Original Research by School Decision on Thompson Preschool
Thompson Preschool is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten children, with some kindergarten students also enrolled, and it operates as part of the Bethel School District in Tacoma, Washington. Because the school is limited to early grades only, the typical academic performance metrics that parents often look for—state test results, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism data—do not apply. There are no test scores because Washington does not assess students at these grade levels, and no graduation rate because the school does not serve high school students. This is not a gap in quality; it simply reflects the nature of an early childhood program.
The school enrolls a student body that reflects the broader diversity of the Tacoma area. The student population is made up of children from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, with White and Hispanic students representing the largest groups, followed by those identifying as two or more races, Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves many households with lower incomes.
The school is located in the city of Tacoma, a mid-sized port city and the county seat of Pierce County. Tacoma combines a working waterfront and industrial port with distinct residential neighborhoods and a growing downtown cultural district. The local economy is anchored by healthcare, retail, education, and transportation tied to the Port of Tacoma. Home values in the area around the school are above the national average but below the Washington state median, and rents are moderate, making the neighborhood relatively accessible for families. The city has seen steady population growth in recent years, and local housing initiatives are encouraging new development, though costs continue to rise.
Thompson Preschool operates within the Bethel School District, which covers parts of Tacoma and surrounding communities including Graham and Frederickson. The district recently experienced several notable events that parents should be aware of. In early 2024, voters rejected a capital bond that would have funded a new elementary school, HVAC replacements, and safety upgrades. The bond fell short of the supermajority required for passage, leaving the district without planned funding to address overcrowding in some areas and aging infrastructure. However, in 2023 voters did approve an Educational Programs & Operations Levy and a Technology Levy, which reversed rejections from the previous year. The EP&O levy provides annual funding for programs not fully covered by the state, including special education, transportation, and extracurriculars. More recently, the district reduced staffing by roughly fifty positions for the 2024-25 school year, citing declining enrollment and the expiration of federal COVID-relief funds. These staffing cuts could affect class sizes and program availability at the preschool and across the district.
Because Thompson Preschool serves only the earliest grades, there are no academic performance comparisons available relative to other schools or districts in Pierce County. The school does not participate in state testing, and no graduation or attendance metrics exist for this grade band. For families seeking a public preschool option in Tacoma, the school offers a standard early childhood program within a district that is navigating funding challenges and enrollment shifts. The community around the school is part of a growing city with a mix of industrial heritage and cultural amenities, including museums, parks, and a revitalized downtown waterfront. The housing market in the area is competitive but still more affordable than in Seattle to the north. Parents looking into Thompson Preschool may want to contact the school directly to learn more about its daily schedule, curriculum, and how it connects to the district’s elementary schools for kindergarten and beyond.
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