Enrollment
592
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530048003778
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #7 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.5:1
- students per teacher
- 38.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School ranks #7 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048003778 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
38.8%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-14% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 592 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 38.8% lands close to the Washington typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 592 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 466 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #282.
Its student body is led by White (27%) and Two or More (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 81/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 592 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
10.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Bethel School District spends $15,195 per pupil, 22% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Tacoma's elementary schools, it stands alongside Fife Elementary School (866 students): Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.5:1 vs 17:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Katherine G. Johnson Elementary 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 Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School compares
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary 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 | 18.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.8% | ▼ 14% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 592 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
592
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
38.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 69% in Washington - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.6%
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
$15,195
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 592 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 26.5%
Two or More 20.8%
Hispanic or Latino 18.9%
African American 14.7%
Asian 9.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 7.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Largest group: White at 26.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 81.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 81.3, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bethel School District, which includes Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School.
$15,195
Per student
-22%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.6%
State 66.9%
Federal 8.5%
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 Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
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
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
Browns Point Elementary School
Standard public school
445 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~592 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Bethel 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 Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School
How many students attend Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School has 592 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is 18.5:1, which is 5% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?
38.8% of students at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School is White at 26.5% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 81.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School?
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School ranks #7 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.
Is Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School a good school?
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School earns 42/100 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 Bethel School District?
Besides Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel 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.