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Best Elementary Schools in Tacoma, WA (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Tacoma, WA, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Tacoma, WA rankings: Elementary Schools
Tacoma, WA elementary schools ranked
How Tacoma, WA's elementary schools compare
A: 7B: 7C: 12D: 20F: 3
29% of the 49 ranked elementary schools in Tacoma, WA earn an A or B (7 A grades, 7 B, 12 C, 20 D, 3 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 47 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (96% here, 70% nationally), and 34 exceed it. On average 44% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 26% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: James Sales Elementary (49% against 14%, C+), Fern Hill Elementary School (46% against 15%, C), Midland Elementary (44% against 16%, C), Mann Elementary School (50% against 23%, B-), Christensen Elementary (37% against 10%, D+).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 13): Tacoma School District (11), Bethel School District (2).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Fife Elementary School (838 students, C-, #25), Clover Creek Elementary (630 students, B, #12), Chester H Thompson Elementary (624 students, D+, #32).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 1 is a charter. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Tacoma, WA that are not ranked
3 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Fully online schools (1)
Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.
- C- Tacoma Online Elementary School, Tacoma
Not yet graded (2)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Elmhurst Elementary School, Tacoma
- Thompson Preschool, Tacoma
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Tacoma, WA, as grouped on its schools page; the Washington ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Tacoma, WA
What is the best elementary school in Tacoma, WA?
Browns Point Elementary School in Tacoma ranks first among the 49 ranked elementary schools in Tacoma, WA with a SchoolGrade of A+, 78% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 63%.
How are elementary schools in Tacoma, WA ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Tacoma, WA have?
SchoolGrade grades 52 public elementary schools in Tacoma, WA; 49 are ranked here and 3 are listed as not ranked.