Enrollment
447
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tacoma, WA
Hilltop Heritage Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Hilltop Heritage 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 530870001473
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 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
Hilltop Heritage 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
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 53.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Hilltop Heritage Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hilltop Heritage Middle School ranks #6 of 14 middle schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001473 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
53.1%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hilltop Heritage Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hilltop Heritage Middle School
Hilltop Heritage Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 447 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 53.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 447 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 499 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #325.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 224 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 83.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 27 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tacoma's middle schools, it stands alongside Morris Ford Middle School (831 students): Hilltop Heritage Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.9:1 vs 15.7:1).
Tacoma School District also operates Stadium High School (1,700 students) and Lincoln High School (1,556 students) alongside Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage Middle School compares
Hilltop Heritage 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 | 14.9:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.1% | ▲ 18% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 447 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
447
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
53.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 32% in Washington - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
83.0%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 224 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 65 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 27 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
White 38.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.6%
Two or More 20.4%
African American 13.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.9%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Largest group: White at 38.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.7, Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage 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 | 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 Hilltop Heritage 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
First Creek Middle School
Standard public school
584 students 17.2:1 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 (~447 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hilltop Heritage Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage Middle School
How many students attend Hilltop Heritage Middle School?
Hilltop Heritage Middle School has 447 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Heritage Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Heritage Middle School is 14.9:1, which is 15% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 5% 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 Hilltop Heritage Middle School?
53.1% of students at Hilltop Heritage Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hilltop Heritage Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Hilltop Heritage Middle School is White at 38.5% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hilltop Heritage Middle School?
Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage Middle School rank among middle schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage Middle School a good school?
Hilltop Heritage 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 Hilltop Heritage 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.