- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-45 students YoY
Hilltop Heritage Middle School shrank from 524 students in 2022-23 to 479 in 2023-24 (-8.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 28.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-45 students YoY 530870001473 · Tacoma, WA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
447 enr · 14.9:1 · 53.1% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Hilltop Heritage Middle School shrank from 524 students in 2022-23 to 479 in 2023-24 (-8.6%). Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 28.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Hilltop Heritage Middle 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 447
Hilltop Heritage Middle School
447 students
What this shows Hilltop Heritage Middle School reports 447 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hilltop Heritage Middle School compares
Hilltop Heritage Middle School is a shrinking 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 | 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 methodology
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
$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 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.
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
District finance for Tacoma School District reports $19,679 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,556
- 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
Nationwide middle 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 (~447 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 524 (2022-23) → 479 (2023-24), down 45.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.