The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Tillicum Elementary School
Tillicum Elementary School is a regular public school in Lakewood, Washington, serving students from preschool through fifth grade. It is part of the Clover Park School District. The school sits in a city whose economy and character are deeply tied to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, one of the largest military installations in the country. Lakewood itself is a suburban city without a traditional downtown, its commercial life spread across shopping centers, corridor strips, and an International District along South Tacoma Way. The Tillicum neighborhood within Lakewood has a notably diverse population.
The student body at Tillicum Elementary is diverse and economically disadvantaged. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student population includes a large Hispanic presence, a sizable group of students who identify as two or more races, and a significant share of white students, alongside Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. This is a school where a majority of families are navigating economic stress, and the peer environment reflects the broader demographic mix of the south Puget Sound region.
When it comes to state test results, the picture is mixed, with a clear pattern. On the Smarter Balanced assessments, the math proficiency rate declines across the tested grades, with the rate for fifth graders lower than the rate for third graders. English language arts scores follow a similar downward trajectory from third to fifth grade. The fifth-grade science test shows a proficiency rate that roughly aligns with the upper elementary ELA scores. Across all subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Pierce County. For a parent, this means the school faces real academic challenges, particularly in math as students move through the upper elementary years.
The school’s size is typical for an elementary school serving this grade band. Enrollment is spread relatively evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade, with a separate preschool program. There is no graduation rate because the school does not serve high school grades. Data on students receiving special education services and English learner status was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the number of students with individualized education programs and the percentage of English learners, as well as the supports in place.
The district itself, Clover Park School District, did not turn up any publicly reported recent changes or referendums that would shift the experience for a new family. The search for district-level strategic priorities, curriculum shifts, or financial referendums came back with little. A parent moving to the area should contact the district directly for current information on programs, boundaries, and any upcoming initiatives.
Housing in the area around Tillicum Elementary reflects the broader Lakewood market. A family considering this school should be aware that the local housing market includes a mix of owner-occupied and rental units. The city offers developer incentives and has seen taxable retail sales growth, but the area is car-oriented, and street life is concentrated in specific commercial nodes rather than a walkable downtown. The school’s location places it in a community that has both the stability of a long-established suburb and the turnover that comes with a major military base nearby.
For a family weighing Tillicum Elementary, the core takeaway is that this is a school serving a high-poverty, diverse community where academic proficiency, especially in math, is below the county average. The school is a neighborhood elementary within a larger district that did not signal any major recent disruption. A parent looking for a school with strong academic outcomes would want to investigate the school’s specific academic interventions and supports, particularly in the upper elementary grades. A family whose priority is a diverse, economically integrated setting in a city shaped by the military presence may find it a natural fit. The missing data on special education and English learner services is a real gap that a prospective parent should fill with a direct conversation at the school.
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