- Enrollment
- 1,375
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gig Harbor, WA
Discovery Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530669000981
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 93
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Elementary School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Gig Harbor · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.1:1
- students per teacher
- 19.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Gig Harbor, WA.
School address
District: Peninsula School District · Washington
NCES ID 530669000981 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+42 students YoY
Discovery Elementary School grew from 316 students in 2022-23 to 358 in 2023-24 (+13.3%).
Teacher FTE held 21.5 → 21.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+42 students YoY 530669000981 · Gig Harbor, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
380 enr · 18.1:1 · 19.0% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Gig Harbor High (1,375 students)
Discovery Elementary School grew from 316 students in 2022-23 to 358 in 2023-24 (+13.3%). Teacher FTE held 21.5 → 21.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Discovery Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gig Harbor Hig
Gig Harbor High
1,375 students
- Peninsula High
Peninsula High School
1,345 students
- Harbor Ridge M
Harbor Ridge Middle School
627 students
- Goodman Middle 519
Goodman Middle School
519 students
- Swift Water El 519
Swift Water Elementary
519 students
- This school 380
Discovery Elementary School
380 students
What this shows Discovery Elementary School reports 380 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Elementary School compares
Discovery Elementary 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 3% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.0% | ▼ 58% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 380 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
380
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 66% in Washington - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
2.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$17,219
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 380 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.1%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
Two or More 9.2%
Asian 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 76.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.9, Discovery Elementary School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Peninsula School District reports $17,219 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gig Harbor High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Peninsula High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harbor Ridge Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goodman Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Swift Water Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,345
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Gig Harbor
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Swift Water Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Pioneer Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Voyager Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Minter Creek Elementary
Standard public school
272 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~380 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Elementary School
How many students attend Discovery Elementary School?
Discovery Elementary School has 380 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gig Harbor, WA. CCD year-over-year: 316 (2022-23) → 358 (2023-24), up 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary School is 18.1:1, which is 3% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Elementary School?
19.0% of students at Discovery Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Elementary School is White at 76.1% of enrollment, in Gig Harbor, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Elementary School?
Discovery Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Discovery Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Gig Harbor?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Gig Harbor, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Gig Harbor on the city page.
What other schools are in Peninsula School District?
Besides Discovery Elementary School, Peninsula School District also operates Gig Harbor High (1,375 students), Peninsula High School (1,345 students), and Harbor Ridge Middle School (627 students). See the Peninsula School District district page for the complete list.