Tacoma’s public schools score below 56% of Washington districts on tests and graduation

On Washington’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Tacoma children attend score below 56% of Washington’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #193 of 285 Washington towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

Tacoma Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 28,847 students in 64 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Tacoma are served by Fife.

One of 9 high schools, depending on your address: Stadium High School, Lincoln High School, Mount Tahoma High School, Dr. Dolores Silas High School, Tacoma School of the Arts, Foss High School, Science and Math Institute, Industrial Design Engineering and Arts and Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center.

83% of the class of 2023 in Tacoma Public Schools graduated in four years, against 84% across Washington.

$19,619 in Tacoma Public Schools (FY2024), against $18,444 across Washington. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Yes: Bellarmine Preparatory School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 889 students), Annie Wright Schools (religious, grades PK–12, 821 students), Life Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 761 students), St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 556 students), St. Patrick Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 446 students), Tacoma Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–10, 341 students), Sound Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 303 students), Concordia Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 225 students), Visitation Catholic STEM Academy (Catholic, grades K–8, 136 students), The Cor Deo School (religious, grades K–8, 124 students), Faith Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 118 students), Community Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK, 25 students) and Carpe Diem Academy (special education, grades 1–7, 13 students). Tacoma also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.