Summary:
Zip code 98443 in Tacoma, Washington, contains just one public elementary school, Waller Road Elementary, serving grades K-6 within the Puyallup School District.
Waller Road Elementary is a notable case, as it receives significant resources—including a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8 to 1 and per-student spending over $20,000—yet its academic performance consistently lags behind district and state averages. Proficiency rates in English, math, and science are all substantially lower than those of the broader Puyallup School District and Washington state, resulting in a low statewide ranking. However, the school has shown a positive trajectory, improving its ranking from the 11th percentile to the 28th percentile over the past three years.
With 60% of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school serves a community with high economic need. The lack of any other public schools in the zip code means local families have no alternative elementary options within the immediate area. For parents, the key considerations are the school's below-average academic outcomes, its recent trend of improvement, and the substantial investment being made per student within its small, supportive learning environment.
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