- Enrollment
- 1,700
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tacoma, WA
Whittier Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Whittier Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530870001511
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whittier Elementary School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #38 of 42
- schools in Tacoma · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.9:1
- students per teacher
- 45.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Whittier Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #38 of 42 schools in Tacoma, WA.
School address
District: Tacoma School District · Washington
NCES ID 530870001511 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Whittier Elementary School held near 320 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 17.5 → 18.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 530870001511 · Tacoma, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
305 enr · 17.9:1 · 45.4% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Stadium High School (1,700 students)
Whittier Elementary School held near 320 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 17.5 → 18.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Whittier 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 305
Whittier Elementary School
305 students
What this shows Whittier Elementary School reports 305 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whittier Elementary School compares
Whittier Elementary 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 | 17.9:1 | ▲ 2% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.4% | ▲ 1% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
45.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 64% in Washington - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
59.7%
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
$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 305 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.
Student demographics
White 33.8%
Two or More 23.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
African American 16.1%
Asian 5.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.3%
Largest group: White at 33.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.2, Whittier Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
District finance for Tacoma School District reports $19,679 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whittier Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Tahoma High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Dolores Silas High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baker Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whittier 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 other schools in Tacoma
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Columbia Junior High School
Standard public school
619 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Sheridan Elementary School
Standard public school
525 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Geiger Montessori School
Standard public school
521 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Boze Elementary School
Standard public school
485 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Brookdale Elementary
Standard public school
483 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Birney Elementary School
Standard public school
476 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~305 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whittier Elementary School
How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has 305 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tacoma, WA. CCD year-over-year: 326 (2022-23) → 320 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School is 17.9:1, which is 2% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whittier Elementary School?
45.4% of students at Whittier Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whittier Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Whittier Elementary School is White at 33.8% of enrollment, in Tacoma, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Whittier Elementary School rank among schools in Tacoma?
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #38 of 42 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 schools in Tacoma on the city page.
What other schools are in Tacoma School District?
Besides Whittier 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.