Enrollment
376
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Lister Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lister Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530870001477
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lister Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #18 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- small classes for Washington
- 80.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Lister Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lister Elementary School ranks #18 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001477 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.7%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Lister Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Lister Elementary School
Lister Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 376 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 80.7% of students qualify for free meals, 79% above the Washington average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 376 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.
Among 211 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #181, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (23%) and Two or More (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 82/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 376 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 75.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tacoma's public schools, it stands alongside Columbia Junior High School (619 students): Lister Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 20.6:1).
Tacoma School District also operates Stadium High School (1,700 students) and Lincoln High School (1,556 students) alongside Lister 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 Lister Elementary School compares
Lister 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 24% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.7% | ▲ 79% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 18% in Washington - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
75.8%
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
$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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 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
African American 22.6%
Two or More 22.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.1%
Asian 15.4%
White 13.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 22.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 82.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 82.0, Lister 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 Tacoma School District, which includes Lister Elementary 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 Lister 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lister Elementary 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 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
Similar other 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 (~376 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Lister Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Lister Elementary 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 Lister Elementary School
How many students attend Lister Elementary School?
Lister Elementary School has 376 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lister Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lister Elementary School is 13.4:1, which is 24% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 15% 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 Lister Elementary School?
80.7% of students at Lister Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lister Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lister Elementary School is African American at 22.6% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 82.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lister Elementary School?
Lister Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Lister Elementary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Lister Elementary School ranks #18 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.
Is Lister Elementary School a good school?
Lister Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Washington schools. 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 Lister 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.
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.