Puyallup 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Puyallup, Washington - 37 schools

An equity score of 30/100 ranks Puyallup School District #193 of 238 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,642 per pupil, Puyallup School District ranks #240 of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

23,104
Total Enrollment
37
Schools
$15,642
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Puyallup School District operates 37 public schools serving 23,104 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 20 combined, 13 elementary, 4 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. 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 $15,642 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 25.4% local, 64.7% state, and 9.9% 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 30/100, ranked #193 of 238 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 10 of 37 schools offering Advanced Placement (48 AP courses district-wide), a 469.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 12.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 47.7% White, 20.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Emma L Carson Elementary, with a diversity index of 78.5/100.

Its largest campus is Puyallup High School, enrolling 1,815 students (8% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Psd Special Services, at 52 students, a 35x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Puyallup School District school enrollment varies 35× across entities

Puyallup School District school enrollment ranges from 52 students (lowest) to 1,815 students (highest), a spread of 1,763 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

Puyallup School District student-counselor ratio is 470:1 — 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

Puyallup School District chronic absenteeism rate is 12.6% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

9.9%
Federal
64.7%
State
25.4%
Local

Funding Equity

30
Equity Score
193 / 238
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 37 schools in Puyallup School District.

White 47.7%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
African American 6.3%
Asian 7.0%
Multiracial 13.9%
Other 4.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 68.7/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Emma L Carson Elementary 78.5
  2. 2 Firgrove Elementary 77.0
  3. 3 Pope Elementary 76.1
  4. 4 Psd Special Services 74.5
  5. 5 Edward Zeiger Elem 73.9

Programs & Resources

10 / 37
Schools with AP
48 AP courses total
469.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
12.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Puyallup School District

School Enrollment
Puyallup High School
1,815
Gov John Rogers High School
1,788
Emerald Ridge High School
1,599
Dessie F Evans Elementary
919
Ballou Jr High
852
Doris Stahl Junior High
846
Glacier View Junior High
843
Ferrucci Jr High
815
Kalles Junior High
762
G W Edgerton Elementary
753
Northwood Elementary
732
Sunrise Elementary
724
Aylen Jr High
720
Pope Elementary
710
Warren Hunt Elem
681
Emma L Carson Elementary
676
Shaw Road Elementary
615
Woodland Elementary
606
Firgrove Elementary
593
Edgemont Jr High
590
Fruitland Elementary
566
Frank Brouillet Elem
541
Edward Zeiger Elem
500
Ridgecrest Elementary
456
Karshner Elementary
405
Maplewood Elementary
371
Meeker Elementary
366
Wildwood Elementary
364
Stewart Elementary
343
Waller Road Elementary
306
Spinning Elementary
299
Mt View Elementary
279
Puyallup Online Academy/Poa
199
Puyallup Open Doors/Pod
124
E B Walker High School
120
Puyallup Parent Partnership Program
96
Psd Special Services
52

How Puyallup School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Washington districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Northshore School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Evergreen School District (Clark) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Vancouver School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Federal Way School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Bethel School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Puyallup 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 · $20,430/pupil
Compare vs Puyallup School District →
Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $16,269/pupil
Compare vs Puyallup School District →
Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $17,305/pupil
Compare vs Puyallup School District →
Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $17,575/pupil
Compare vs Puyallup School District →
Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $17,678/pupil
Compare vs Puyallup School District →

Compare Puyallup 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 Puyallup School District?

Puyallup School District has 37 schools, including 4 high, 20 combined, 13 elementary. Total enrollment is 23,104 students.

How much does Puyallup School District spend per student?

Puyallup School District spends $15,642 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #193 in Washington.

What is the demographic composition of Puyallup School District?

Puyallup School District students are 47.7% White, 20.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 6.3% African American, averaged across 37 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Puyallup School District?

Puyallup School District has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #193 out of 238 districts in Washington.