Enrollment
457
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tumwater, WA
Michael T Simmons Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Michael T Simmons Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530910001542
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Michael T Simmons Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Washington schools.
- #5 of 13
- public schools in Tumwater · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- small classes for Washington
- 31.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Michael T Simmons Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Michael T Simmons Elementary ranks #5 of 13 public schools in Tumwater, WA.
School address
District: Tumwater School District · Washington
NCES ID 530910001542 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.3:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.3%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Michael T Simmons Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Michael T Simmons Elementary
Michael T Simmons Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Tumwater, Washington, enrolling 457 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 457 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 506 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #341.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 56/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 457 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Tumwater School District spends $15,498 per pupil, 20% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Tumwater's elementary schools, it stands alongside Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight (600 students): Michael T Simmons Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.3:1 vs 17.1:1).
Tumwater School District also operates Tumwater High School (1,117 students) and George Bush Middle School (762 students) alongside Michael T Simmons Elementary.
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 Michael T Simmons Elementary compares
Michael T Simmons Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.3:1 | ▼ 19% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.3% | ▼ 30% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 457 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
457
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 26% in Washington - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.4%
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
$15,498
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 457 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 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 63.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 9.2%
Asian 4.8%
African American 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: White at 63.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.5, Michael T Simmons Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tumwater School District, which includes Michael T Simmons Elementary.
$15,498
Per student
-20%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.6%
State 62.2%
Federal 8.2%
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 Michael T Simmons Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tumwater High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Bush Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| A G West Black Hills High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tumwater Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Peter G Schmidt Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Michael T Simmons Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,117
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Tumwater
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~457 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Michael T Simmons Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Michael T Simmons Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Tumwater 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 Michael T Simmons Elementary
How many students attend Michael T Simmons Elementary?
Michael T Simmons Elementary has 457 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tumwater, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Michael T Simmons Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Michael T Simmons Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 19% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 9% 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 Michael T Simmons Elementary?
31.3% of students at Michael T Simmons Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Michael T Simmons Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Michael T Simmons Elementary is White at 63.7% of enrollment, in Tumwater, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Michael T Simmons Elementary?
Michael T Simmons Elementary 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 Michael T Simmons Elementary rank among public schools in Tumwater?
By Resource Investment Index, Michael T Simmons Elementary ranks #5 of 13 public schools in Tumwater, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Tumwater on the city page.
Is Michael T Simmons Elementary a good school?
Michael T Simmons Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of 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 Tumwater School District?
Besides Michael T Simmons Elementary, Tumwater School District also operates Tumwater High School (1,117 students), George Bush Middle School (762 students), and A G West Black Hills High School (753 students). See the Tumwater 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.