Morris Ford Middle School, Tacoma WA

Original Research by School Decision on Morris Ford Middle School

Morris Ford Middle School is a regular public school in Tacoma, serving grades six through eight. It is part of the Franklin Pierce School District. The school is relatively large for a middle school, with an enrollment in the upper hundreds that is distributed fairly evenly across the three grades. A substantial share of its students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a community with significant economic need.

The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest group, followed by White students, then students who identify as two or more races. There are also smaller shares of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. The school’s demographics reflect the broader Tacoma area, a mid-sized port city with varied neighborhoods and a mix of industrial, retail, and healthcare employment.

State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are all below where many families would hope to see them. In each tested grade, math proficiency lands below a quarter of students. English language arts proficiency is higher but still under half, ranging from roughly a third to under half depending on the grade. Science proficiency, tested only in eighth grade, also sits around three in ten students. When compared with other districts in Pierce County, Morris Ford Middle School’s combined proficiency index falls in the bottom quarter. These are signs that a parent may want to discuss with the school what academic supports are in place, such as targeted intervention or tutoring, and whether the curriculum is being adjusted to raise achievement. The data covers only one year, so it is not possible to see a trend, but the current picture is clear.

No information was available in the data about program offerings, advanced coursework, or specialized electives at Morris Ford. Parents interested in accelerated or enrichment options, or in career and technical education pathways for middle schoolers, would need to contact the school directly to learn what is available. Similarly, data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, and special education or English learner services were not provided in the material used here, so those are areas a family would want to explore on their own.

The school’s location in Tacoma places it in a city with a growing economy and an active cultural scene. Housing in the zip code area that includes the school is priced moderately relative to the state as a whole but higher than the national average. The local housing market has seen values hold steady in recent years, and rents have risen slightly. The city itself has seen population growth and ongoing development, including a city initiative that has spurred more housing proposals. The Franklin Pierce School District does not appear to have undergone any major recent changes that would affect this school, based on what was publicly reported.

Morris Ford Middle School serves a large and diverse student population in a city with many community and economic assets. Its academic outcomes, however, are lower than those of many Pierce County peers, and families weighing this school should look into what specific instructional supports and enrichment opportunities are offered to ensure a good fit for their child.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 620%

School 20% · District 27% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 725%

School 25% · District 50% · ▼ 25 pts below district

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

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 19% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 29% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 34% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 29% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Science

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 25% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 12 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 5Lower-income34%Higher-income57%22 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income25%Higher-income49%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income38%Higher-income62%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income27%Higher-income46%19 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income12%Higher-income28%16 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income12%Higher-income35%23 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income15%Higher-income47%32 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income16%Higher-income36%20 pp gap