ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø

Fife School District

5802 20th St E
Tacoma, WA 98424-2000
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Fife School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 1,269 students in Fife School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Washington.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Middle Schools in Fife School District have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the Washington public middle school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Washington public middle school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
7 Schools
800 Schools
# Students
3,916 Students
302,560 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
16,189 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Fife School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 306 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has increased from 88% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#179 out of 307 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
32%
41%
47%
53%
43%
49%
89%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.78
0.68
% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
10%
8%
% Hispanic
23%
25%
% Black
7%
5%
% White
38%
50%
% Hawaiian
8%
1%
% Two or more races
13%
9%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $20,930 is higher than the state median of $18,796. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $31,753 is higher than the state median of $19,246. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$124 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,930
$18,796
Spending / Student
$31,753
$19,246

Best Fife School District ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbia Junior High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2901 54th Avenue E
Tacoma, WA 98424
(253) 517-1600
Gr: 8-9 | 602 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #22.
Surprise Lake Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2001 Milton Way
Milton, WA 98354
(253) 517-1300
Gr: 6-7 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 64%

Recent Articles

10 Advantages of ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Education in 2025
10 Advantages of ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools (2025)
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: 01-12
  • Enrollment: 3,916 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 63%
  • : 89% (Top 20% in WA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

Quick Links