- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Fern Hill Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fern Hill Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530870001465
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fern Hill Elementary School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #38 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.3:1
- students per teacher
- 58.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Fern Hill Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Hill Elementary School ranks #38 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001465 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Fern Hill Elementary School held near 287 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 17.6 → 18.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 530870001465 · Tacoma, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
311 enr · 18.3:1 · 58.2% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Fern Hill Elementary School held near 287 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 17.6 → 18.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Fern Hill 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 311
Fern Hill Elementary School
311 students
What this shows Fern Hill Elementary School reports 311 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fern Hill Elementary School compares
Fern Hill Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.3:1 | ▲ 4% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.2% | ▲ 29% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 311 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
311
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 67% in Washington - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
63.3%
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 311 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 38.3%
White 20.3%
Two or More 16.1%
African American 10.3%
Asian 8.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 38.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.4, Fern Hill Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
District finance for Tacoma School District reports $19,679 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fern Hill 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 | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fern Hill 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 (~311 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fern Hill Elementary School
How many students attend Fern Hill Elementary School?
Fern Hill Elementary School has 311 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 297 (2022-23) → 287 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fern Hill Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fern Hill Elementary School is 18.3:1, which is 4% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fern Hill Elementary School?
58.2% of students at Fern Hill Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fern Hill Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fern Hill Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 38.3% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fern Hill Elementary School?
Fern Hill Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Fern Hill Elementary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Hill Elementary School ranks #38 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 Fern Hill 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.