- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
James Sales Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Sales Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530294000477
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Sales Elementary 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.
- #8 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 59.4%
- free-lunch eligible
James Sales Elementary has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Sales Elementary ranks #8 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Franklin Pierce School District · Washington
NCES ID 530294000477 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
James Sales Elementary shrank from 401 students in 2022-23 to 377 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.9 → 25.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-24 students YoY 530294000477 · Tacoma, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
387 enr · 15.5:1 · 59.4% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Washington High School (989 students)
James Sales Elementary shrank from 401 students in 2022-23 to 377 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 25.9 → 25.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
James Sales Elementary 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 387
James Sales Elementary
387 students
What this shows James Sales Elementary reports 387 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Sales Elementary compares
James Sales Elementary 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 | 15.5:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.4% | ▲ 32% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 387 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
387
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 40% in Washington - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 387 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 33.3%
White 26.1%
Two or More 14.2%
African American 12.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 9.3%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 33.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.5, James Sales Elementary 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 James Sales Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Franklin Pierce High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Morris Ford Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Perry G Keithley Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookdale Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Sales Elementary'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 elementary schools in Tacoma
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Fife Elementary School
Standard public school
866 students 17:1 students per teacher
Clover Creek Elementary
Standard public school
617 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
Standard public school
592 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Naches Trail Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Crescent Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
451 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Harvard Elementary
Standard public school
445 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~387 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Sales Elementary
How many students attend James Sales Elementary?
James Sales Elementary has 387 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 401 (2022-23) → 377 (2023-24), down 24.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Sales Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Sales Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 12% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 1% 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 James Sales Elementary?
59.4% of students at James Sales Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Sales Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Sales Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 33.3% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Sales Elementary?
James Sales Elementary 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 James Sales Elementary rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, James Sales Elementary ranks #8 of 17 elementary 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 elementary schools in Tacoma on the city page.
What other schools are in Franklin Pierce School District?
Besides James Sales Elementary, 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.