Enrollment
584
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tacoma, WA
First Creek Middle School
Federal NCES profile for First Creek Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530870003299
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
First Creek Middle School earns 41/100 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 14
- middle schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- students per teacher
- 72.2%
- free-lunch eligible
First Creek Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, First Creek Middle School ranks #6 of 14 middle schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870003299 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.2%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+60% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How First Creek Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at First Creek Middle School
First Creek Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 584 students.
At 17.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Washington median, within a few percentage points of the 17.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 72.2% of students qualify for free meals, 60% above the Washington average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 584 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 296 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #176.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (36%) and African American (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 79/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 195 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 70.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 91 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tacoma's middle schools, it stands alongside Morris Ford Middle School (831 students): First Creek Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.2:1 vs 15.7:1).
Tacoma School District also operates Stadium High School (1,700 students) and Lincoln High School (1,556 students) alongside First Creek Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How First Creek Middle School compares
First Creek Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.2% | ▲ 60% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 584 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
584
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 58% in Washington - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
70.2%
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
$17,575
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 195 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 85 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 91 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.1%
African American 17.0%
Asian 13.7%
Two or More 12.8%
White 10.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.7, First Creek Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tacoma School District, which includes First Creek Middle School.
$17,575
Per student
-10%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.2%
State 57.0%
Federal 12.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How First Creek Middle 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to First Creek Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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 middle schools in Tacoma
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Morris Ford Middle School
Standard public school
831 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Spanaway Middle School
Standard public school
766 students 22.5:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
687 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Stewart Middle School
Standard public school
650 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Mason Middle School
Standard public school
639 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Meeker Middle School
Standard public school
567 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~584 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on First Creek Middle School's federal record.
- Compare First Creek Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Tacoma School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about First Creek Middle School
How many students attend First Creek Middle School?
First Creek Middle School has 584 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at First Creek Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at First Creek Middle School is 17.2:1, which is 2% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 10% 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 First Creek Middle School?
72.2% of students at First Creek Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of First Creek Middle School?
The largest demographic group at First Creek Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 36.1% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for First Creek Middle School?
First Creek Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does First Creek Middle School rank among middle schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, First Creek Middle School ranks #6 of 14 middle 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 middle schools in Tacoma on the city page.
Is First Creek Middle School a good school?
First Creek Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Tacoma School District?
Besides First Creek Middle 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.