Fife Elementary School

Q: Is Fife Elementary School a good school?

Fife Elementary School ranks 740 th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Fife Elementary School is a public elementary school in Tacoma, Washington, serving 838 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Fife School District, which is ranked 146 out of 247 school districts in the state.

Fife Elementary has a diverse student population, with 29.24% White, 10.38% African American, 24.58% Hispanic, 11.93% Asian, and other racial groups represented. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by state test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (41.94%) and Math (38.81%) were below the state averages of 52.63% and 41.68%, respectively. The school's performance for different student subgroups varies widely, with African American students performing relatively well compared to the state average, while English Language Learners and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds struggle.

Compared to nearby schools, such as N.E. Tacoma Elementary School, Fife Elementary's academic performance is generally lower. The school's per-student spending of $17,423 in the 2021-2022 school year is higher than some nearby schools, but this higher funding does not seem to translate into better academic outcomes. The school's diverse student population and relatively low student-teacher ratio of 16.2 suggest that the school may have the resources to provide more individualized attention to students, but this has not yet resulted in improved academic performance.

Detail:

Public K-5

5804 20th Street E
Tacoma, WA 98424

(253) 517-1400

District: Fife School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
740^th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,423

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 816

Racial breakdown:

White:

27.0%

Hispanic:

22.4%

Pacific Islander:

15.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 61%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Fife Elementary School ranks worse than 63.4% of elementary schools in Washington. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.14. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Fife Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Fife School District. Student population at Fife Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (27%), Hispanic (22.4%), Pacific Islander (15%). (See more...)

Compare Details 61% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Fife School District. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Fife Elementary School is 16.1, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Fife School District! (See more...)

Compare Fife Elementary School employs 50.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Fife Elementary School is $17,423. 1 elementary schools in the Fife School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Fife Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Fife Elementary School 740^th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Fife Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Fife School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Fife School District 146^th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Fife Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.00	915^th	1169	21.7%
2024	36.14	740^th	1168	36.6%

See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	33.16	141^st	194	27.3%
2024	43.27	114^th	188	39.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	18.55	218^th	254	14.2%
2024	23.63	257^th	320	19.7%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	53.90	125^th	308	59.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	23.10	863^rd	1013	14.8%
2024	39.09	651^st	1024	36.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	22.17	881^st	1094	19.5%
2024	43.28	604^th	1093	44.7%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.88	842^nd	1099	23.4%
2024	29.11	786^th	1099	28.5%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.59	145^th	170	14.7%
2024	35.21	110^th	163	32.5%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	60.61	23^rd	66	65.2%
2024	64.77	19^th	71	73.2%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	23.59	528^th	633	16.6%
2024	44.21	372^nd	651	42.9%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Fife Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	35.69	679^th	1011	32.8%
2024	41.12	611^th	1009	39.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Fife Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2022	212	64	90	197	14	97	139	1	814
2023	245	87	100	206	7	114	79	0	838
2024	220	73	96	183	6	122	116	0	816

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Fife Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	814	56.5	14.4	46.9
2023	838	51.5	16.2	58.1
2024	816	50.6	16.1	61

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Fife Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	814	56.5	14.4	46.9
2023	838	51.5	16.2	58.1
2024	816	50.6	16.1	61

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Fife Elementary School

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Year	Completely Immunized	Religious Exemption	Medical Exemption	Conditional	Personal Exemption	Polio	Measles	Mumps	Rubella	Diphtheria	Hepatitis B	Varicella	Pertussis	Tetanus
2022	81.9%	4.7%	0.0%	0.0%	1.6%	86.6%	86.6%	86.6%	86.6%	83.5%	89.8%	86.6%	83.5%	83.5%
2023	87.0%	9.2%	0.0%	0.0%	6.1%	90.1%	88.6%	88.6%	88.6%	90.1%	89.3%	89.3%	90.1%	90.1%
2024	85.7%	8.4%	2.5%	0.8%	2.5%	86.6%	88.2%	88.2%	88.2%	86.6%	90.8%	87.4%	86.6%	86.6%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Fife Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2022	$1,239 (7.1%)	$16,184 (92.9%)	$17,423

