Best Schools in Tacoma, Washington
113 schools · 60 Elementary · 16 Middle · 22 High · 15 Other
Choosing a school in Tacoma?
Use this page to compare every school in Tacoma by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary · Tacoma School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Point Defiance Elementary School
Elementary · Tacoma School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Lowell Elementary School
Elementary · Tacoma School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Tacoma for 2026 are Jefferson Elementary School (9.2/10), Point Defiance Elementary School (9.2/10), and Lowell Elementary School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
113
94 public · 19 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$499,017
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
113
94 public · 19 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$499,017
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Rates 8.8/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Tacoma schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +19.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tacoma schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tacoma
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 113). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Point Defiance Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Lowell Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Downing Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Browns Point Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Sherman Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Lyon Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center | 8.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 10 | James Sales Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $88,279
- Median home value
- $499,017
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
33% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Tacoma compares
Washington rank
#85 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Washington avg (6.4)
Median household income
$88k
99% of Washington median
Schools in this city
106
Education Snapshot
Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma operates 113 schools across 8 districts, enrolling approximately 46,777 students split across 60 elementary, 16 middle, and 22 high schools. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 6.3/10, drawn from 106 scored schools, sits one-tenth of a point below the Washington state average of 6.4/10 — a marginal deficit that still places Tacoma below the statewide benchmark. Only 1 charter school operates here, meaning nearly all families choose within the traditional public system. The economic context runs notably below state norms: Tacoma's median household income of $86,164 is 13% lower than the Washington state median of $99,416. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher stand at 31%. Together, the below-state rating, income gap, and lower educational attainment suggest parents comparing Tacoma to higher-rated Washington cities should examine individual school ratings closely rather than relying on the city average alone.
About Schools in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma's public school system spans 83 ranked schools with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. That average sits in solid mid-range territory, but the spread matters more than the mean — 27 schools, or roughly one in three, score 7 or above. Parents who do their homework can find strong options across the city, particularly at the elementary level.
The top performers are concentrated among elementary schools. Downing Elementary leads the city with a 9.1 out of 10, the highest score among all 83 ranked public schools. Whittier Elementary follows at 8.8, with James Sales, Browns Point, and Washington Elementary each earning an 8.7. That cluster of high-scoring elementaries signals genuine strength in foundational education for families with younger children. The competitive range at the top is tight — less than half a point separates the second through fifth-ranked schools — so location and fit may end up being the deciding factors among them.
The 33% of schools scoring 7 or above gives Tacoma a meaningful tier of quality options, though it also means the majority of schools fall below that threshold. Families should weigh school scores alongside proximity, program offerings, and grade range. A school sitting at 6.0 may still serve specific needs well, particularly if it offers specialized curriculum, strong extracurriculars, or a tighter community fit. The city's size — 83 ranked schools — means there is enough variety to be worth researching carefully rather than defaulting to the nearest option.
Practically speaking, parents prioritizing academic performance at the elementary level should look first at the Downing, Whittier, and James Sales attendance zones. Those in areas without access to the top-ranked schools still have real choices: more than a quarter of Tacoma's ranked schools clear the 7-out-of-10 mark. Use MySchoolScout's search tools to filter by grade level, score range, and location to build a shortlist. In a city this size, the gap between the best and average school is significant enough that a few extra minutes of research can make a real difference.
Elementary Schools
60 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 323 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 300 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 333 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 283 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 5 | 418 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 6 | 424 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 7 | 344 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 8 | 600 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 9 | 377 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 10 | 515 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
Show all 60 elementary schools in Tacoma
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 484 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 608 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 750 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 4 | 647 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 5 | 584 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 479 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 7 | 562 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 417 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 9 | 621 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 10 | 132 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
Show all 16 middle schools in Tacoma
High Schools
22 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 students · 6th–12th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 98 students · 8th–12th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 74 students · 12th–12th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 533 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 604 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 864 students · 10th–12th | 6.4 |
| 7 | 1,609 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 114 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
| 9 | 580 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 648 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
Show all 22 high schools in Tacoma
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 602 students · 8th–9th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 284 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.1 | ||
| 3 | 242 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 30 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 23 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 6 | 11 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 9 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Annie Wright Schools
Private
619 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | Faith Baptist Christian Academy
Private
34 students · Pre-K–10th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | Charles Wright Academy
Private
519 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 4 | Concordia Christian Academy
Private
191 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 | ||
Show all 15 other schools in Tacoma
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington · 113 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 18 ZIP codes
Median Income
$88,279
Median Home Value
$499,017
Median Rent
$1,652/mo
Population
356,930
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Community Profile
Tacoma has a median household income of $88,279. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $499,017, with a median rent of $1,652/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 60
- Middle
- 16
- High
- 22
- Other
- 15
Resources
School Districts (8)
Bates Technical College
2 schools · 533 students
Impact | Commencement Bay Elementary
1 school · 256 students
Bethel School District
39 schools · 21,539 students
Fife School District
7 schools · 3,916 students
Franklin Pierce School District
15 schools · 7,296 students
Puyallup School District
37 schools · 22,905 students
Quillayute Valley School District
6 schools · 3,439 students
Tacoma School District
69 schools · 28,272 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Washington
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Tacoma, Washington
How many schools are in Tacoma, Washington?
Tacoma has 113 schools, including 94 public and 19 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Tacoma, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Tacoma is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Jefferson Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Jefferson Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Hunt Middle School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Tacoma, Washington?
Tacoma is served by 8 school districts: Bates Technical College, Impact | Commencement Bay Elementary, Bethel School District, Fife School District, Franklin Pierce School District, Puyallup School District, Quillayute Valley School District, Tacoma School District.
What is the education level in Tacoma, Washington?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Tacoma have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Tacoma, Washington?
The median household income in Tacoma is approximately $88,279 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Tacoma, Washington?
Yes, Tacoma has 19 private schools alongside 94 public schools. The top-rated private school is Visitation Catholic Stem Academy with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tacoma, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Tacoma is 16.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Tacoma, Washington?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.