Perry G Keithley Middle School is a public middle school in Tacoma, Washington, serving grades 6-8 and part of the Franklin Pierce School District. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup that includes 21.86% White, 11.94% African American, 35.32% Hispanic, and other minority groups.
Despite the school's relatively high spending per student ($19,165 in 2021-2022) and moderate student-teacher ratio (17.8 in 2022-2023), Perry G Keithley Middle School consistently performs below state and district averages in standardized test scores. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 24.65% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 37.75% in the Franklin Pierce School District and 52.63% statewide. In Math, only 11.73% of students were proficient or better, compared to 24.21% in the district and 41.68% statewide. The school's statewide ranking is very low, placing in the bottom 10-15% of Washington middle schools over the past several years.
When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Morris Ford Middle School, which is in the same district, Perry G Keithley Middle School is an outlier in terms of academic performance. The school's struggles are particularly pronounced for certain student subgroups, such as African American and Asian students. These findings suggest that the school may need to re-evaluate its instructional strategies, resource allocation, and support systems to better serve its diverse student population and improve overall academic outcomes.
In the 2022-23 school year, 787 students attended Perry G Keithley Middle School.
Franklin Pierce School District
Students at Perry G Keithley Middle School are 35% Hispanic, 22% White, 16% Two or more races, 12% African American, 7% Pacific Islander, 5% Asian, 2% Not Specified.
Students who attend Perry G Keithley Middle School usually go on to attend Washington High School
Perry G Keithley Middle School ranks in the bottom 2.6% of Washington middle schools.