Fife School District

1720 Oak St
Milton, WA 98354
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Fife School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 2,431 students in Fife School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Washington.
Public Elementary Schools in Fife School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Washington public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Washington public elementary school average of 52% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,833 Schools
# Students
3,916 Students
740,174 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
44,879 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Fife School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 306 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has increased from 88% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#179 out of 307 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
32%
41%
47%
53%
43%
49%
89%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.78
0.69
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
10%
9%
% Hispanic
23%
26%
% Black
7%
5%
% White
38%
48%
% Hawaiian
8%
2%
% Two or more races
13%
9%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $20,930 is higher than the state median of $18,796. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $31,753 is higher than the state median of $19,247. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$124 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,930
$18,796
Spending / Student
$31,753
$19,247

Best Fife School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hedden Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
11313 8th St E
Puyallup, WA 98372
(253) 517-1500
Gr: 3-5 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #22.
Fife Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5804 20th Street E
Tacoma, WA 98424
(253) 517-1400
Gr: K-5 | 816 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #33.
Surprise Lake Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2001 Milton Way
Milton, WA 98354
(253) 517-1300
Gr: 6-7 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: n/an/a
1205 19th Avenue
Milton, WA 98354
(253) 517-1200
Gr: PK-2 | 473 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%

Recent Articles

School Supply Budget 2026: Fees, Books, Tech and Extras
School Supply Budget 2026: Fees, Books, Tech and Extras
Learn what families can expect from the School Supply Budget 2026, including fees, books, technology costs, and hidden extras impacting K12 budgets.
How to Navigate School District Transfers for January 2026
How to Navigate School District Transfers for January 2026
A clear guide for families on navigating school district transfers for January 2026 with timelines, options, and expert tips.
School Vouchers 2025: Updated Pros and Cons
School Vouchers 2025: Updated Pros and Cons
A 2025 update on school vouchers, including benefits, drawbacks, enrollment trends, and how vouchers affect public and private education.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,916 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 63%
  • : 89% (Top 20% in WA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

Quick Links