The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Bethel School District, located in Tacoma, Washington. It is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet, and it serves elementary-age students only. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and because the school covers only early and middle elementary grades, some measures such as chronic absenteeism data were not available in the source material.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects placed the school above the midpoint compared with other districts in Pierce County. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency was roughly in the mid-50s percent range across grades three through five, with fifth grade showing a somewhat higher rate than third or fourth. In English language arts, proficiency rates were similar, ranging from roughly half of students proficient in third grade to about three-fifths in fifth grade. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, a little more than half of students were proficient. These results represent a single year of data with no prior comparison available, so a trend cannot be assessed.
The school enrolls a student body that is diverse by race and ethnicity. White students form the largest single group, followed by students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic students, Black students, Asian students, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students, and a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available sources, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education and English learner support.
The school is part of the Bethel School District, which covers portions of Tacoma and nearby communities such as Frederickson and Graham. Tacoma itself is a mid-sized port city and the county seat of Pierce County. It combines a working waterfront and industrial port with walkable neighborhoods like Proctor, Stadium District, and Hilltop, and a downtown cultural district that includes museums and performing arts venues. The city has been growing steadily in recent years, and housing values reflect that growth: typical home prices and rents have risen, and the homeownership rate is below the national average, suggesting a market where renting is common relative to owning.
The Bethel School District has seen some notable fiscal and operational changes. In early 2024, voters rejected a capital bond that would have funded a new elementary school, HVAC replacements, and safety upgrades, leaving the district without a planned solution for capacity issues in growing areas where some schools are over capacity and for aging infrastructure. In 2023, voters did approve an Educational Programs and Operations Levy and a Technology Levy, which replaced levies that had failed the previous year and support programs not fully funded by the state. Separately, for the 2024-25 school year the district reduced staffing by about fifty full-time equivalent positions, citing declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID-relief funding. This reduction could affect class sizes and program availability.
For a family considering this school, the academic profile shows proficiency rates that are above the middle of the pack among Pierce County districts, though the levels are not at the very top. The student population is racially and economically diverse, and the school sits within a growing city with a range of cultural and recreational amenities. The district context includes both recent voter support for operational levies and a failed bond for capital improvements, as well as staffing cuts that may influence the school experience. A parent looking for specific information on special education, English learner services, or enrichment programs may need to inquire directly with the school, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.
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