Excellent
#242 of 2,225 schools in WA
Top 11% in state
Fife Elementary School
Elementary School · Fife School District
5804 20th Street E, Tacoma, WA 98424
Enrollment
816
Student-Teacher
16.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
816
Student-Teacher
16.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Tacoma
#11 of 83
public schools
Washington elementary schools
#228 of 1,202
In district
#1 of 6
Fife School District
Academic growth
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Fife Elementary School
Fife Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of the Fife School District. The school serves approximately 816 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 16.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 89.2th percentile among WA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 38% proficiency in math, 8 points below the state average and 41% in reading/language arts, 10 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.9/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $93,633, where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Fife Elementary School — Students at Fife Elementary School score 39% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
61%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)
Based on 11 test records from WA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.9/10.
How Fife Elementary School Compares
See how Fife Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 37% (2022) to 40.9% (2024).
Location
5804 20th Street E, Tacoma, WA 98424
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Fife Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Roosevelt Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 2.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Discovery Primary School (rated 7.7/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Milton), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Sherwood Forest Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Federal Way), a more accessible option. For more schools in Tacoma, see our Tacoma schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Fife Open Doors Tacoma | 0.1 mi | — |
| Fife High School Tacoma | 0.2 mi | 5.9 |
| HOLY ROSARY BILINGUAL ACADEMY Fife | 0.3 mi | 5.9 |
| HOLY ROSARY BILINGUAL ACADEMY Fife | 0.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Columbia Junior High School Tacoma | 0.5 mi | 5.3 |
| Chief Leschi School Puyallup | 1.8 mi | — |
| Discovery Primary School Milton | 2.0 mi | 7.7 |
| MONTESSORI ACADEMY AT SPRING VALLEY Federal Way | 2.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Illahee Middle School Federal Way | 2.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Surprise Lake Middle School Milton | 2.1 mi | 3.8 |
| FAITH BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma | 3.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School Tacoma | 2.4 mi | 8.3 |
| N.E. Tacoma Elementary School Tacoma | 3.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Enterprise Elementary School Federal Way | 3.5 mi | 4.7 |
| Northwood Elementary Edgewood | 2.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Todd Beamer High School Federal Way | 3.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Waller Road Elementary Tacoma | 3.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Karshner Elementary Puyallup | 3.2 mi | 3.6 |
| Lister Elementary School Tacoma | 2.8 mi | 6.6 |
| Sherwood Forest Elementary School Federal Way | 3.8 mi | 7.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 98424 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$93,633
Median Home Value
$497,400
Median Rent
$1,836/mo
Population
11,871
College Educated
27.8%
Homeownership
49.8%
Avg Commute
26.5 min
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Median Age
32.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Fife Elementary School has a median household income of $93,633. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $497,400, with a median rent of $1,836/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.4%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cedar River Elementary Maple Valley, WA | 8.3 |
| Creekside Elementary Sammamish, WA | 8.3 |
| Crystal Springs Elementary Bothell, WA | 8.3 |
| Elma Elementary School Elma, WA | 8.3 |
| Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School Tacoma, WA | 8.3 |
| Medina Elementary School Medina, WA | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fife Elementary School
What grades does Fife Elementary School serve?
Fife Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Fife Elementary School?
Fife Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 816 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fife Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fife Elementary School is 16.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fife Elementary School rank in WA?
Fife Elementary School is ranked #242 out of 2,225 schools in WA.
What is Fife Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Fife Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Fife Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fife Elementary School has 37.6% math proficiency and 40.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Fife Elementary School a charter school?
No, Fife Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fife Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Fife Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fife Elementary School?
61.0% of students at Fife 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Tacoma). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 816
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 61.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Phone
- (253) 517-1400
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Fife School District- District Enrollment
- 3,916
- Schools in District
- 7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,662
- District Rank
- #1 of 6
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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