Summary:
Schools in ZIP code 98404 include nine schools serving elementary and middle school students: eight elementary schools and one middle school, with no high school listed. Together, they enroll 3,721 students. Most are part of the Tacoma School District, while Impact Public Schools is part of the Impact | Commencement Bay Elementary district. Academic results vary widely across the area, and overall proficiency is generally below Washington state rates. Economic need is also widespread, with free- or reduced-price lunch participation generally near or above two-thirds of students.
Lyon Elementary School is the clear academic leader. It has the highest elementary results in English language arts, math, and science, including especially strong fifth-grade ELA and science scores. Impact Public Schools ranks second locally and has strong ELA and science results, along with the area’s lowest student-teacher ratio, but its math proficiency and statewide ranking declined sharply in the latest year. Fawcett Elementary School stands out for third-grade math, while Boze Elementary School shows relatively steady performance. Blix Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Sheridan Elementary School have lower statewide rankings, although Roosevelt improved across all three subjects.
Lister Elementary School has the weakest elementary ranking and particularly low fourth-grade math results. The most serious concern is First Creek Middle School, which ranks near the bottom statewide and trails both district and state averages in every subject, especially math. Across the elementary schools, math is typically the weakest subject, and fourth-grade results are notably uneven. Parents comparing schools should look beyond overall averages and examine grade-level results, recent trends, school programs, staffing, and student supports. The data is descriptive rather than causal, so test scores alone do not capture student growth, school climate, or the full educational experience.
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