Enrollment
306
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tacoma, WA
Waller Road Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Waller Road Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530696001042
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waller Road Elementary earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Washington schools.
- #2 of 17
- elementary schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Washington
- 47.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Waller Road Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waller Road Elementary ranks #2 of 17 elementary schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Puyallup School District · Washington
NCES ID 530696001042 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.7%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Waller Road Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Waller Road Elementary
Waller Road Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Tacoma, Washington, enrolling 306 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 47.7% lands close to the Washington typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 306 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 361 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #58.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 306 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
12.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Puyallup School District spends $15,642 per pupil, 20% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tacoma's elementary schools, it stands alongside Fife Elementary School (866 students): Waller Road Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 17:1).
Puyallup School District also operates Puyallup High School (1,815 students) and Gov John Rogers High School (1,788 students) alongside Waller Road Elementary.
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 Waller Road Elementary compares
Waller Road Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 24% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.7% | ▲ 6% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 306 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
306
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 17% in Washington - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$15,642
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 306 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
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 52.0%
Hispanic or Latino 21.2%
Two or More 13.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.2%
Asian 4.9%
African American 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Largest group: White at 52.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, Waller Road Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Puyallup School District, which includes Waller Road Elementary.
$15,642
Per student
-20%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.4%
State 64.7%
Federal 9.9%
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 Waller Road Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puyallup High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gov John Rogers High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Emerald Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dessie F Evans Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ballou Jr High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waller Road Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,815
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,788
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,599
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 919
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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
Similar elementary 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 (~306 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Waller Road Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Waller Road Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Puyallup 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 Waller Road Elementary
How many students attend Waller Road Elementary?
Waller Road Elementary has 306 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tacoma, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waller Road Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Waller Road Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 24% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 15% 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 Waller Road Elementary?
47.7% of students at Waller Road Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waller Road Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Waller Road Elementary is White at 52.0% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waller Road Elementary?
Waller Road Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Waller Road Elementary rank among elementary schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Waller Road Elementary ranks #2 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.
Is Waller Road Elementary a good school?
Waller Road Elementary earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% 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 Puyallup School District?
Besides Waller Road Elementary, Puyallup School District also operates Puyallup High School (1,815 students), Gov John Rogers High School (1,788 students), and Emerald Ridge High School (1,599 students). See the Puyallup 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.