Best Schools in Tacoma, Washington
113 schools · 60 Elementary · 16 Middle · 22 High · 15 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $88,279
- Median home value
- $499,017
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
31% 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
#67 of 192
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Washington avg (6.3)
Median household income
$88k
99% of Washington median
Schools in this city
105
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 | 283 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 320 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.8 |
| 3 | 377 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 4 | 418 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 5 | 359 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 6 | 300 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 7 | 367 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 8 | 323 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 9 | 600 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 |
| 10 | 816 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 |
| 11 | 247 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 12 | 635 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 13 | 256 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 14 | 515 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 15 | 496 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 16 | 287 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 17 | 376 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 18 | 424 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 19 | 296 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 20 | 357 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 21 | 346 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 22 | 327 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 23 | 374 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 24 | 344 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 25 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
Show 35 more elementary schools
| 26 | 487 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 27 | 443 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 28 | 489 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 29 | 401 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 30 | 333 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 31 | 480 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 32 | 295 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.5 | ||
| 33 | 342 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 34 | 488 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 35 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 36 | 395 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 37 | 296 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 38 | 405 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 39 | 345 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 40 | 422 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 41 | 450 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 42 | 443 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 43 | 356 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 44 | 159 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 45 | 417 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 46 | 372 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 47 | 421 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.4 | ||
| 48 | 432 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 | ||
| 49 | 648 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 50 | 266 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.6 | ||
| 51 | 326 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.0 | ||
| 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 | VISITATION CATHOLIC STEM ACADEMY
Private
111 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | THE SEABURY SCHOOL
Private
89 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | THE COR DEO SCHOOL
Private
129 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 92 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Private
357 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | 426 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Private
94 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | 275 students · Kindergarten–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 9 | IMAGINATION SCHOOL
Private
11 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 132 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 484 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 750 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 479 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 430 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 647 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 7 | 584 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 417 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 9 | 562 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 10 | 820 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 11 | 608 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 12 | 360 students · 4th–8th | 5.5 |
| 13 | 771 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 14 | 526 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 15 | 621 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 |
| 16 | 193 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
High Schools
22 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98 students · 8th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 114 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 74 students · 12th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 4 | 1,416 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 5 | 33 students · 6th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 6 | 604 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 7 | 1,609 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 8 | 648 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 9 | 580 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 10 | 864 students · 10th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 11 | 1,529 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 12 | 382 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 13 | 307 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 14 | 1,138 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 15 | 1,024 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 16 | 1,136 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
| 17 | 533 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 18 | 19 students · 10th–12th | — | ||
| 19 | 8 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 20 | 23 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
| 21 | 506 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | EVERGREEN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
Private
91 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 284 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 602 students · 8th–9th | 5.3 | ||
| 4 | 242 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.2 | ||
| 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 | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | FAITH BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
34 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY
Private
519 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
191 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
610 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | SOUND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
268 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | ST MARY'S ACADEMY
Private
39 students · Kindergarten–9th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | TACOMA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
309 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 9 | CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
192 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
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.
Quick Facts
- State
- Washington
- Total Schools
- 113
- Elementary
- 60
- Middle
- 16
- High
- 22
- Districts
- 8
- Avg Rating
- 6.4/10
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
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently 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 6.4 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Downing Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Downing Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Bryant Montessori Middle School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best high school in Tacoma, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Tacoma on MySchoolScout is Gates Secondary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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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.