The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 56%.
Original Research by School Decision on Tacoma Online Middle School
Tacoma Online Middle School serves students in grades six through eight as a remote learning option within the Tacoma School District. It operates as a regular public school, not a charter, and its enrollment is small. The school’s name indicates that instruction is delivered online, though further details on the model—how synchronous or asynchronous the day is, what technology is provided—are not included in the available data. Families considering this school would want to clarify those logistics directly with the school.
State assessment results present an incomplete picture. In English language arts, proficiency rates varied notably by grade level: sixth grade showed a moderate share of students meeting the bar, seventh grade was higher, and eighth grade was lower. Across the three grades combined, overall ELA proficiency placed the school above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Pierce County—a meaningful point of reference for academic standing in the region. Math scores for all three grades were suppressed, as were science scores for eighth grade, meaning the state did not release them, likely because the tested groups were too small to report. This is a significant gap for a parent who wants to understand math performance. The school has only one year of testing data available, so no trend can be assessed.
The student body is economically diverse in a way that concentrates need: a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of low-income household status. Racially and ethnically, the school is diverse, with students who identify as white comprising the largest single group, followed by those of two or more races, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The absence of data on students with disabilities or English learners makes it impossible to speak to those subgroups.
Tacoma, where the school is located, is a mid-sized port city and the Pierce County seat. Its economy is anchored by healthcare, retail, education, and the Port of Tacoma, and the city has been growing modestly in population. Housing values in the area are roughly in line with the state median and have seen little movement recently, though rents have been rising. The city’s neighborhoods vary considerably in walkability and character, from the downtown museum district to quieter residential areas like Proctor and Stadium. The school’s address is in the northern part of the city.
No information was available from the district about recent boundary changes or school closures, so that context is absent.
Tacoma Online Middle School fits a family seeking a small, remote public middle school with a high-needs student population and a diverse peer group. The academic picture is mixed: ELA results are a relative strength compared with county districts, but the suppression of math and science scores means a parent cannot gauge performance in those subjects from public data. Any family weighing this option should ask the school directly about its approach to math instruction, how it supports students who are struggling, and what the online learning day actually looks like.
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