The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kalles Junior High
Kalles Junior High is a regular public school in Puyallup, part of the Puyallup School District, and serves grades seven through nine. With a student body that includes both middle school and the start of high school years, it occupies a transitional spot between elementary and the district’s comprehensive high schools. The school sits in a city that has grown from its agricultural roots into a mid-sized suburban center, with a walkable historic downtown along Pioneer Avenue, the year-round Washington State Fairgrounds, and a sprawling residential South Hill area that has seen steady development. The district itself is the ninth-largest in Washington, with many schools spread across Puyallup and into neighboring communities.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, the school’s performance in English language arts and mathematics varied by grade level. In seventh grade, the share of students meeting proficiency in ELA was notably stronger than in eighth grade. Math proficiency was also higher for seventh graders than for eighth graders. Eighth-grade science results landed in the middle of the proficiency range. Because the school includes ninth graders—who are not tested at the state level in these grades—the overall picture is drawn from grades seven and eight only. The school’s combined proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Pierce County. Only a single year of testing data is available, so no trend can be assessed.
The student body is socioeconomically diverse: a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Racially and ethnically, the school is majority white, with a sizable Hispanic population, followed by smaller shares of Asian, two or more races, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners were not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education services and language supports.
Because Kalles serves grades seven through nine, it does not have a graduation rate—the district’s high schools will provide that measure for students once they leave junior high. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access was available in the data reviewed. Junior highs of this configuration often have limited public reporting on those fronts, but families can follow up with the school for specifics.
The housing market in the area surrounding the school shows home values above the national benchmark, though they have seen a modest dip in recent months. Rental costs are similarly elevated relative to national figures, and the rent-to-income ratio suggests that housing is a notable expense for many households. The 30-year mortgage rate has been in the mid-six percent range, meaning that buying a home here requires substantial income.
The Puyallup School District has been in a period of active change. In early 2024, voters approved a bond to build a new elementary school, replace two existing elementary buildings, and fund safety upgrades, HVAC, and classroom additions across the district. That bond increased property taxes. Boundary changes at the elementary level were approved in 2023 and are being phased in, so families moving into the district may find their assigned neighborhood school shifts over time. At the same time, the district cut staffing and programs in the 2023-24 school year, driven by declining enrollment and the end of federal pandemic relief funds. These dynamics affect the resources and class sizes students experience, and they are worth a direct conversation with the school or district office.
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