Below Average
#1988 of 2,228 schools in WA
Washington High School
High School · Franklin Pierce School District · Tacoma, WA
A Franklin Pierce School District high school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
12420 Ainsworth Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444
- Math 9% vs WA 36% (2024)
- Reading 44% vs WA 56% (2024)
- 5/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Washington High School score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2018, to 26% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 67% (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
70.8%
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 Washington High 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 22Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gates Secondary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.6 | 8–12 | 0.7 mi | 98 | Compare → |
| St Mary's AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | K–9 | 1.0 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Franklin Pierce High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | 9–12 | 2.5 mi | 1,138 | Compare → |
| Acceleration AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | 9–12 | 2.6 mi | 405 | 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
- #11 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
Washington High School is listed in Franklin Pierce School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Washington High School
Washington High School is a public high school in Tacoma, WA, part of Franklin Pierce School District, serving approximately 1,024 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,988 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Washington High School
What grades does Washington High School serve?
Washington High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Washington High School?
Washington High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,024 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washington High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Washington High School is 16.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Washington High School rank in WA?
Washington High School ranks #1,988 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Washington High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Washington High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Washington High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Washington High School has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Washington High School a charter school?
No, Washington High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Washington High School a Title I school?
No, Washington High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Washington High School?
70.8% of students at Washington High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 63
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Pierce County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 46.3%
- Phone
- (253) 298-4705
- 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.
- 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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