The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Science. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Naches Trail Elementary
Naches Trail Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Tacoma’s Bethel School District. It sits on Waller Road East in the southeastern part of the city, in a community that blends suburban residential areas with nearby industrial and port activity. Tacoma itself is a mid-sized port city and the county seat of Pierce County, with a working waterfront, distinct neighborhoods, and a growing cultural district. The school’s student body of about that size for its grade band is notably diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, Black students, Asian students, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context where many families face economic pressures.
State testing data from the 2024–25 school year is available for math, English language arts, and science, but only one year of results was reported, so no trend can be assessed. In math, proficiency rates varied by grade level. Third and fourth grade students showed rates that were moderate, while fifth grade math proficiency was markedly lower. English language arts results were mixed, with fourth grade standing out with a higher rate than third or fifth grade. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a rate that was higher than both math and ELA at that grade level. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school below the midpoint relative to districts in Pierce County. A parent looking at these results may want to ask the school about support for math in the upper elementary grades, and about how the school addresses skill gaps that appear as students advance.
Because Naches Trail serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, no data on chronic absenteeism, and no information on special education or English learner populations in the available data. The school’s directory describes it as a regular public school, but it does not appear to have a magnet or charter designation, and Title I status was not reported. The absence of detail on special populations and staffing means a family with a child who has an individualized education plan or is learning English should contact the school directly to understand what supports are in place.
The Bethel School District, which operates this school, has been navigating recent financial and facility challenges. In 2024, voters rejected a capital bond that would have funded a new elementary school, HVAC replacements, and safety upgrades. That leaves the district without planned money to address capacity issues in growing parts of the area or to modernize older buildings. In 2023, voters did approve both an Educational Programs & Operations Levy and a Technology Levy, reversing a 2022 failure. Those levies help cover programs state funding does not fully support, including special education, transportation, and extracurriculars. More recently, for the 2024–25 school year, the district reduced staffing by about fifty positions, citing declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID-relief money. This could affect class sizes and program availability across schools, including Naches Trail.
The housing market in the surrounding area is above the national median home value, though it remains more affordable than the state benchmark. Rents have been rising faster than the national average, and the price-to-income ratio suggests homeownership is a stretch for many households. Tacoma has been growing steadily, with rising property values and a city initiative that spurred a jump in proposed housing units, but the homeownership rate is below the national average. For families considering a move to this attendance area, the district’s budget constraints and the school’s single-year test results are factors to weigh alongside the area’s overall economic and community momentum.
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