17,070	$747	$16,322
Lincoln High School	Public	9-12	701 S 37th St	Tacoma	98418	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-6670	1,556	76	20.5	72.7%	217 (13.9%)	275 (17.7%)	522 (33.5%)	192 (12.3%)	23 (1.5%)	87 (5.6%)	240 (15.4%)	17.3	339^th of 396 public high schools	14.4%		16	379^th of 438 public high schools	13.5%	40	32.7	32.7	41.1	41.1	10.5	10.5			$18,182	$1,078	$17,105
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)									$11,574	$85	$11,489

Frequently Asked Questions about Tacoma School of the Arts

What district is Tacoma School of the Arts in?

Tacoma School District

Is Tacoma School of the Arts a good school?

Tacoma School of the Arts ranks 194^th of 396 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Tacoma School of the Arts?

Students at Tacoma School of the Arts are 44% White, 20% Hispanic, 17% Two or more races, 10% African American, 3% Asian, 2% Not Specified, 2% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Tacoma School of the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 658 students attended Tacoma School of the Arts.

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

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.