The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 59% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Dieringer Heights Elementary
Dieringer Heights Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade within the Dieringer School District, located in the unincorporated residential community of Lake Tapps, Washington. The school’s enrollment represents a distinctive grade configuration: the student body includes prekindergarten, kindergarten, and both fourth and fifth grades, while the first, second, and third grades are not housed at this campus. A family moving into the attendance area with a child in those middle elementary grades would need to learn where those students are served within the district, as that pattern is not explained by the available data.
Academically, the school posts strong results. On the state assessments administered in the most recent school year, fourth and fifth graders demonstrated solid proficiency in English language arts, with a combined rate well above the middle of the range among all students. Math proficiency was somewhat lower, but still above the district average when viewed across tested grades and subjects. Science results for fifth graders were similarly strong. When compared against the other school districts across Pierce County, Dieringer Heights Elementary’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile, a position that signals consistent academic performance relative to its county neighbors. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the data set does not include chronic absenteeism figures or records of discipline, staffing ratios, or course access.
The community that feeds into the school is Lake Tapps, a census-designated place built around a large reservoir. The area is overwhelmingly residential and car-dependent, with no downtown or traditional commercial core. Public shoreline access is limited, concentrated at a couple of parks. Most civic life centers on the lake itself and its recreational amenities. Housing values in the area are elevated, well above the state median, and have seen a slight softening, while rents continue to climb. The cost of housing relative to income is stretched, making affordability a real consideration for families looking to settle in the attendance zone.
At the district level, the most recent school year brought two notable ballot measures. Voters approved a six-year capital projects and technology levy that will fund safety and security upgrades, technology infrastructure, and other capital improvements across the district. That levy passed comfortably. At the same time, a much larger construction bond that would have replaced and modernized Dieringer Heights Elementary—the district’s oldest building—along with adding classrooms at the middle school and addressing other facility needs, fell short of the supermajority required for passage. The district has indicated it may bring a revised bond proposal back to voters, meaning the question of whether this elementary school will be rebuilt or significantly renovated remains open. Parents considering this school will want to understand the age and condition of the existing building and follow any future bond efforts.
The school itself, while its building future is uncertain, delivers strong academic results in the grades it does serve. The peer environment draws from a predominantly white student body, with sizable Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which is a lower share than many schools in the county. For families seeking a high-performing elementary option in a quiet, lake-oriented suburban setting, Dieringer Heights Elementary is a clear contender, though the grade configuration and the unresolved facility question are factors worth probing directly with the district.
See more original research from School Decision →