Enrollment
597
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Tacoma, WA
Science and Math Institute
Federal NCES profile for Science and Math Institute, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530870003286
👥 S:T ratio 4
📚 AP courses 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Science and Math Institute earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Washington schools.
- #13 of 16
- high schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.9:1
- large classes for Washington
- 26.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Science and Math Institute has class sizes larger than 92% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Science and Math Institute ranks #13 of 16 high schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870003286 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.9:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.9%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Science and Math Institute compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Science and Math Institute
Science and Math Institute is a mid-sized high school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 597 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23.9:1 is larger than about 92% of Washington schools and 36% above the 17.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 597 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 487 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #477, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%) (diversity index 65/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 11 Advanced Placement courses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tacoma's high schools, it stands alongside Stadium High School (1,700 students): Science and Math Institute is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (23.9:1 vs 25.4:1).
Tacoma School District also operates Stadium High School (1,700 students) and Lincoln High School (1,556 students) alongside Science and Math Institute.
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 Science and Math Institute compares
Science and Math Institute on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.9:1 | ▲ 36% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.9% | ▼ 40% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 597 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.9:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
597
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
23.9:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 92% in Washington - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
47.2%
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
$17,575
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 54.3%
Hispanic or Latino 15.2%
Two or More 14.7%
African American 7.7%
Asian 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 54.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Science and Math Institute is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tacoma School District, which includes Science and Math Institute.
$17,575
Per student
-10%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.2%
State 57.0%
Federal 12.8%
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 Science and Math Institute 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 | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Science and Math Institute's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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 high schools in Tacoma
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Stadium High School
Standard public school
1,700 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Lincoln High School
Standard public school
1,556 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Mount Tahoma High School
Standard public school
1,410 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Dr. Dolores Silas High School
Standard public school
1,160 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Washington High School
Standard public school
989 students 16:1 students per teacher
Fife High School
Standard public school
885 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~597 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Science and Math Institute's federal record.
- Compare Science and Math Institute against another school. Compare schools
- Tacoma 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 Science and Math Institute
How many students attend Science and Math Institute?
Science and Math Institute has 597 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Science and Math Institute?
The student-teacher ratio at Science and Math Institute is 23.9:1, which is 36% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 52% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Science and Math Institute?
26.9% of students at Science and Math Institute are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Science and Math Institute?
The largest demographic group at Science and Math Institute is White at 54.3% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Science and Math Institute?
Science and Math Institute has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Science and Math Institute rank among high schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Science and Math Institute ranks #13 of 16 high 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 high schools in Tacoma on the city page.
Is Science and Math Institute a good school?
Science and Math Institute earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% 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 Tacoma School District?
Besides Science and Math Institute, 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.
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.