Excellent
#232 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 10% in state
Gates Secondary School
High School · Franklin Pierce School District · Tacoma, WA
A Franklin Pierce School District high school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
813 132nd Street S, Tacoma, WA 98444
- Math 25% proficient (2019)
- Reading 75% proficient (2019)
- 1/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Gates Secondary School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2019 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 6 points since 2016, reaching 50% in 2019, across a 11-year record (2009–2019).
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 20% (multi-year average, 2009-2019) · reading/ELA 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2019)
Based on 24 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
68.4%
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 Gates Secondary 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 54Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 43Somewhat 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
$64,464
Median home value
$369,500
Median rent
$1,581/mo
College educated
15.2%
Homeownership
45.8%
Poverty rate
14.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98444; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | K–9 | 0.4 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Washington High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | 9–12 | 0.7 mi | 1,024 | Compare → |
| Acceleration AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | 9–12 | 2.0 mi | 405 | Compare → |
| Franklin Pierce High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | 9–12 | 2.2 mi | 1,138 | 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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Franklin Pierce School District
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #2 of 14
- District spending per student
- $19,065NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Gates Secondary School is listed in Franklin Pierce School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Gates Secondary School
Gates Secondary School is a public high school in Tacoma, WA, part of Franklin Pierce School District, serving approximately 98 students in grades 8th-12th with a 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #232 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Gates Secondary School
What grades does Gates Secondary School serve?
Gates Secondary School serves students in grades 8th through 12th.
How many students attend Gates Secondary School?
Gates Secondary School has an enrollment of approximately 98 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gates Secondary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gates Secondary School is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Gates Secondary School rank in WA?
Gates Secondary School ranks #232 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Gates Secondary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Gates Secondary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Gates Secondary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Gates Secondary School has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019).
Is Gates Secondary School a charter school?
No, Gates Secondary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Gates Secondary School a Title I school?
No, Gates Secondary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gates Secondary School?
68.4% of students at Gates Secondary 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 – 12th
- Enrollment
- 98
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Phone
- (253) 298-4005
- Area population (ZIP 98444)
- 35,660
- Area average commute
- 30.3 min
- Area median age
- 34.1
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 · 2019 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2019 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 · 2019 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2019 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 98444; 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, 2009-2019; directory SY 2023–24
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