Enrollment
804
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tacoma, WA
Perry G Keithley Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Perry G Keithley Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530294000481
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Perry G Keithley Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.3:1
- students per teacher
- 61.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Perry G Keithley Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Perry G Keithley Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Franklin Pierce School District · Washington
NCES ID 530294000481 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.3:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.1%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Perry G Keithley Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Perry G Keithley Middle School
Perry G Keithley Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 804 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 61.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 804 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 216 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #152.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (33%) and White (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 402 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 281 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 804 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Tacoma's middle schools, it stands alongside Morris Ford Middle School (831 students): Perry G Keithley Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.3:1 vs 15.7:1).
Franklin Pierce School District also operates Washington High School (989 students) and Franklin Pierce High School (977 students) alongside Perry G Keithley 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 Perry G Keithley Middle School compares
Perry G Keithley 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 4% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.1% | ▲ 36% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 804 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
804
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
61.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 67% in Washington - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.0%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 402 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
130
in-school suspensions + 151 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.0 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 33.1%
White 24.3%
Two or More 15.7%
African American 11.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 9.8%
Asian 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 33.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.2, Perry G Keithley 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 Perry G Keithley 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 Perry G Keithley Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Franklin Pierce High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Morris Ford Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brookdale Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Collins Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Perry G Keithley 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
- 831
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- 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.
Morris Ford Middle School
Standard public school
831 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
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
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 (~804 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Perry G Keithley Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Perry G Keithley 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 Perry G Keithley Middle School
How many students attend Perry G Keithley Middle School?
Perry G Keithley Middle School has 804 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Perry G Keithley Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Perry G Keithley Middle School is 18.3:1, which is 4% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Perry G Keithley Middle School?
61.1% of students at Perry G Keithley Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Perry G Keithley Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Perry G Keithley Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 33.1% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Perry G Keithley Middle School?
Perry G Keithley Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Perry G Keithley Middle School rank among public schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Perry G Keithley Middle School ranks #3 of 4 public 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 public schools in Tacoma on the city page.
Is Perry G Keithley Middle School a good school?
Perry G Keithley Middle School earns 38/100 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 Perry G Keithley Middle School, Franklin Pierce School District also operates Washington High School (989 students), Franklin Pierce High School (977 students), and Morris Ford Middle School (831 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.