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B+
Schools in Fife · Fife Public Schools, Puyallup School District

Fife’s public schools outscore 69% of Washington districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Fife, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Washington, not nationally.

#111of 285 Washington townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Washington state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
55%
▲ 1 pts vs WA 53%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▼ 1 pts vs WA 40%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 2 pts vs WA 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.8K
▼ 3% vs WA $18.4K
FY2024 · Puyallup
Students per teacher
18.8
WA 17.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
8,411 students on the public path
In brief

Fife’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 55% and math 40% across both districts in spring 2022, against 53% and 40% statewide; 86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Fife spends $17,782 per student and Puyallup $17,830, against $18,444 across Washington (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Fife’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Washington school districts, #111 of 285 Washington towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Washington average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Washington school districts we grade (289)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Washington towns with similar household incomes (269)Better than 72%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 13,564 test results and a graduating class of 1,763 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Fife’s students in the tested grades sat them (13,519 in math, 13,610 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fife, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Fife Elementary SchoolFife Public SchoolsNo scores
7–98 schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
10–12Fife High SchoolFife Public SchoolsNo scores

Fife runs its own schools through grade 12 (Fife Public Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Puyallup School District, shared with Edgewood and Puyallup. Its school is in Puyallup. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Fife

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Fife Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 3,983 students, up 25% since 2020–21 · 19.0 per teacher (WA 17.7)
$17,782WA $18,444 · FY2024
B−
Puyallup School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 37 schools · 23,026 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 18.8 per teacher (WA 17.7)
$17,830WA $18,444 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Fife Public Schools47%
State average 53.4% · 2003 students tested
Math · PK–12, Fife Public Schools31%
State average 40.1% · 1989 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Puyallup School District56%
State average 53.4% · 11607 students tested
Math · PK–12, Puyallup School District41%
State average 40.1% · 11530 students tested

Fife vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Washington towns that share Fife’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FifeB+Fife PK–12 · Puyallup PK–12
TacomaC+Tacoma
EdgewoodB+Puyallup
MiltonB−Fife
PuyallupB+Puyallup

2 of the 4 neighbors share Puyallup with Fife for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Fife

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Washington’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Fifeby address
Fife Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Tacoma
866 students17:1Rate it →
Columbia Junior High School
Secondary · Grades 8–9 · Tacoma
619 students21:1Rate it →
Fife High School
High · Grades 10–12 · Tacoma
885 students23:1Rate it →
Also serving Fifein other towns
Doris Stahl Junior High
Middle · Grades 6–10 · Puyallup
846 students22:1Rate it →
Surprise Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–7 · Milton
613 students22:1Rate it →
Edgemont Jr High
Middle · Grades 6–9 · Edgewood
590 students22:1Rate it →
Ballou Jr High
Middle · Grades 7–9 · Puyallup
852 students22:1Rate it →
Glacier View Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–9 · Puyallup
843 students22:1Rate it →
Ferrucci Jr High
Middle · Grades 7–9 · Puyallup
815 students21:1Rate it →
Kalles Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–9 · Puyallup
762 students23:1Rate it →
Aylen Jr High
Middle · Grades 7–9 · Puyallup
720 students23:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Fife Open Doors
High · Grades 10–12 · Tacoma
Alternative Education
25 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
124 students21:1Rate it →

Questions about Fife’s schools

Are Fife’s schools good?

By Washington’s own tests, yes: the public schools Fife children attend outscore 69% of Washington’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #111 of 285 Washington towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fife in?

Two districts: Fife Public Schools runs grades PK–12, and Puyallup School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Edgewood and Puyallup.

Where do Fife kids go to high school?

Fife High School in Tacoma, with 885 students.

What is Fife’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Puyallup School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington.

How much does Fife spend per student?

$17,782 in Fife Public Schools and $17,830 in Puyallup School District (FY2024), against $18,444 across Washington. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Fife?

Yes: Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 124 students).

Parents talk

What Fife families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fife → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Washington. Stars are from neighbors.