Harvard Elementary, Tacoma WA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Harvard Elementary

Harvard Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Tacoma’s Franklin Pierce School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Pierce County, a meaningful comparison set since the county contains eighteen districts spanning a wide range of settings.

The state’s standardized assessment results from the most recent school year show that in math, the share of students meeting proficiency rose from third to fifth grade. English language arts proficiency was lowest in fourth grade and highest in fifth grade. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a larger share of students reaching proficiency than in either math or ELA at that grade level. Only one year of data was available, so there is no trend to observe yet.

The student body is diverse. More than half of students are Hispanic, with smaller shares identifying as white, Black or African American, Asian, two or more races, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learner status were not available, which limits a full understanding of the school’s support needs.

The community context matters for families considering this school. Tacoma is a mid-sized port city and the Pierce County seat, blending blue-collar industrial heritage with a growing arts, dining, and higher-education presence. Key employers include the health care, retail, and education sectors. The Port of Tacoma and Joint Base Lewis-McChord are major economic anchors. Walkability varies by neighborhood; the downtown Museum District, Proctor, and Stadium districts have pedestrian-friendly pockets, but the city is overall car-dependent, with most workers driving alone.

Housing in the school’s zip code has a typical home value near the national median, with rents slightly above the national average. The local market has seen a recent small decline in home values and a small increase in rents. Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed loan at the time of this analysis were just above the national benchmark. Monthly rent is estimated to be notably lower than the estimated principal-and-interest payment on a median-priced home, suggesting that renting may be more accessible than buying for many households.

Franklin Pierce School District, which operates Harvard Elementary, did not have publicly noted recent changes or strategic initiatives available in the data reviewed. No specific information on programming such as gifted offerings, arts, or after-school activities was reported for this school, nor were there data on discipline, staffing ratios, or attendance patterns. A parent may want to contact the school directly to understand what enrichment and intervention programs are available.

For a family weighing options, Harvard Elementary sits in a city with steady population growth and an active housing-development push. The school’s test results are on the lower side compared with other Pierce County districts, and with only a single year of data available, there is no way yet to tell whether performance is moving in any direction. The student population is majority Hispanic and economically diverse. The absence of special-population and program detail means a fuller picture of what this school offers day to day would require a visit or a conversation with the school staff.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 34% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 35% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 37% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 322%

School 22% · District 36% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 36% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 48% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Science

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 43% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

This schoolFranklin Pierce School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income18%Higher-income35%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income13%Higher-income28%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income65%36 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income18%Higher-income29%11 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income19%Higher-income39%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income31%Higher-income35%4 pp gap