Excellent
#231 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 10% in state
James Sales Elementary
Elementary School · Franklin Pierce School District · Tacoma, WA
A Franklin Pierce School District elementary school where students score 23 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1301 113th Street S, Tacoma, WA 98444
- Math 56% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 54% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James Sales Elementary score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is up 7 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 55% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
71.6%
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 James Sales Elementary 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 42Car-Dependent
- Bike 39Somewhat 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.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christensen ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 346 | Compare → |
| Parkland Lutheran Church & SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 92 | Compare → |
| Brookdale ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 487 | Compare → |
| Faith Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.1private | PK–8 | 1.4 mi | 94 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
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
- #1 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
James Sales Elementary is listed in Franklin Pierce School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James Sales Elementary
James Sales Elementary is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Franklin Pierce School District, serving approximately 377 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #231 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James Sales Elementary
What grades does James Sales Elementary serve?
James Sales Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend James Sales Elementary?
James Sales Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 377 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Sales Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Sales Elementary is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James Sales Elementary rank in WA?
James Sales Elementary ranks #231 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is James Sales Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
James Sales Elementary 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 James Sales Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James Sales Elementary has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is James Sales Elementary a charter school?
No, James Sales Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James Sales Elementary a Title I school?
No, James Sales Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James Sales Elementary?
71.6% of students at James Sales 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 377
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 44.3%
- Phone
- (253) 298-4205
- Area population (ZIP 98444)
- 35,660
- Area average commute
- 30.3 min
- Area median age
- 34.1
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 98444; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.