The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Curtis Junior High
Curtis Junior High serves only two grades, eight and nine, making it a transitional campus where students move from middle school into the early years of high school before heading to Curtis Senior High. This structure shapes the academic picture: the school’s state test results come entirely from eighth graders, since ninth graders in Washington do not take those assessments. On those eighth-grade exams, the school showed stronger performance in English language arts than in math or science. The overall proficiency index, combining all tested subjects, places Curtis Junior High above the midpoint among districts in Pierce County. That is a solid position, though the data is limited to a single year, so there is no trend to judge yet. A parent looking for year-over-year improvement or decline will not find it here. Graduation rates do not apply because the school does not serve twelfth graders.
The student body is notably diverse. White students make up under half of the enrollment, with substantial shares of students who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races. About two out of five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that the school serves a mix of income levels. The school’s size, with eight hundred to nine hundred students spread across two grades, is large enough to offer variety in classes and extracurriculars. Detailed information on course access, staffing ratios, and discipline was not available in the data we reviewed. Similarly, special education and English learner counts were not reported, though those populations are often present in a school of this size and diversity. A parent may want to ask the school directly about supports for students with individualized education plans or English language development.
University Place sits on bluffs above Puget Sound, a largely suburban city without a traditional downtown. Its commercial and civic spine is Bridgeport Way, where the city is working to build a mixed-use town center. The housing market reflects the area’s desirability: home values are elevated, and rents have been rising. The city has a mix of older neighborhoods and newer development, with a low vacancy rate that suggests demand outstrips supply. For families moving into the district, the cost of entry is significant, though the range of housing types means some more affordable options exist. The Chambers Creek regional park and the Chambers Bay golf course are major local amenities, and downtown Tacoma is a short drive away. The district itself did not have any major parent-relevant changes reported in recent years, so families can expect continuity in the schools’ operations and leadership.
Curtis Junior High serves as the middle step in the University Place School District’s secondary sequence. For a family whose child is entering eighth or ninth grade, the school offers a focused environment during two important transition years. The academic results are above average for the county, particularly in reading and writing, and the school’s diverse enrollment gives students exposure to a range of peers. The lack of multi-year testing data and some missing program and support details means a thorough visit and conversation with staff would be wise. But the available evidence points to a school that holds its own academically within its region and operates in a community that is suburban, well-resourced in terms of parks and location, and stable in its school leadership.
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