Enrollment
831
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tacoma, WA
Morris Ford Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Morris Ford Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530294000479
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Morris Ford Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #2 of 14
- middle schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 54.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Morris Ford Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Morris Ford Middle School ranks #2 of 14 middle schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Franklin Pierce School District · Washington
NCES ID 530294000479 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.9%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Morris Ford Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Morris Ford Middle School
Morris Ford Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 831 students.
At 15.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Washington median, within a few percentage points of the 17.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 54.9% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Washington, bigger than 90% of state schools at 831 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 218 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #42.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (35%) and White (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 208 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 202 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 831 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Tacoma's middle schools, it stands alongside Spanaway Middle School (766 students): Morris Ford Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.7:1 vs 22.5:1).
Franklin Pierce School District also operates Washington High School (989 students) and Franklin Pierce High School (977 students) alongside Morris Ford Middle 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 Morris Ford Middle School compares
Morris Ford Middle 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 | 15.7:1 | ▼ 11% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.9% | ▲ 22% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 831 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
831
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 42% in Washington - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.3%
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
$17,349
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 208 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
46
in-school suspensions + 156 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.3 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
Hispanic or Latino 35.1%
White 27.9%
Two or More 13.6%
African American 9.7%
Asian 7.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 35.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.3, Morris Ford Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Franklin Pierce School District, which includes Morris Ford Middle School.
$17,349
Per student
-11%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.0%
State 64.5%
Federal 13.5%
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 Morris Ford Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Franklin Pierce High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Perry G Keithley Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookdale Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Collins Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Morris Ford Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 977
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 804
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 483
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar middle schools in Tacoma
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Spanaway Middle School
Standard public school
766 students 22.5:1 students per teacher
Baker Middle School
Standard public school
687 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Stewart Middle School
Standard public school
650 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Mason Middle School
Standard public school
639 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
First Creek Middle School
Standard public school
584 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Meeker Middle School
Standard public school
567 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~831 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Morris Ford Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Morris Ford Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Franklin Pierce 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 Morris Ford Middle School
How many students attend Morris Ford Middle School?
Morris Ford Middle School has 831 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Morris Ford Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Morris Ford Middle School is 15.7:1, which is 11% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 0% 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 Morris Ford Middle School?
54.9% of students at Morris Ford Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Morris Ford Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Morris Ford Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 35.1% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Morris Ford Middle School?
Morris Ford Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Morris Ford Middle School rank among middle schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Morris Ford Middle School ranks #2 of 14 middle 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 middle schools in Tacoma on the city page.
Is Morris Ford Middle School a good school?
Morris Ford Middle School earns 49/100 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 Franklin Pierce School District?
Besides Morris Ford Middle School, Franklin Pierce School District also operates Washington High School (989 students), Franklin Pierce High School (977 students), and Perry G Keithley Middle School (804 students). See the Franklin Pierce 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.