Tacoma School District

601 S 8th
Tacoma, WA 98401-1357
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public high schools serving 8,972 students in Tacoma School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Washington.
Public High Schools in Tacoma School District have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the Washington public high school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 60% (versus the 65% statewide average).
Public High School in Tacoma School District have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the Washington average of 84%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Industrial Design Engineering And Arts, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Washington or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Washington public high school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
71 Schools
862 Schools
# Students
28,272 Students
392,615 Students
# Teachers
1,592 Teachers
19,037 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

District Rank

Tacoma 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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#187 out of 307 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Tacoma   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
31%
40%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Tacoma   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
53%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Tacoma   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
43%
49%
82%
84%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Tacoma   School District and public school graduation rate of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.78
0.68
# American Indian Students
239 Students
6,222 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
2%
# Asian Students
2,413 Students
31,721 Students
% Asian Students
8%
8%
# Hispanic Students
6,500 Students
98,262 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
26%
# Black Students
3,527 Students
18,031 Students
% Black Students
12%
5%
# White Students
9,770 Students
191,731 Students
% White Students
35%
50%
# Hawaiian Students
1,050 Students
5,281 Students
% Hawaiian Students
4%
1%
# Two or more races Students
4,683 Students
32,269 Students
% of Two or more races Students
17%
8%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
1,001
1,298
# Students in K Grade:
2,118
1,800
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,032
1,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,129
2,043
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,997
2,225
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,046
2,376
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,101
2,423
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,945
4,808
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,912
8,534
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,035
10,258
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,189
86,766
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,319
88,756
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,195
87,586
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,253
91,793
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,995 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 $20,382 is higher than the state median of $19,246. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$565 MM
$20,715 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Tacoma   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$576 MM
$21,212 MM
This chart displays total spending of Tacoma   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$19,995
$18,796
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Tacoma   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$20,382
$19,246
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Tacoma   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Tacoma School District Public High Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Science And Math Institute
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5501 N. Pearl St, Tacoma
Tacoma, WA 98407
(253) 571-2300
Grades: 9-12
| 604 students
Rank: #22.
Tacoma Open Doors
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 80-89% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1818 Tacoma Ave S
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 571-3270
Grades: 9-12
| 307 students
Rank: #33.
Industrial Design Engineering And Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6701 S Park Ave
Tacoma, WA 98444
(253) 571-7906
Grades: 9-12
| 382 students
Rank: #44.
Stadium High School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
111 N E St
Tacoma, WA 98403
(253) 571-3100
Grades: 9-12
| 1,609 students
Rank: #55.
Dr. Dolores Silas High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1202 N Orchard St
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 571-6000
Grades: 9-12
| 1,136 students
Rank: #66.
Tcc Fresh Start
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: ≥90% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
601 S 8th St
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-1033
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
The School At Pearl Youth Residence
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
815 South Pearl Street
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 396-5937
Grades: 6-12
| 23 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Special Services
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
601 S. 8th Street
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-1224
Grades: PK-12
| 11 students
Rank: #99.
Tacoma School Of The Arts
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
302 S. Ninth Street, Suite 200
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 571-7900
Grades: 9-12
| 648 students
Rank: #1010.
Mount Tahoma High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4634 S 74th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 571-3852
Grades: 9-12
| 1,416 students
Rank: #1111.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
701 S 37th St
Tacoma, WA 98418
(253) 571-6700
Grades: 9-12
| 1,529 students
Rank: #1212.
Foss High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2112 S Tyler St
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-7300
Grades: 9-12
| 580 students
Rank: #1313.
Oakland High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3319 S Adams St
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 571-5102
Grades: 9-12
| 114 students
Rank: n/an/a
Alternative Spcl Needs Div Occ
Special Education School
601 S 8th St
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-1040
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Community Based Trans Program
Special Education School
601 S 8th St
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-2603
Grades: 12
| 74 students
Rank: n/an/a
5501 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 571-2670
Grades: 6-12
| 33 students
Rank: n/an/a
Tacoma Business Academy
Alternative School
1101 South Yakima, C/o John Pa
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-1126
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
6501 N.23rd St.
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 571-1545
Grades: 9-12
| 506 students
Rank: n/an/a
930 Tacoma Ave S, C/o Miguel V
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 571-1032
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 71 schools
  • Grades: 01-12
  • Enrollment: 28,272 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 65%
  • : 82% (Top 50% in WA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

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