- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
Point Defiance Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Point Defiance Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530870001493
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Point Defiance Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #4 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 21.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Point Defiance Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Point Defiance Elementary School ranks #4 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001493 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Point Defiance Elementary School shrank from 333 students in 2022-23 to 300 in 2023-24 (-9.9%).
Teacher FTE held 20.5 → 20.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 530870001493 · Tacoma, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
301 enr · 15.1:1 · 21.0% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Point Defiance Elementary School shrank from 333 students in 2022-23 to 300 in 2023-24 (-9.9%). Teacher FTE held 20.5 → 20.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Point Defiance 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 301
Point Defiance Elementary School
301 students
What this shows Point Defiance Elementary School reports 301 students on the CCD universe file.
How Point Defiance Elementary School compares
Point Defiance Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.0% | ▼ 53% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 301 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
301
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 35% in Washington - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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 301 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. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 63.5%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 10.3%
Asian 5.3%
African American 4.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Largest group: White at 63.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.4, Point Defiance 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 Point Defiance 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 | Higher 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 Point Defiance 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 (~301 students)
Frequently asked questions about Point Defiance Elementary School
How many students attend Point Defiance Elementary School?
Point Defiance Elementary School has 301 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 333 (2022-23) → 300 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Point Defiance Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Point Defiance Elementary School is 15.1:1, which is 14% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 4% 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 Point Defiance Elementary School?
21.0% of students at Point Defiance Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Point Defiance Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Point Defiance Elementary School is White at 63.5% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Point Defiance Elementary School?
Point Defiance Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Point Defiance Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Point Defiance Elementary School ranks #4 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 Point Defiance 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.