Franklin Pierce School District
School District · Tacoma, Washington
Avg Rating
5.4
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,065
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Avg Rating
5.4
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,065
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Evaluating Franklin Pierce School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Franklin Pierce School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
James Sales Elementary
Tacoma · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Gates Secondary School
Tacoma · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Brookdale Elementary
Tacoma · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Washington rank
#190 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,065
+$1,341 vs Washington median
District size
7,296 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Franklin Pierce School District ranks #190 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Franklin Pierce School District's schools with real test data average 5.4/10 across 13 schools. Its top-rated schools are James Sales Elementary (8.6/10), Gates Secondary School (8.6/10), and Brookdale Elementary (6.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.6/10 despite 72% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.3 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 Franklin Pierce School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Franklin Pierce School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Franklin Pierce School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (13 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Sales Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Gates Secondary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Brookdale Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Collins Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Harvard Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Midland Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Franklin Pierce High School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Central Avenue Elementary | 4.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Christensen Elementary | 4.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Washington High School | 4.2 / 10 |
See all 14 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Franklin Pierce School District
Franklin Pierce School District is a Tacoma, Washington school district serving 14 schools. The district educates 7,296 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1. The district invests $19,065 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.4/10, Franklin Pierce School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is James Sales Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Franklin Pierce School District students show an average math proficiency of 39.6% and ELA proficiency of 53.3%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Franklin Pierce School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Franklin Pierce School District with test data.
Schools in Franklin Pierce School District
14 schools Elementary Schools 8
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 3
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Tacoma
- Total Enrollment
- 7,296
- Teachers (FTE)
- 471
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Franklin Pierce School District?
Franklin Pierce School District has 14 schools in total — 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Franklin Pierce School District?
The average composite rating for Franklin Pierce School District is 5.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Franklin Pierce School District?
Franklin Pierce School District spends $19,065 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Franklin Pierce School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Franklin Pierce School District is 15.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Franklin Pierce School District?
James Sales Elementary is the highest-rated school in Franklin Pierce School District with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Franklin Pierce School District?
Across schools in Franklin Pierce School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Franklin Pierce School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Franklin Pierce School District has an average school rating of 5.4/10 across 14 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.3%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare Franklin Pierce School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Highline School District (43)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Bellingham School District (25)
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.
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