- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tacoma, WA
Spanaway Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Spanaway Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530048000128
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spanaway Middle School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #4 of 14
- middle schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.5:1
- large classes for Washington
- 56.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Spanaway Middle School has class sizes larger than 89% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spanaway Middle School ranks #4 of 14 middle schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048000128 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+30 students YoY
Spanaway Middle School held near 750 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+30 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 34.8 → 33.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+30 students YoY 530048000128 · Tacoma, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
766 enr · 22.5:1 · 56.3% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students)
Spanaway Middle School held near 750 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+30 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 34.8 → 33.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Spanaway Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Graham Kapowsi
Graham Kapowsin High School
2,087 students
- Spanaway Lake
Spanaway Lake High School
1,787 students
- Bethel High Sc
Bethel High School
1,688 students
- Liberty Middle
Liberty Middle School
857 students
- This school 766
Spanaway Middle School
766 students
- Cedarcrest Mid 765
Cedarcrest Middle School
765 students
What this shows Spanaway Middle School reports 766 students on the CCD universe file.
How Spanaway Middle School compares
Spanaway Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.3% | ▲ 25% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 766 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.5:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
766
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
22.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 89% in Washington - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
15.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,370
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 255 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 140 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 32.4%
White 26.9%
Two or More 17.5%
African American 9.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.9%
Asian 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 32.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.4, Spanaway Middle School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bethel School District reports $15,370 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Spanaway Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cedarcrest Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spanaway Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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
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
Nationwide middle 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 (~766 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Spanaway Middle School
How many students attend Spanaway Middle School?
Spanaway Middle School has 766 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 720 (2022-23) → 750 (2023-24), nearly flat (+30).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spanaway Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Spanaway Middle School is 22.5:1, which is 28% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Spanaway Middle School?
56.3% of students at Spanaway Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spanaway Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Spanaway Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 32.4% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spanaway Middle School?
Spanaway Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Spanaway Middle School rank among middle schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Spanaway Middle School ranks #4 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.
What other schools are in Bethel School District?
Besides Spanaway Middle School, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel School District district page for the complete list.