- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Gates Secondary School
Federal NCES profile for Gates Secondary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530294001769
👥 S:T ratio 65
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 79
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gates Secondary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #6 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.7:1
- small classes for Washington
- 61.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Gates Secondary School has class sizes smaller than 96% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gates Secondary School ranks #6 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Franklin Pierce School District · Washington
NCES ID 530294001769 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Gates Secondary School grew from 86 students in 2022-23 to 98 in 2023-24 (+14.0%).
Teacher FTE held 12.0 → 11.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+12 students YoY 530294001769 · Tacoma, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
104 enr · 8.7:1 · 61.6% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Washington High School (989 students)
Gates Secondary School grew from 86 students in 2022-23 to 98 in 2023-24 (+14.0%). Teacher FTE held 12.0 → 11.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Gates Secondary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Washington Hig
Washington High School
989 students
- Franklin Pierc
Franklin Pierce High School
977 students
- Morris Ford Mi
Morris Ford Middle School
831 students
- Perry G Keithl
Perry G Keithley Middle School
804 students
- Brookdale Elem
Brookdale Elementary
483 students
- This school 104
Gates Secondary School
104 students
What this shows Gates Secondary School reports 104 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gates Secondary School compares
Gates Secondary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.7:1 | ▼ 51% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.6% | ▲ 37% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 104 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.7:1
Leaner classes than 93% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
104
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.6%
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
8.7:1
students per teacher
- 51% below state mean
Top 4% in Washington - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
60.6%
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
$19,065
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 104 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 35.6%
White 26.0%
Two or More 20.2%
African American 7.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.7%
Asian 3.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 35.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.3, Gates Secondary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
District finance for Franklin Pierce School District reports $19,065 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gates Secondary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Franklin Pierce High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Morris Ford Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Perry G Keithley Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookdale Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gates Secondary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 977
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 831
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 804
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 483
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
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 (~104 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gates Secondary School
How many students attend Gates Secondary School?
Gates Secondary School has 104 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 86 (2022-23) → 98 (2023-24), up 12.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gates Secondary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gates Secondary School is 8.7:1, which is 51% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 45% lower 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 Gates Secondary School?
61.6% of students at Gates Secondary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gates Secondary School?
The largest demographic group at Gates Secondary School is Hispanic or Latino at 35.6% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gates Secondary School?
Gates Secondary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Gates Secondary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Gates Secondary School ranks #6 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 Franklin Pierce School District?
Besides Gates Secondary School, Franklin Pierce School District also operates Washington High School (989 students), Franklin Pierce High School (977 students), and Morris Ford Middle School (831 students). See the Franklin Pierce School District district page for the complete list.