- Enrollment
- 885
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
Fife Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fife Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530288003792
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fife Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #6 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- students per teacher
- 45.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Fife Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fife Elementary School ranks #6 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Fife School District · Washington
NCES ID 530288003792 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Fife Elementary School held near 816 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 51.6 → 50.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-22 students YoY 530288003792 · Tacoma, WA Elementary · MID · TRAD
866 enr · 17:1 · 45.7% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Fife High School (885 students)
Fife Elementary School held near 816 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 51.6 → 50.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Fife Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fife High Scho
Fife High School
885 students
- This school
Fife Elementary School
866 students
- Columbia Junio
Columbia Junior High School
619 students
- Surprise Lake
Surprise Lake Middle School
613 students
- Discovery Prim
Discovery Primary School
506 students
- Hedden Element
Hedden Elementary School
469 students
What this shows Fife Elementary School reports 866 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fife Elementary School compares
Fife 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 | 17:1 | ▼ 3% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.7% | ▲ 2% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 866 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
866
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
45.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 56% in Washington - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 433 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 28.8%
Hispanic or Latino 23.9%
Two or More 14.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 12.1%
Asian 10.4%
African American 10.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 28.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 80.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 80.4, Fife Elementary 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 Fife Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fife High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Columbia Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surprise Lake Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Discovery Primary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hedden Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fife Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 619
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar elementary schools in Tacoma
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Clover Creek Elementary
Standard public school
617 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
Standard public school
592 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Naches Trail Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Crescent Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
451 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Harvard Elementary
Standard public school
445 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Browns Point Elementary School
Standard public school
445 students 18.5:1 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 (~866 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fife Elementary School
How many students attend Fife Elementary School?
Fife Elementary School has 866 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 838 (2022-23) → 816 (2023-24), nearly flat (-22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fife Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fife Elementary School is 17:1, which is 3% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fife Elementary School?
45.7% of students at Fife Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fife Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fife Elementary School is White at 28.8% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 80.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fife Elementary School?
Fife Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Fife Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Fife Elementary School ranks #6 of 17 elementary 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 elementary schools in Tacoma on the city page.
What other schools are in Fife School District?
Besides Fife Elementary School, Fife School District also operates Fife High School (885 students), Columbia Junior High School (619 students), and Surprise Lake Middle School (613 students). See the Fife School District district page for the complete list.