Enrollment
766
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.5:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
56.3%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Spanaway Middle School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Spanaway Middle School
Spanaway Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 766 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.5:1 is larger than about 89% of Washington schools and 28% above the 17.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 56.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 766 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 272 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #53.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (32%) and White (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 255 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
15.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Bethel School District spends $15,195 per pupil, 22% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Tacoma's middle schools, it stands alongside Morris Ford Middle School (831 students): Spanaway Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (22.5:1 vs 15.7:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Spanaway 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 Spanaway Middle School compares
Spanaway 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$15,195
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bethel School District, which includes Spanaway Middle School.
$15,195
Per student
-22%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.6%
State 66.9%
Federal 8.5%
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 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
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- 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
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 (~766 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Spanaway Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Spanaway Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Bethel 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Spanaway Middle School a good school?
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. 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 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.
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.