Gray Middle School is a public middle school in Tacoma, Washington, serving 521 students in grades 6-8. The school faces significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance, a diverse student population with a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and a ranking in the bottom half of Washington middle schools.
Academically, Gray Middle School lags behind the Tacoma School District and the state of Washington, with only 24.39% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 45.84% for the district and 52.63% for the state. The school's racial diversity is more pronounced than nearby schools, with a student population that is 20.15% White, 19.19% African American, 27.26% Hispanic, and 16.51% two or more races. Additionally, 77.93% of Gray Middle School students receive free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the surrounding area.
In comparison, nearby schools like Hunt Middle School, Bryant Montessori Middle School, and Narrows View Intermediate generally perform better academically, with higher test scores and better school rankings. While Gray Middle School has a higher per-student spending compared to nearby schools, this higher funding does not seem to translate into improved academic outcomes, suggesting the need for a more targeted and effective approach to supporting student learning.
Students at Gray Middle School are 27% Hispanic, 20% White, 19% African American, 17% Two or more races, 10% Asian, 5% Pacific Islander, 2% American Indian.
Tacoma School District
In the 2022-23 school year, 521 students attended Gray Middle School.
Students who attend Gray Middle School usually go on to attend Mount Tahoma High School
Gray Middle School ranks in the bottom 4.7% of Washington middle schools.