Tacoma School District schools - district elementary, middle, and high school information

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Tacoma School District

This district's rating is based on its schools' test results; 10 is best. Learn more >

P.O. Box 1357
Tacoma, WA 98401
Pierce County
Map >

PH: (253) 571-1010
FAX: (253) 571-2550

Grades PK-12
29,801 students
61 schools

View all schools in this district >

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WASL Results

Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

Grade 3

Reading

65% (2007)

63% (2006)
The state average for Reading was 71% in 2007.

Math

64% (2007)

52% (2006)
The state average for Math was 69% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 4

Reading

70% (2007)

75% (2006)

76% (2005)

70% (2004)
The state average for Reading was 76% in 2007.

Writing

54% (2007)

55% (2006)

59% (2005)

50% (2004)
The state average for Writing was 60% in 2007.

Math

46% (2007)

43% (2006)

50% (2005)

49% (2004)
The state average for Math was 58% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 5

Reading

65% (2007)

70% (2006)
The state average for Reading was 72% in 2007.

Science

23% (2007)

24% (2006)
The state average for Science was 36% in 2007.

Math

54% (2007)

46% (2006)
The state average for Math was 59% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 6

Reading

58% (2007)

55% (2006)
The state average for Reading was 68% in 2007.

Math

40% (2007)

33% (2006)
The state average for Math was 50% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 7

Reading

61% (2007)

54% (2006)

58% (2005)

53% (2004)
The state average for Reading was 69% in 2007.

Writing

58% (2007)

57% (2006)

48% (2005)

49% (2004)
The state average for Writing was 68% in 2007.

Math

43% (2007)

33% (2006)

35% (2005)

33% (2004)
The state average for Math was 54% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 8

Reading

55% (2007)

61% (2006)
The state average for Reading was 65% in 2007.

Science

28% (2007)

28% (2006)
The state average for Science was 44% in 2007.

Math

36% (2007)

35% (2006)
The state average for Math was 50% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 10

Reading

70% (2007)

64% (2006)

60% (2005)

53% (2004)
The state average for Reading was 81% in 2007.

Science

24% (2007)

21% (2006)
The state average for Science was 36% in 2007.

Writing

70% (2007)

65% (2006)

55% (2005)

54% (2004)
The state average for Writing was 84% in 2007.

Math

36% (2007)

32% (2006)

33% (2005)

29% (2004)
The state average for Math was 50% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

About the tests

In 2006-2007 Washington used the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, in writing in grades 4, 7 and 10 and in science in grades 5, 8 and 10.
The WASL is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington.
Beginning with the class of 2008, the grade 10 WASL will be a high school graduation requirement.
The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

Testing in Washington: An Overview

See Washington's state standards

Compare all elementary, middle, or high schools in this district

WASL Results by Subgroup

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.

Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

Grade 3

Reading	This District
All Students	65%
Female	67%
Male	63%
Black	56%
Asian	71%
Hispanic	52%
American Indian	53%
White	72%
Low income	57%
Special education	34%
Limited English	36%

Math	This District
All Students	64%
Female	63%
Male	64%
Black	52%
Asian	67%
Hispanic	57%
American Indian	59%
White	71%
Low income	55%
Special education	32%
Limited English	42%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 4

Reading	This District
All Students	70%
Female	76%
Male	65%
Black	63%
Asian	76%
Hispanic	63%
American Indian	58%
White	75%
Low income	64%
Special education	43%
Limited English	42%

Writing	This District
All Students	54%
Female	64%
Male	44%
Black	45%
Asian	66%
Hispanic	45%
American Indian	42%
White	58%
Low income	45%
Special education	29%
Limited English	23%

Math	This District
All Students	46%
Female	47%
Male	44%
Black	30%
Asian	51%
Hispanic	35%
American Indian	33%
White	56%
Low income	36%
Special education	18%
Limited English	22%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 5

Reading	This District
All Students	65%
Female	70%
Male	60%
Black	56%
Asian	70%
Hispanic	55%
American Indian	48%
White	71%
Low income	57%
Special education	30%
Limited English	22%

Science	This District
All Students	23%
Female	25%
Male	22%
Black	12%
Asian	22%
Hispanic	11%
American Indian	16%
White	32%
Low income	14%
Special education	11%
Limited English	3%

