Dieringer School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Lake Tapps, Washington - 3 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Dieringer School District #188 of 239 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,423 per pupil, Dieringer School District ranks #146 of 311 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,402
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$18,423
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Dieringer School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,402 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Pierce County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,423 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 311 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.6% local, 52.2% state, and 8.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 33/100, ranked #188 of 239 in Washington against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 482.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 17.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.6% White, 11.7% Asian, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Dieringer Heights Elementary, with a diversity index of 62.3/100.

Its largest campus is North Tapps Middle School, enrolling 523 students (37% of the district's total enrollment).

North Tapps Middle School accounts for 36.7% of all Dieringer School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Dieringer School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: middle. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Dieringer School District student-counselor ratio is 483:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Dieringer School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Dieringer School District is typically wider than the Dieringer School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.1%
Federal
52.2%
State
39.6%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
188 / 239
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Dieringer School District.

White 61.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.8%
African American 4.2%
Asian 11.7%
Multiracial 10.3%
Other 2.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 58.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Dieringer School District's schools, above the Washington average of 53.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Dieringer Heights Elementary 62.3
  2. 2 Lake Tapps Elementary 58.4
  3. 3 North Tapps Middle School 53.9

Programs & Resources

482.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Dieringer School District

School Enrollment
North Tapps Middle School
523
Lake Tapps Elementary
460
Dieringer Heights Elementary
441

How Dieringer School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Washington districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Montesano School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Kiona-Benton City School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Nine Mile Falls School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Lake Chelan School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Granger School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Dieringer School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Washington

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Seattle School District No. 1
51,238 students · 109 schools · $21,806/pupil
Compare vs Dieringer School District →
Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $17,053/pupil
Compare vs Dieringer School District →
Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $18,334/pupil
Compare vs Dieringer School District →
Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $19,679/pupil
Compare vs Dieringer School District →
Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,199/pupil
Compare vs Dieringer School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Dieringer School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Seattle School District No. 1 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Dieringer School District?

Dieringer School District has 3 schools, including 1 middle, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,402 students.

How much does Dieringer School District spend per student?

Dieringer School District spends $18,423 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #188 in Washington.

What is the demographic composition of Dieringer School District?

Dieringer School District students are 61.6% White, 11.7% Asian, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 4.2% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Dieringer School District?

Dieringer School District has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #188 out of 239 districts in Washington.