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Very Good

#822 of 2,228 schools in WA

Top 37% in state

Lister Elementary School

Elementary School · Tacoma School District

2106 E 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98404

Enrollment

401

Student-Teacher

16:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Washington schools

#822 of 2,228

In Tacoma

#29 of 88

public schools

In district

#21 of 62

Tacoma School District

Academic growth

7.8 / 10

Very Good

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Lister Elementary School

7.0/10

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

First Creek Middle School

5.8/10

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

Roosevelt Elementary School

6.4/10

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

About Lister Elementary School

Lister Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Tacoma School District. Lister Elementary School serves approximately 401 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Lister Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #822 of 2,228 schools in WA.

Structured state assessment records for Lister Elementary School show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.9
  • WA avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

53% of students at Lister Elementary School 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 Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.5Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.5% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.8% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg-23.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-13.6 pts
Overall Proficiency32% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)22% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected+9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile49th
Resources & Environment5.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,679
Chronic Absenteeism52.6%

Lister Elementary School — Students at Lister Elementary School score 32% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

87.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 34.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.8% (2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency 42.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
50.2% (2024 SBA)

Based on 34 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
39%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
42%
ELA
49%
2011
Math
40%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
41%
ELA
53%
2013
Math
50%
ELA
55%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
31%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
34%
2016
Math
31%
ELA
34%
2017
Math
33%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
23.6%
ELA
42%
2024
Math
29.3%
ELA
34.7%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.

How Lister Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.0/10
63th percentile in WA
Academic
6.5/10
Average
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
5.7/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
88%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
25 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
52.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2106 E 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98404

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lister Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lyon Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Boze Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 1.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Impact Public Schools (rated 6.7/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Tacoma, see our Tacoma schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.9 mi
School Distance Rating
First Creek Middle School Tacoma 0.5 mi 5.8
Roosevelt Elementary School Tacoma 0.9 mi 6.4
Blix Elementary School Tacoma 0.7 mi 6.1
Waller Road Elementary Tacoma 1.2 mi 5.2
Sheridan Elementary School Tacoma 1.0 mi 6.4
Impact Public Schools Tacoma 1.3 mi 6.7
Boze Elementary School Tacoma 1.4 mi 7.0
EVERGREEN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Tacoma 1.8 mi 6.5
CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma 1.4 mi 7.1
CONCORDIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tacoma 1.4 mi 5.6
Lyon Elementary School Tacoma 1.4 mi 8.8
Fawcett Elementary School Tacoma 1.7 mi 6.1
Stewart Middle School Tacoma 1.7 mi 5.6
Harvard Elementary Tacoma 2.4 mi 5.6
Summit Public School: Olympus Seattle 2.2 mi 6.2
Willard Early Learning Center Tacoma 2.0 mi 5.1
Lincoln High School Tacoma 2.0 mi 5.1
Chief Leschi School Puyallup 2.1 mi
Industrial Design Engineering and Arts Tacoma 2.4 mi 4.6
Larchmont Elementary School Tacoma 2.9 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98404 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,562

Median Home Value

$387,300

Median Rent

$1,440/mo

Population

35,829

College Educated

21.3%

Homeownership

68.4%

Avg Commute

33.3 min

Poverty Rate

16%

Median Age

35.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Adams Elementary Spokane Valley, WA 7.0
Boze Elementary School Tacoma, WA 7.0
Butler Acres Elementary Kelso, WA 7.0
C O Sorenson Bothell, WA 7.0
Evergreen Heights Elementary Auburn, WA 7.0
Glenridge Elementary Kent, WA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lister Elementary School

What grades does Lister Elementary School serve?

Lister Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lister Elementary School?

Lister Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 401 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lister Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lister Elementary School is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lister Elementary School rank in WA?

Lister Elementary School ranks #822 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Lister Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lister Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Lister Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lister Elementary School has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Lister Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Lister Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Lister Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

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

87.5% of students at Lister 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
56 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
401
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Free/Reduced Lunch
87.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Pierce County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
52.6%

District

Tacoma School District
District Enrollment
28,272
Schools in District
69
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,679
District Rank
#21 of 62

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