Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA

Columbia Junior High School

Federal NCES profile for Columbia Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.

2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530288003161
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Compiled from official source data by .
0/100100/10044/100
👥 S:T ratio
18
🌟 Gifted program
70
🎓 Counselors
50
📋 Attendance
40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →

The verdict

Columbia Junior High School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.

#6 of 42
schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
44
Resource Index · Typical
20.6:1
large classes for Washington
36.6%
free-lunch eligible

Columbia Junior High School has class sizes larger than 82% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.

By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Junior High School ranks #6 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.

School address

Tacoma, WA 98424
District: Fife School District · Washington

NCES ID 530288003161 Verify on NCES CCD record →

CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24

+37 students YoY

Columbia Junior High School grew from 565 students in 2022-23 to 602 in 2023-24 (+6.5%).

Teacher FTE lost 30.3 → 29.8 across the same CCD years.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).

Growing CCD campus

+37 students YoY 530288003161 · Tacoma, WA Other · MID · TRAD

619 enr · 20.6:1 · 36.6% lunch · RII 44

Nearest enrollment peer: Fife High School (885 students)

Columbia Junior High School grew from 565 students in 2022-23 to 602 in 2023-24 (+6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 30.3 → 29.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →

Columbia Junior High School in the enrollment neighbourhood

Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers

students

What this shows Columbia Junior High School reports 619 students on the CCD universe file.

Source U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data (Public School Universe) As of 2024-25

How Columbia Junior High School compares

Columbia Junior High School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.

Metric This school vs Washington Washington avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 20.6:1 ▲ 17% 17.6:1 15.7:1
Free-lunch eligible 36.6% ▼ 19% 45.0% 51.7%
Enrollment 619 top 19% - -

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

20.6:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
619
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.

Equity indicators methodology

Economic need
36.6%
free-lunch eligible - 19% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.6:1
students per teacher - 17% above state mean
Top 82% in Washington - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
24.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,662
per pupil, district-wide - below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 248 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 23 expulsions.

Student demographics

White 37.2%
Hispanic or Latino 22.9%
Two or More 14.2%
African American 10.3%
Asian 8.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%

Largest group: White at 37.2% of enrollment.

Student-body diversity index 76.7/100

Simpson diversity index - at 76.7, Columbia Junior High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.

Programs

Gifted & talented Yes

District finance for Fife School District reports $17,662 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.

How Columbia Junior High School Compares to District-Mates

School Enrollment Economic Profile Student-Teacher Ratio
Fife High School Larger Similar economic need Higher S:T ratio
Fife Elementary School Larger Similar economic need Lower S:T ratio
Surprise Lake Middle School Similar size Similar economic need Similar S:T ratio
Discovery Primary School Similar size Similar economic need Lower S:T ratio
Hedden Elementary School Similar size Similar economic need Similar S:T ratio

Comparisons are relative to Columbia Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.

Other Schools in This District

Fife School District · 5 sibling schools

View district profile

Similar other schools in Tacoma

6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.

Sheridan Elementary School
Standard public school
525 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Geiger Montessori School
Standard public school
521 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Boze Elementary School
Standard public school
485 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Brookdale Elementary
Standard public school
483 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Birney Elementary School
Standard public school
476 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Collins Elementary
Standard public school
466 students 15.5:1 students per teacher

Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.

Similar enrollment (~619 students)

Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.6:1)

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Junior High School

How many students attend Columbia Junior High School?

Columbia Junior High School has 619 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 565 (2022-23) → 602 (2023-24), up 37.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Junior High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Junior High School is 20.6:1, which is 17% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.

What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbia Junior High School?

36.6% of students at Columbia Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia Junior High School?

The largest demographic group at Columbia Junior High School is White at 37.2% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.7/100.

What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia Junior High School?

Columbia Junior High School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).

How does Columbia Junior High School rank among schools in Tacoma?

By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Junior High School ranks #6 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tacoma on the city page.

What other schools are in Fife School District?

Besides Columbia Junior High School, Fife School District also operates Fife High School (885 students), Fife Elementary School (866 students), and Surprise Lake Middle School (613 students). See the Fife School District district page for the complete list.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2022-23) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type; administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page

Full source list and how we compute each figure: methodology page.

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Compiled from official source data by .