Data source: Washington Department of Education

Schools Near Fife Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				WCAS Science (2024)		SBAC English Language Arts (2024)					SBAC Math (2024)					% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Fife Elementary School	Public	K-5	5804 20th Street E	Tacoma	98424	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 517-1400	816	51	16.1	61.0%	220 (27.0%)	73 (8.9%)	183 (22.4%)	96 (11.8%)	6 (0.7%)	122 (15.0%)	116 (14.2%)	36.1	740^th of 1168 public elementary schools	36.6%		25	915^th of 1169 public elementary schools	21.7%	175	53.0	53.0	37.8	36.5	53.3		41.9	35.9	41.0	39.0		38.8	85.7	86.6	88.2	88.2	88.2	86.6	90.8	87.4	86.6	86.6	$17,423	$1,239	$16,184
Discovery Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1205 19th Avenue	Milton	98354	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 517-1200	473	35	13.3	49.9%	208 (44.0%)	30 (6.3%)	102 (21.6%)	41 (8.7%)	3 (0.6%)	16 (3.4%)	73 (15.4%)								(n/a)													81.3	86.1	83.3	83.3	83.3	86.1	88.2	84.0	86.1	86.1	$21,003	$1,787	$19,216
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3550 E Roosevelt Ave	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-4400	247	18	13.6	78.5%	31 (12.6%)	49 (19.8%)	76 (30.8%)	21 (8.5%)	6 (2.4%)	22 (8.9%)	41 (16.6%)	17.9	1000^th of 1168 public elementary schools	14.4%		8.9	1117^th of 1169 public elementary schools	4.4%	117	44.2	44.2	36.7	27.0	35.7		33.0	30.0	27.0	19.1		24.8	84.2	86.8	89.5	89.5	89.5	92.1	94.7	89.5	92.1	92.1	$24,349	$3,749	$20,600
Northwood Elementary	Public	K-6	9805 24th St E	Edgewood	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 841-8740	714	43	16.7	40.3%	297 (41.6%)	43 (6.0%)	111 (15.5%)	109 (15.3%)	10 (1.4%)	31 (4.3%)	113 (15.8%)	61.6	425^th of 1168 public elementary schools	63.6%		64.4	379^th of 1169 public elementary schools	67.6%	46	66.4	66.4	46.4	52.3	63.2		55.5	50.9	58.3	48.6		54.8	91.5	94.0	96.6	96.6	96.6	92.3	92.3	94.0	92.3	92.3	$16,537	$756	$15,781
Lister Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2106 E 44th St	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-2900	401	26	15.6	87.5%	59 (14.7%)	98 (24.4%)	79 (19.7%)	43 (10.7%)	4 (1.0%)	29 (7.2%)	89 (22.2%)	20	969^th of 1168 public elementary schools	17.0%		21.5	951^st of 1169 public elementary schools	18.6%	18	33.3	33.3	29.4	39.6	37.7		35.8	32.7	37.0	20.3		29.1	82.1	89.7	89.7	89.7	89.7	82.1	89.7	87.2	82.1	82.1	$21,888	$3,391	$18,497
Impact Public Schools	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1301 E 34th Street	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Impact \| Commencement Bay Elementary	Yes	No	No	Yes	(206) 769-3429	256	23	11.0	74.2%	62 (24.2%)	52 (20.3%)	67 (26.2%)	11 (4.3%)	2 (0.8%)	5 (2.0%)	57 (22.3%)								(n/a)			35.7				35.7	40.5				40.5	86.9	86.9	90.2	90.2	90.2	86.9	93.4	88.5	86.9	86.9	$16,652	$2,473	$14,179
Blix Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1302 E 38th St	Tacoma	98404	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 571-7400	422	26	16.4	71.3%	78 (18.5%)	47 (11.1%)	163 (38.6%)	62 (14.7%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (3.3%)	57 (13.5%)	13.2	1064^th of 1168 public elementary schools	8.9%		7.7	1127^th of 1169 public elementary schools	3.6%	63	33.9	33.9	27.5	22.7	31.2		26.8	40.6	18.7	16.4		25.4	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	$19,333	$2,348	$16,984
Birth to Three Development Center	Public	PK	35535 6th PL SW	Federal Way	98023	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 874-5445	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Waller Road Elementary	Public	K-6	6312 Waller Rd E	Tacoma	98443	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8745	295	24	12.4	58.6%	154 (52.2%)	6 (2.0%)	67 (22.7%)	9 (3.1%)	11 (3.7%)	3 (1.0%)	44 (14.9%)	28.8	837^th of 1168 public elementary schools	28.3%		14.3	1046^th of 1169 public elementary schools	10.5%	209	36.1	36.1	28.9	35.3	40.0	44.1	36.4	48.9	23.5	19.4	47.1	34.3	84.6	87.2	87.2	87.2	87.2	89.7	89.7	84.6	89.7	89.7	$18,346	$2,045	$16,300
Karshner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1328 8th Ave NW	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 841-8736	414	27	15.4	56.5%	165 (39.9%)	28 (6.8%)	134 (32.4%)	31 (7.5%)	6 (1.4%)	7 (1.7%)	43 (10.4%)	18	994^th of 1168 public elementary schools	14.9%		24.2	923^rd of 1169 public elementary schools	21.0%	71	40.7	40.7	34.9	23.6	36.7	22.9	29.6	34.9	32.7	26.7	20.4	28.5	90.6	90.6	98.1	98.1	98.1	92.5	96.2	94.3	92.5	92.5	$16,005	$1,161	$14,844

Frequently Asked Questions about Fife Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Fife Elementary School?

Students at Fife Elementary School are 27% White, 22% Hispanic, 15% Pacific Islander, 14% Two or more races, 12% Asian, 9% African American.

Is Fife Elementary School a good school?

Fife Elementary School ranks 740^th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Fife Elementary School in?

Fife School District

How many students attend Fife Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 816 students attended Fife Elementary School.

Rate Fife Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.