The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Impact Public Schools
Impact Public Schools is a charter elementary school in Tacoma, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates as a regular public school within the Impact | Commencement Bay Elementary district, a single-school charter district that opened in the fall of 2021. For families weighing a relatively new, small-scale public option with a specific pedagogical approach, this school offers a clearly defined alternative.
The school’s academic picture comes from the 2024-25 Washington state assessments, the first year of data available. In English language arts, proficiency across grades three and four combined was moderate, and in math it was similar. Placed against other districts in Pierce County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint of the county’s districts. That is a solid starting point for a school in its early years, though the results reflect just two tested grades and a single year, so the trajectory is not yet established.
Enrollment is on the smaller side for an elementary school serving PK through five. The student body is notably diverse: no single racial or ethnic group forms a majority. White students make up roughly a quarter of enrollment, Hispanic students a similar share, Black students about a fifth, and students identifying as two or more races about a fifth as well. Smaller shares identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records; parents may wish to ask the school directly about those supports.
As a charter school, Impact Public Schools is tuition-free and open to all students in the area, with enrollment not tied to a residential attendance zone. The school’s stated model, according to publicly reported information, includes decolonized project-based learning, personalized learning plans, social-emotional mentorship, free transportation, and partnerships for before- and after-school care. These features are likely a draw for families who want an alternative to traditional district elementary schools and who value a program that explicitly integrates social-emotional development with academics.
The school is located in Tacoma on East 34th Street, in a residential area of the city. Tacoma itself is a mid-sized port city with a working waterfront, distinct neighborhoods, and a growing cultural district. The city has been growing steadily, and housing values and rents have risen in recent years, though they remain below the state average. The local housing market, like much of the Puget Sound region, is expensive relative to national benchmarks, and homeownership rates are lower than the national average. For families considering the school, the availability of free transportation may matter for navigating the city’s overall car-dependent layout.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline from the civil rights collection was available. The school is still young, and its academic record is brief. For a family looking for a small, diverse elementary school with a project-based charter model and a willingness to inquire further about special education and English learner services, Impact Public Schools represents a concrete option worth visiting and asking questions of directly.
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