Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98466

The schools in zip code 98466 serve a diverse student population across 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school, spread across the University Place School District and the Tacoma School District. The data reveals a mix of high-performing and underperforming schools, with the Curtis Senior High and Narrows View Intermediate standing out as top-ranked schools in the region.

The Curtis Senior High in the University Place district ranks 77th out of 442 high schools in Washington, with strong test scores, a high graduation rate of 94.7%, and a low dropout rate of 2%. In contrast, the Tacoma district schools generally lag behind the state averages in academic performance. The diverse racial makeup of the student populations is noteworthy, but the wide range of free/reduced lunch rates, from 38% to over 56%, suggests varying levels of economic disadvantage that may contribute to the differences in school performance.

While the University Place schools consistently outperform their Tacoma counterparts, the data also reveals that higher spending per student does not necessarily translate to better academic outcomes. Understanding the practices and strategies employed at the standout schools, such as Narrows View Intermediate and Curtis Senior High, could provide valuable insights for improving education across the region and addressing the disparities observed between the two school districts.