- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Tacoma, WA
Foss High School
Federal NCES profile for Foss High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530870001466
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Foss High School earns 39/100 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 16
- high schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.6:1
- students per teacher
- 61.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Foss High School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Foss High School ranks #6 of 16 high schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001466 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Foss High School held near 580 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 37.0 → 37.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 530870001466 · Tacoma, WA High · MID · TRAD
599 enr · 16.6:1 · 61.5% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Foss High School held near 580 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE held 37.0 → 37.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Foss High 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 599
Foss High School
599 students
What this shows Foss High School reports 599 students on the CCD universe file.
How Foss High School compares
Foss 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 | 16.6:1 | ▼ 6% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.5% | ▲ 37% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 599 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
599
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 52% in Washington - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
74.5%
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
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 240 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 35 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
White 24.5%
African American 21.1%
Two or More 16.1%
Asian 7.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 24.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 80.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 80.0, Foss High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
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 Foss High 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 | Higher 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 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Foss High 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 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
Fife High School
Standard public school
885 students 22.1:1 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 (~599 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Foss High School
How many students attend Foss High School?
Foss High School has 599 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 587 (2022-23) → 580 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Foss High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Foss High School is 16.6:1, which is 6% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 6% 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 Foss High School?
61.5% of students at Foss High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Foss High School?
The largest demographic group at Foss High School is Hispanic or Latino at 24.8% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 80.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Foss High School?
Foss High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Foss High School rank among high schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Foss High School ranks #6 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 Tacoma School District?
Besides Foss High 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.