Best Schools in Pierce County, WA
Pierce County, WA has 339 public schools (63 high, 55 middle, 187 elementary) serving 169,508 students. On average they score 47% on state proficiency tests against a projected 37%, so schools in Pierce County exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Pierce County, WA
The top high schools in Pierce County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Gig Harbor High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1435 Students
2. Peninsula High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1372 Students
3. Curtis Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
University Place School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1349 Students
4. Bonney Lake High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1636 Students
5. Steilacoom High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Steilacoom Hist. School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 946 Students
6. Science And Math Institute
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 610 Students
7. Industrial Design Engineering And Arts
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 420 Students
8. Puyallup High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Puyallup School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1701 Students
9. Henderson Bay Alt High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 110 Students
10. Sumner High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1728 Students
Best Middle Schools in Pierce County, WA
The top middle schools in Pierce County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Narrows View Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
University Place School District • Public • Grades 5 - 7 • 712 Students
2. Kopachuck Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 462 Students
3. North Tapps Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dieringer School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 520 Students
4. Harbor Ridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 596 Students
5. Drum Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
University Place School District • Public • Grades 5 - 7 • 587 Students
6. Lakeridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 723 Students
7. Goodman Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 459 Students
8. Sumner Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 677 Students
9. Mason Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 659 Students
10. Enumclaw Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Enumclaw School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 509 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Pierce County, WA
The top elementary schools in Pierce County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Tehaleh Heights Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 487 Students
2. Purdy Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 484 Students
3. Browns Point Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 434 Students
4. Bonney Lake Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sumner-bonney Lake School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 443 Students
5. Mountain Meadow Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
White River School District • Public • Grades 1 - 5 • 416 Students
6. Harbor Heights Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 433 Students
7. Pioneer Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 506 Students
8. Discovery Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peninsula School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 316 Students
9. Jefferson Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 303 Students
10. Lowell Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tacoma School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 319 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Pierce County, WA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Pierce County, WA has a total population of 921,130 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 92%, and 30% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Pierce County, WA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Pierce County, WA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
38.85 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.11 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
33.73 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Pierce County, WA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Pierce County, WA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Pierce County, WA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Pierce County, WA
How many schools are in Pierce County, WA?
Pierce County, WA has 339 public schools: 63 high schools, 55 middle schools and 187 elementary schools, serving 169,508 students in total.
How do schools in Pierce County perform on state tests?
On average, 339 schools in Pierce County score 47% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 37%, so on average schools in Pierce County exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Pierce County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Pierce County, WA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 40%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 37%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Pierce County
23 places in Pierce County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (23)
- Tacoma (86)
- Puyallup (35)
- Lakewood (21)
- Gig Harbor (14)
- Spanaway (14)
- Bonney Lake (9)
- Graham (9)
- Buckley (7)
- Eatonville (5)
- Steilacoom (5)
- Sumner (5)
- Edgewood (4)
- Orting (4)
- Lake Tapps (3)
- Dupont (2)
- Lakebay (2)
- Milton (2)
- Anderson Island (1)
- Ashford (1)
- Mckenna (1)
- Roy (1)
- Vaughn (1)
- Wilkeson (1)
School districts (14)
- Tacoma School District (62 schools)
- Puyallup School District (36 schools)
- Bethel School District (34 schools)
- Clover Park School District (29 schools)
- Peninsula School District (18 schools)
- Franklin Pierce School District (14 schools)
- Sumner-Bonney Lake School District (14 schools)
- University Place School District (8 schools)
- White River School District (8 schools)
- Steilacoom Hist. School District (7 schools)
- Eatonville School District (6 schools)
- Fife School District (6 schools)
- Orting School District (4 schools)
- Dieringer School District (3 schools)