- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Helen Stafford Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Helen Stafford Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530870003064
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Helen Stafford Elementary 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.
- #14 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 61.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Helen Stafford Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helen Stafford Elementary School ranks #14 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870003064 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Helen Stafford Elementary School held near 432 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 27.9 → 25.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-19 students YoY 530870003064 · Tacoma, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
453 enr · 16.8:1 · 61.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Helen Stafford Elementary School held near 432 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 27.9 → 25.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Helen Stafford Elementary 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 453
Helen Stafford Elementary School
453 students
What this shows Helen Stafford Elementary School reports 453 students on the CCD universe file.
How Helen Stafford Elementary School compares
Helen Stafford 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 | 16.8:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.0% | ▲ 36% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 453 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
453
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 54% in Washington - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
63.8%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 29.6%
Asian 17.4%
Two or More 17.0%
White 14.8%
African American 13.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 29.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 80.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 80.8, Helen Stafford Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
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 Helen Stafford Elementary 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 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Helen Stafford Elementary 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 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 (~453 students)
Frequently asked questions about Helen Stafford Elementary School
How many students attend Helen Stafford Elementary School?
Helen Stafford Elementary School has 453 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 451 (2022-23) → 432 (2023-24), nearly flat (-19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helen Stafford Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helen Stafford Elementary School is 16.8:1, which is 5% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 7% 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 Helen Stafford Elementary School?
61.0% of students at Helen Stafford Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helen Stafford Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Helen Stafford Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 29.6% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 80.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Helen Stafford Elementary School?
Helen Stafford Elementary 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 Helen Stafford Elementary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Helen Stafford Elementary School ranks #14 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 Tacoma School District?
Besides Helen Stafford Elementary 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.