Summary:
This analysis covers three public middle schools (grades 6-8) in Tacoma's 98408 zip code, all part of the Tacoma School District, which serves a high-need community and ranks in the lower half of Washington state districts.
Parents should know that all three schools—Baker Middle School, Stewart Middle School, and Angelo Giaudrone Middle School—face significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates in English, math, and science consistently below district and state averages. Among them, Baker Middle School generally has the highest overall ranking and leads in English and math scores, while Stewart Middle School excels in science and operates with the most efficient per-student spending.
The schools serve very similar student populations with high economic need, but their outcomes differ, suggesting that school-level practices matter. Notably, Angelo Giaudrone Middle School receives the most funding per student but yields the lowest test scores, indicating a need to examine how resources are used. For families, this highlights an opportunity to look closely at each school's specific programs and support systems, as performance varies even within the same neighborhood and district.
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