Average
#1653 of 2,228 schools in WA
Tacoma School of the Arts
High School · Tacoma School District · Tacoma, WA
A high school in Tacoma, WA where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Math 10% vs WA 36% (2024)
- Reading 58% vs WA 56% (2024)
- 5/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Tacoma School of the Arts score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2018, to 34% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 29 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
55.1%
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 Tacoma School of the Arts 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 96Walker's Paradise
- Bike 45Somewhat 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
$54,712
Median home value
$558,100
Median rent
$1,478/mo
College educated
43.9%
Homeownership
20%
Poverty rate
24.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98402; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comm Based Trans ProgramEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | 12 | 0.2 mi | 74 | Compare → |
| Special ServicesEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK–12 | 0.2 mi | 11 | Compare → |
| Bates Technical High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | 9–12 | 0.3 mi | 533 | Compare → |
| Tacoma Open DoorsEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | 9–12 | 0.7 mi | 307 | 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
- #46 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
Tacoma School of the Arts is listed in Tacoma School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Tacoma School of the Arts
Tacoma School of the Arts is a public high school in Tacoma, WA, part of Tacoma School District, serving approximately 648 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,653 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Tacoma School of the Arts
What grades does Tacoma School of the Arts serve?
Tacoma School of the Arts serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Tacoma School of the Arts?
Tacoma School of the Arts has an enrollment of approximately 648 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tacoma School of the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Tacoma School of the Arts is 20.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Tacoma School of the Arts rank in WA?
Tacoma School of the Arts ranks #1,653 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Tacoma School of the Arts's MySchoolScout rating?
Tacoma School of the Arts has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 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 Tacoma School of the Arts?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Tacoma School of the Arts has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Tacoma School of the Arts a charter school?
No, Tacoma School of the Arts is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Tacoma School of the Arts a Title I school?
No, Tacoma School of the Arts is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Tacoma School of the Arts?
55.1% of students at Tacoma School of the Arts 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 648
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.8%
- Phone
- (253) 571-7900
- Area population (ZIP 98402)
- 7,500
- Area average commute
- 24.4 min
- Area median age
- 34.6
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 98402; 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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