- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
Lowell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lowell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530870001478
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lowell Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #10 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- students per teacher
- 20.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Lowell Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #10 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001478 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Lowell Elementary School held near 333 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.1 → 20.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 530870001478 · Tacoma, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
331 enr · 17.4:1 · 20.4% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Lowell Elementary School held near 333 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.1 → 20.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Lowell Elementary 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 331
Lowell Elementary School
331 students
What this shows Lowell Elementary School reports 331 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lowell Elementary School compares
Lowell Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.4% | ▼ 55% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 331 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
331
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 59% in Washington - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
34.1%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 331 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.3%
Two or More 17.5%
Hispanic or Latino 13.6%
Asian 4.2%
African American 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 61.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.3, Lowell Elementary 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 Lowell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lowell Elementary 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 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 (~331 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Lowell Elementary School
How many students attend Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has 331 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 319 (2022-23) → 333 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School is 17.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 11% higher 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 Lowell Elementary School?
20.4% of students at Lowell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lowell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lowell Elementary School is White at 61.3% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Lowell Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #10 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 Tacoma School District?
Besides Lowell 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.