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Average

#1458 of 2,228 schools in WA

Harvard Elementary

Elementary School · Franklin Pierce School District

1709 85th Street E, Tacoma, WA 98445

Enrollment

421

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

5.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Washington schools

#1,458 of 2,228

In Tacoma

#55 of 88

public schools

In district

#5 of 14

Franklin Pierce School District

School environment

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Harvard Elementary

5.6/10

Elementary School in Tacoma · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Evergreen Lutheran High School

6.5/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Boze Elementary School

7.0/10

1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Harvard Elementary

Harvard Elementary is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Franklin Pierce School District. Harvard Elementary serves approximately 421 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Harvard Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,458 of 2,228 schools in WA.

Structured state assessment records for Harvard Elementary show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.6 · Average
  • District avg 5.6
  • WA avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

34% of students at Harvard 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 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.94 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.3% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25.3% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg-28.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-23.1 pts
Overall Proficiency24% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)28% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected-4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
Resources & Environment9.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,065
Chronic Absenteeism33.5%

Harvard Elementary — Students at Harvard Elementary score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

77.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 39.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.8% (2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency 46.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
50.2% (2024 SBA)

Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
63%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
39%
ELA
48%
2016
Math
46%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
45%
ELA
53%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
49%
2022
Math
37.3%
ELA
37%
2024
Math
23.3%
ELA
24.8%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.9/10.

How Harvard Elementary Compares

See how Harvard Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.6/10
35th percentile in WA
Academic
4.0/10
Below Average
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
9.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
78%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
33.5%

Location

1709 85th Street E, Tacoma, WA 98445

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Harvard Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Boze Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lister Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 2.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Larchmont Elementary School (rated 6.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Tacoma, see our Tacoma schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
EVERGREEN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Tacoma 1.0 mi 6.5
Boze Elementary School Tacoma 1.2 mi 7.0
Morris Ford Middle School Tacoma 1.3 mi 3.8
Midland Elementary Tacoma 1.4 mi 5.2
Larchmont Elementary School Tacoma 1.1 mi 6.6
Franklin Pierce High School Tacoma 1.6 mi 4.6
Waller Road Elementary Tacoma 1.5 mi 5.2
FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL Tacoma 1.4 mi 5.1
First Creek Middle School Tacoma 2.0 mi 5.8
Sheridan Elementary School Tacoma 2.1 mi 6.4
Fawcett Elementary School Tacoma 1.9 mi 6.1
CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma 2.0 mi 7.1
CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma 2.0 mi 5.6
Lister Elementary School Tacoma 2.4 mi 7.0
Fern Hill Elementary School Tacoma 1.7 mi 6.2
Industrial Design Engineering and Arts Tacoma 2.0 mi 4.6
Collins Elementary Tacoma 2.8 mi 6.3
Baker Middle School Tacoma 1.9 mi 6.5
Blix Elementary School Tacoma 2.9 mi 6.1
Stewart Middle School Tacoma 2.6 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98445 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,063

Median Home Value

$413,200

Median Rent

$1,721/mo

Population

33,578

College Educated

19.1%

Homeownership

69.7%

Avg Commute

32.3 min

Poverty Rate

11.5%

Median Age

37

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Big Lake Elementary School Mount Vernon, WA 5.6
CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL Richland, WA 5.6
Cougar Creek Elementary School N. Lakewood, WA 5.6
Emerson Elementary Pasco, WA 5.6
Grantham Elementary Clarkston, WA 5.6
Horizon Elementary School Kent, WA 5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Harvard Elementary

What grades does Harvard Elementary serve?

Harvard Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Harvard Elementary?

Harvard Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 421 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Harvard Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Harvard 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 Harvard Elementary rank in WA?

Harvard Elementary ranks #1,458 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Harvard Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Harvard Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 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 Harvard Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Harvard Elementary has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Harvard Elementary a charter school?

No, Harvard Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Harvard Elementary a Title I school?

No, Harvard Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harvard Elementary?

77.7% of students at Harvard 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
36 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
421
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
77.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Pierce County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
33.5%

District

Franklin Pierce School District
District Enrollment
7,296
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,065
District Rank
#5 of 14

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