Below Average
#1912 of 2,228 schools in WA
Central Avenue Elementary
Elementary School · Franklin Pierce School District
4608 128th ST E, Tacoma, WA 98446
Enrollment
345
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
4.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
345
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
4.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Washington schools
#1,912 of 2,228
In Tacoma
#78 of 88
public schools
In district
#9 of 14
Franklin Pierce School District
School environment
7.5 / 10
Very Good
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Central Avenue Elementary
Elementary School in Tacoma · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Naches Trail Elementary
1.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Pierce County Skills Center
2.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Central Avenue Elementary
Central Avenue Elementary is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Franklin Pierce School District. Central Avenue Elementary serves approximately 345 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Central Avenue Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,912 of 2,228 schools in WA.
Structured state assessment records for Central Avenue Elementary show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 4.5 · Below Average
- District avg 5.6
- WA avg 6.8
What Parents Should Know
56% of students at Central Avenue Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Central Avenue Elementary — Students at Central Avenue Elementary score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
60.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)
Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.9/10.
How Central Avenue Elementary Compares
See how Central Avenue Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
4608 128th ST E, Tacoma, WA 98446
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Central Avenue Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Woodland Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Puyallup), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Clover Creek Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Tacoma, see our Tacoma schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Naches Trail Elementary Tacoma | 1.9 mi | 7.3 |
| Pierce County Skills Center Puyallup | 2.1 mi | 4.9 |
| Bethel Elementary Learning Academy Puyallup | 2.1 mi | — |
| Collins Elementary Tacoma | 1.7 mi | 6.3 |
| Midland Elementary Tacoma | 2.1 mi | 5.2 |
| Clover Creek Elementary Tacoma | 2.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School Tacoma | 2.7 mi | 8.6 |
| Franklin Pierce High School Tacoma | 2.2 mi | 4.6 |
| Dessie F Evans Elementary Puyallup | 2.2 mi | 4.5 |
| Woodland Elementary Puyallup | 2.2 mi | 8.2 |
| CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS - FREDERICKSON ELEM. Tacoma | 3.0 mi | 5.0 |
| Morris Ford Middle School Tacoma | 2.5 mi | 3.8 |
| Frederickson Elementary Puyallup | 3.2 mi | 5.4 |
| Gov John Rogers High School Puyallup | 2.6 mi | 5.6 |
| Harvard Elementary Tacoma | 3.3 mi | 5.6 |
| EVERGREEN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Tacoma | 3.7 mi | 6.5 |
| Spanaway Lake High School Spanaway | 3.2 mi | 3.7 |
| Fruitland Elementary Puyallup | 3.3 mi | 7.0 |
| Puyallup Online Academy/POA Puyallup | 2.8 mi | 6.0 |
| Puyallup Open Doors/POD Puyalllup | 2.8 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 98446 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$101,130
Median Home Value
$459,500
Median Rent
$1,944/mo
Population
14,241
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
69.7%
Avg Commute
33.1 min
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Median Age
36.6
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Arlington Elementary Spokane, WA | 4.5 |
| Birchwood Elementary School Bellingham, WA | 4.5 |
| Hearthwood Elementary School Vancouver, WA | 4.5 |
| Image Elementary School Vancouver, WA | 4.5 |
| Madison Elementary Everett, WA | 4.5 |
| Neely O Brien Elementary School Kent, WA | 4.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Central Avenue Elementary
What grades does Central Avenue Elementary serve?
Central Avenue Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Central Avenue Elementary?
Central Avenue Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 345 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Avenue Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Avenue Elementary is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Central Avenue Elementary rank in WA?
Central Avenue Elementary ranks #1,912 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Central Avenue Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Central Avenue Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Central Avenue Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Central Avenue Elementary has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Central Avenue Elementary a charter school?
No, Central Avenue Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Central Avenue Elementary a Title I school?
No, Central Avenue Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central Avenue Elementary?
60.6% of students at Central Avenue Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 345
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 60.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 56.2%
- Phone
- (253) 298-3205
Resources & Links
District
Franklin Pierce School District- District Enrollment
- 7,296
- Schools in District
- 15
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,065
- District Rank
- #9 of 14
Other Schools in This District
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