Math	This District
All Students	54%
Female	55%
Male	52%
Black	38%
Asian	61%
Hispanic	38%
American Indian	39%
White	63%
Low income	44%
Special education	19%
Limited English	20%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 6

Reading	This District
All Students	58%
Female	63%
Male	53%
Black	47%
Asian	59%
Hispanic	48%
American Indian	40%
White	66%
Low income	47%
Special education	25%
Limited English	17%

Math	This District
All Students	40%
Female	40%
Male	40%
Black	23%
Asian	43%
Hispanic	31%
American Indian	22%
White	50%
Low income	29%
Special education	8%
Limited English	15%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 7

Reading	This District
All Students	61%
Female	68%
Male	55%
Black	50%
Asian	67%
Hispanic	54%
American Indian	58%
White	68%
Low income	52%
Special education	30%
Limited English	19%

Writing	This District
All Students	58%
Female	69%
Male	48%
Black	47%
Asian	64%
Hispanic	48%
American Indian	42%
White	65%
Low income	48%
Special education	24%
Limited English	21%

Math	This District
All Students	43%
Female	44%
Male	42%
Black	24%
Asian	48%
Hispanic	31%
American Indian	33%
White	55%
Low income	31%
Special education	11%
Limited English	14%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 8

Reading	This District
All Students	55%
Female	63%
Male	48%
Black	46%
Asian	60%
Hispanic	48%
American Indian	39%
White	61%
Low income	45%
Special education	18%
Limited English	31%

Science	This District
All Students	28%
Female	29%
Male	28%
Black	14%
Asian	29%
Hispanic	15%
American Indian	21%
White	38%
Low income	16%
Special education	3%
Limited English	9%

Math	This District
All Students	36%
Female	37%
Male	35%
Black	20%
Asian	38%
Hispanic	24%
American Indian	34%
White	44%
Low income	24%
Special education	4%
Limited English	16%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

Grade 10

Reading	This District
All Students	70%
Female	71%
Male	63%
Black	53%
Asian	74%
Hispanic	55%
American Indian	60%
White	74%
Low income	56%
Special education	21%
Limited English	37%

Science	This District
All Students	24%
Female	25%
Male	22%
Black	9%
Asian	28%
Hispanic	8%
American Indian	13%
White	31%
Low income	14%
Special education	1%
Limited English	0%

Writing	This District
All Students	70%
Female	74%
Male	61%
Black	58%
Asian	75%
Hispanic	52%
American Indian	44%
White	73%
Low income	56%
Special education	19%
Limited English	23%

Math	This District
All Students	36%
Female	34%
Male	35%
Black	14%
Asian	45%
Hispanic	21%
American Indian	13%
White	44%
Low income	22%
Special education	1%
Limited English	25%

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

About the tests

In 2006-2007 Washington used the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, in writing in grades 4, 7 and 10 and in science in grades 5, 8 and 10.
The WASL is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington.
The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
Beginning with the class of 2008, the grade 10 WASL will be a high school graduation requirement.
The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

Testing in Washington: An Overview

Teachers

Teacher Experience

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007
	This District	State Average
Average years educational experience	13	13

Teacher Experience and Credentials: Issues to Consider >

Teacher Education Levels

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007
	This District	State Average
Master's degree or higher	53%	62%

Teacher Experience and Credentials: Issues to Consider >

Student-Teacher Ratio

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007
	This District	State Average
Students per classroom teacher	17	18

How Important is Class Size? >

Students

Student Ethnicity

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007
Ethnicity	This District	State Average
White	50%	68%
Black	23%	6%
Asian	12%	8%
Hispanic	12%	14%
American Indian	2%	3%
Pacific Islander	<1%	<1%

How Important is Cultural Diversity at Your School? >

Student Subgroups

Source: ¹WA OSPI, 2005-2006
²WA OSPI, 2006-2007
	This District	State Average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program²	55%	37%
Special education²	13%	13%
Migrant¹	0%	2%
Transitional bilingual¹	6%	7%

The Achievement Gap: Is Your School Helping All Students? >

Spending Per Pupil

		This District	State Average
Total per pupil expenditures		$8,456	$9,754

Source: NCES, 2005-2006
Breakdown By Expenditure
Instructional	59%	59%
Student and staff support	13%	8%
Administration	11%	12%
Other expenditures	16%	21%

School Finance: Issues to Consider >

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