Fife School District

Milton, Washington — 7 schools

3,893
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$29,777
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Fife School District operates 7 public schools serving 3,893 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 high, 2 elementary, 2 other, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,983 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Pierce County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $29,777 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 32.2% local, 59.8% state, and 8.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $98,133 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 56/100, ranked #92 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 361.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 35.6% White, 24.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian across the district's schools.

Fife High School accounts for 22.2% of all Fife School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Fife School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Fife School District school enrollment varies 35× across entities

Fife School District school enrollment ranges from 25 students (lowest) to 885 students (highest), a spread of 860 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Fife School District student-counselor ratio is 361:1 — 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 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Fife School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.4% — 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 Fife School District is typically wider than the Fife School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.0%
Federal
59.8%
State
32.2%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
92 / 240
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Pierce County county, where this district is located.

$1,428
Studio/mo
$1,605
1 BR/mo
$1,971
2 BR/mo
$2,733
3 BR/mo
$3,102
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$98,133
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in Fife School District.

White 35.6%
Hispanic or Latino 24.5%
African American 6.9%
Asian 8.5%
Multiracial 15.4%
Other 9.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
361.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Fife School District

School Enrollment
Fife High School
885
Fife Elementary School
866
Columbia Junior High School
619
Surprise Lake Middle School
613
Discovery Primary School
506
Hedden Elementary School
469
Fife Open Doors
25

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 · $25,927/pupil
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Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $19,952/pupil
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Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $24,487/pupil
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Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $23,190/pupil
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Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,780/pupil
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Compare Fife School District

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Fife School District?

Fife School District has 7 schools, including 2 high, 2 elementary, 2 other, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 3,893 students.

How much does Fife School District spend per student?

Fife School District spends $29,777 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #92 in Washington.

What is the average teacher salary in Fife School District?

The average teacher salary in Fife School District is $98,133 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Fife School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Pierce County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Fife School District?

Fife School District students are 35.6% White, 24.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 6.9% African American, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Fife School District?

Fife School District has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #92 out of 240 districts in Washington. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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