Average
#1543 of 2,228 schools in WA
Columbia Junior High School
School · Fife School District · Tacoma, WA
A Fife School District school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2901 54th Avenue E, Tacoma, WA 98424
- Math 21% vs WA 37% (2024)
- Reading 42% vs WA 49% (2024)
- 1/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/3 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Columbia Junior High School score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2018, to 31% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
52.7%
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 Columbia Junior High 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 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 37Somewhat 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
$93,633
Median home value
$497,400
Median rent
$1,836/mo
College educated
27.8%
Homeownership
49.8%
Poverty rate
10.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98424; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Rosary Bilingual AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.9 | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 90 | Compare → |
| Holy Rosary Bilingual AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.9 | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 90 | Compare → |
| Chief Leschi SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–12 | 1.3 mi | 648 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Fife School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #5 of 6
- District spending per student
- $17,662NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Columbia Junior High School is listed in Fife School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Columbia Junior High School
Columbia Junior High School is a public school in Tacoma, WA, part of Fife School District, serving approximately 602 students in grades 8th-9th with a 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,543 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Columbia Junior High School
What grades does Columbia Junior High School serve?
Columbia Junior High School serves students in grades 8th through 9th.
How many students attend Columbia Junior High School?
Columbia Junior High School has an enrollment of approximately 602 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Junior High School is 20.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Columbia Junior High School rank in WA?
Columbia Junior High School ranks #1,543 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Columbia Junior High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Columbia Junior High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Columbia Junior High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Junior High School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Columbia Junior High School a charter school?
No, Columbia Junior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Columbia Junior High School a Title I school?
No, Columbia Junior High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Junior High School?
52.7% of students at Columbia Junior High 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
- 8th – 9th
- Enrollment
- 602
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.9%
- Phone
- (253) 517-1600
- Area population (ZIP 98424)
- 11,871
- Area average commute
- 26.5 min
- Area median age
- 32.1
Official sources & links
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 98424; 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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