- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Downing Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Downing Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530870001461
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Downing Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Washington schools.
- #18 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.9:1
- large classes for Washington
- 43.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Downing Elementary School has class sizes larger than 78% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Downing Elementary School ranks #18 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001461 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
Downing Elementary School grew from 255 students in 2022-23 to 283 in 2023-24 (+11.0%).
Teacher FTE added 15.3 → 17.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+28 students YoY 530870001461 · Tacoma, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
298 enr · 19.9:1 · 43.5% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Downing Elementary School grew from 255 students in 2022-23 to 283 in 2023-24 (+11.0%). Teacher FTE added 15.3 → 17.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Downing Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Stadium High S
Stadium High School
1,700 students
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
1,556 students
- Mount Tahoma H
Mount Tahoma High School
1,410 students
- Dr. Dolores Si
Dr. Dolores Silas High School
1,160 students
- Baker Middle S
Baker Middle School
687 students
- This school 298
Downing Elementary School
298 students
What this shows Downing Elementary School reports 298 students on the CCD universe file.
How Downing Elementary School compares
Downing 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 | 19.9:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.5% | ▼ 3% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 298 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
298
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Washington - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.6%
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
$19,679
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 298 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.4%
Two or More 19.8%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%
African American 6.7%
Asian 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 58.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.2, Downing Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tacoma School District reports $19,679 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Downing Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Downing Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,556
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,410
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar other schools in Tacoma
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Columbia Junior High School
Standard public school
619 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
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
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 (~298 students)
Frequently asked questions about Downing Elementary School
How many students attend Downing Elementary School?
Downing Elementary School has 298 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 255 (2022-23) → 283 (2023-24), up 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Downing Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Downing Elementary School is 19.9:1, which is 13% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Downing Elementary School?
43.5% of students at Downing Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Downing Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Downing Elementary School is White at 58.4% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Downing Elementary School?
Downing Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Downing Elementary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Downing Elementary School ranks #18 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 Tacoma School District?
Besides Downing Elementary School, Tacoma School District also operates Stadium High School (1,700 students), Lincoln High School (1,556 students), and Mount Tahoma High School (1,410 students). See the Tacoma School District district page for the complete list.