Average
#1701 of 2,228 schools in WA
Birney Elementary School
Elementary School · Tacoma School District · Tacoma, WA
A Tacoma School District elementary school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
7627 South Sheridan Ave, Tacoma, WA 98408
- Math 22% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 28% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Birney Elementary School score 25% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2018, to 25% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
75.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Birney Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Seattle map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 48Car-Dependent
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High6,715/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Tacoma), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$78,855
Median home value
$379,400
Median rent
$1,610/mo
College educated
25%
Homeownership
67.4%
Poverty rate
9.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98408; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fern Hill Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 287 | Compare → |
| Helen Stafford Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.9 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 432 | Compare → |
| Sound Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | PK–12 | 1.0 mi | 268 | Compare → |
| Arlington Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 374 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Tacoma School District
- Schools in district
- 69
- Rank in district
- #47 of 62
- District spending per student
- $19,679NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Birney Elementary School is listed in Tacoma School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Birney Elementary School
Birney Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Tacoma School District, serving approximately 489 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,701 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Birney Elementary School
What grades does Birney Elementary School serve?
Birney Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Birney Elementary School?
Birney Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 489 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary School is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Birney Elementary School rank in WA?
Birney Elementary School ranks #1,701 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Birney Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Birney Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Birney Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Birney Elementary School has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Birney Elementary School a charter school?
No, Birney Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Birney Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Birney Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Birney Elementary School?
75.7% of students at Birney Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 489
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.8%
- Phone
- (253) 571-4600
- Area population (ZIP 98408)
- 20,469
- Area average commute
- 28.9 min
- Area median age
- 38.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 98408; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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