The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Math. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Whittier Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School is a regular public school in Tacoma, Washington, serving students from pre-kindergarten through third grade. Because it only serves the early elementary grades, the school has no graduation rate, no standardized testing results beyond the grades it covers, and no chronic absenteeism data that would apply to older students. This is not a gap in performance; it reflects the grade band the school is designed for.
The school is part of the Tacoma School District, a mid-sized urban district that serves neighborhoods across the city. Tacoma is a port city and the county seat of Pierce County, with a working waterfront, an industrial port, and distinct residential neighborhoods like Hilltop, Proctor, and the Stadium District. The city has a growing arts and dining scene, a downtown Museum District, and major employers in healthcare, retail, education, and transportation tied to the Port of Tacoma. Housing values in the area have softened slightly in the past year, and rents have risen. The city is growing steadily, with population increasing over the past several years, though the homeownership rate remains below the national average.
Whittier Elementary enrolls a diverse student body. The largest demographic group is white students, followed by students who are two or more races, Hispanic students, Black students, Asian students, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the record.
State testing results for third grade are reported for this school. In math, about half of students met proficiency. In English language arts, a smaller share met proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects places it above the midpoint among districts in Pierce County, which is a useful anchor for a family trying to understand how the academic profile compares with nearby options. Because the school only serves through third grade, these results reflect one grade level and a limited set of subjects.
Because the school does not serve upper elementary or middle school grades, there is no data on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline that would be typical for a school with older students. These are simply not applicable to the early elementary setting.
The school is located on Elm Tree Lane. Tacoma is a largely car-dependent city, though walkability varies by neighborhood, and the school’s specific neighborhood context for walkability is not detailed in the record. The district has been navigating growth and planning, with publicly reported work on housing initiatives and comprehensive plan amendments, though specific changes to school boundaries or closures were not located in the available material.
Whittier Elementary is a straightforward neighborhood school for families with young children, especially those in pre-kindergarten through third grade. The school’s academic profile on state tests is in the middle of the county’s range, and its peer environment is diverse and economically mixed. Families will need to consider the next school in the district for fourth grade and beyond, as this school’s pathway ends at third grade. For those looking at the early years, the school provides a typical public elementary experience in a mid-sized urban district.
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