Summary:
This analysis covers the two public schools, one elementary and one high school, serving the 98418 zip code in Tacoma, Washington, both operated by the Tacoma School District.
Parents in this area will find two schools: Reed Elementary School and Lincoln High School. Both schools serve a high-need population, with over 72% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and both perform below state averages on standardized tests in English, math, and science. Reed Elementary shows its strongest academic performance in the early grades, but scores tend to decline significantly by 5th grade. In contrast, Lincoln High School presents a notable strength: its 91.6% graduation rate is substantially higher than the state average, even though its students' test scores, especially in math, are very low.
When comparing the two, Reed Elementary has a more favorable student-teacher ratio and receives more funding per student than the high school. However, both schools have consistently been ranked in the bottom 15% of similar schools in Washington over recent years. The district itself is ranked in the bottom half statewide. The key takeaway is that while Lincoln High School is very successful at graduating its students, families should be aware that academic proficiency, particularly in mathematics, is a significant challenge across grade levels in these schools.
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