Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98445

This analysis examines nine public schools in Tacoma's 98445 zip code, serving about 5,000 students from preschool through high school across the Franklin Pierce School District, Bethel School District, and Tacoma School District, an area where a high percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

When comparing schools, Midland Elementary stands out as the highest-performing, leading in test scores and ranking. Notable differences exist between districts; for example, Spanaway Middle School in the Bethel district outperforms Morris Ford Middle School in Franklin Pierce in key subjects. However, all schools in the area have proficiency rates below state averages, and Franklin Pierce High School shows a concerning recent decline in its state ranking despite a solid graduation rate.

Key insights include that higher per-student spending does not always mean better results, as seen with Larchmont Elementary School. Performance often drops in higher grades at several schools, and the preschool program at Thompson Preschool has very different staffing and funding metrics. Overall, the data suggests community-wide economic factors are significant, and while some schools like Midland Elementary succeed, there are systemic academic challenges across the zip code.