Excellent
#84 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 4% in state
Point Defiance Elementary School
Elementary School · Tacoma School District · Tacoma, WA
A Tacoma School District elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4330 N Visscher St, Tacoma, WA 98407
- Math 60% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 69% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Point Defiance Elementary School score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 65% across the 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
34.3%
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 Point Defiance Elementary 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 55Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 46Somewhat 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
$108,905
Median home value
$613,000
Median rent
$1,847/mo
College educated
50.1%
Homeownership
65.4%
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98407; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 424 | Compare → |
| Downing Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 283 | Compare → |
| Skyline Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 372 | Compare → |
| Tacoma Online Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 159 | 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.
Tacoma School District
- Schools in district
- 69
- Rank in district
- #2 of 62
- District spending per student
- $19,679NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Point Defiance Elementary School is listed in Tacoma School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Point Defiance Elementary School
Point Defiance Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tacoma, WA, part of Tacoma School District, serving approximately 300 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #84 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Point Defiance Elementary School
What grades does Point Defiance Elementary School serve?
Point Defiance Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Point Defiance Elementary School?
Point Defiance Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 300 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Point Defiance Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Point Defiance Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Point Defiance Elementary School rank in WA?
Point Defiance Elementary School ranks #84 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Point Defiance Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Point Defiance Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Point Defiance Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Point Defiance Elementary School has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Point Defiance Elementary School a charter school?
No, Point Defiance Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Point Defiance Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Point Defiance Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Point Defiance Elementary School?
34.3% of students at Point Defiance 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 300
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.0%
- Phone
- (253) 571-6900
- Area population (ZIP 98407)
- 21,210
- Area average commute
- 28 min
- Area median age
- 47
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 98407; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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