- Enrollment
- 866
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Tacoma, WA
Fife High School
Federal NCES profile for Fife High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530288000465
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fife High School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #3 of 16
- high schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.1:1
- large classes for Washington
- 35.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Fife High School has class sizes larger than 88% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fife High School ranks #3 of 16 high schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Fife School District · Washington
NCES ID 530288000465 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Fife High School held near 864 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.3 → 40.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 530288000465 · Tacoma, WA High · MID · TRAD
885 enr · 22.1:1 · 35.5% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Fife Elementary School (866 students)
Fife High School held near 864 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.3 → 40.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Fife High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Fife High School
885 students
- Fife Elementar
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 High School reports 885 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fife High School compares
Fife High 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 | 22.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.5% | ▼ 21% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 885 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
885
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 88% in Washington - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
19.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors4.3 FTE
Per 206 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 44 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 39.4%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
Two or More 11.1%
Asian 10.5%
African American 7.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 39.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.1, Fife High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fife Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Surprise Lake Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Discovery Primary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hedden Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fife High 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 high schools in Tacoma
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Stadium High School
Standard public school
1,700 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Lincoln High School
Standard public school
1,556 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Mount Tahoma High School
Standard public school
1,410 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Dr. Dolores Silas High School
Standard public school
1,160 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Washington High School
Standard public school
989 students 16:1 students per teacher
Tacoma School of the Arts
Standard public school
658 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~885 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Fife High School
How many students attend Fife High School?
Fife High School has 885 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 879 (2022-23) → 864 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fife High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fife High School is 22.1:1, which is 26% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fife High School?
35.5% of students at Fife High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fife High School?
The largest demographic group at Fife High School is White at 39.4% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fife High School?
Fife High School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 High School rank among high schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Fife High School ranks #3 of 16 high 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 high schools in Tacoma on the city page.
What other schools are in Fife School District?
Besides Fife High School, Fife School District also operates Fife Elementary School (866 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.