North Tacoma schools (Bellevue, Federal Way, University Place: job, housing, crime)

[Natasha129]

We are considering moving to North Tacoma. Our daughter is not school age yet, but will be soon. Does anyone know what the North Tacoma school district is like? Also, what about University Place, Federal Way & Gig Harbor?

Thanks so much!

[mthomson]

N Tacoma is part of the Tacoma School District, it's not seperate. Like most schools, it's hit and miss. Many parents love the schools (esp Pt Defiance Elem and Truman Middle), and many parents say it's terrible. My daughter isn't school aged yet, either, but after having taught for 7years I'm convinced a lot of the schooling experience is still determined by home.
Safety-wise, the schools in N Tacoma seem fine.
UP is a more highly sought after school district, probably because it is smaller. UP Elem and Curtis JH and Curtis HS all have pretty good reports.
The Peninsula SD (Gig Harbor) is the 2nd highest rated district in the state based on the standardized testing scores. Again, it's smaller and pretty well funded. I'm in Gig Harbor and am excited for when my daughter is school aged.
I taught for 7 years in Tacoma, but was in a private school.
Here are links to their district websites in case you need them.
Tacoma
UP
Gig Harbor

[Natasha129]

Thanks so much, that was very helpful!

[moomin]

I'm starting a job at UW Tacoma and looking for a place to live in the area. I'm a single mom w/8 y.o. daughter and hoping to find a place near good public schools, both elementary and middle schools. It seems that the up-and-coming downtown area (near UWT) is not very family oriented, and the area schools are not very good. I heard WA-Hoyt, Lowell, and Mason in Proctor dist are quite good, but looking only in those school's attendance area limits the housing choice quite a bit. I understand Tacoma has the system that allows students to enroll in the schools outside their attendance area if there are openings. I wonder how easy it would be. Please share your experience if you have sent your kids to outside of your attendance area schools. Thanks!

[Natasha129]

Originally Posted by moomin

I'm starting a job at UW Tacoma and looking for a place to live in the area. I'm a single mom w/8 y.o. daughter and hoping to find a place near good public schools, both elementary and middle schools. It seems that the up-and-coming downtown area (near UWT) is not very family oriented, and the area schools are not very good. I heard WA-Hoyt, Lowell, and Mason in Proctor dist are quite good, but looking only in those school's attendance area limits the housing choice quite a bit. I understand Tacoma has the system that allows students to enroll in the schools outside their attendance area if there are openings. I wonder how easy it would be. Please share your experience if you have sent your kids to outside of your attendance area schools. Thanks!

My sister in law lives there so we got the full education (no pun intended) about the school system there. Apparently it is very easy to switch to whichever elementary school you want to attend (her kids go to Lowell and love it), although Washington Hoyt is more difficult b/c of its excellent reputation, but it's now nearly impossible to switch to a Jr. High out of your district. Apparently jason lee is terrible. Hope that helps!

[moomin]

Originally Posted by Natasha129

My sister in law lives there so we got the full education (no pun intended) about the school system there. Apparently it is very easy to switch to whichever elementary school you want to attend (her kids go to Lowell and love it), although Washington Hoyt is more difficult b/c of its excellent reputation, but it's now nearly impossible to switch to a Jr. High out of your district. Apparently jason lee is terrible. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the info. I'd better try harder to find a housing within the attendance area to be safe in order to get in those schools.

[super64]

Originally Posted by mthomson

N Tacoma is part of the Tacoma School District, it's not seperate. Like most schools, it's hit and miss. Many parents love the schools (esp Pt Defiance Elem and Truman Middle), and many parents say it's terrible. My daughter isn't school aged yet, either, but after having taught for 7years I'm convinced a lot of the schooling experience is still determined by home.
Safety-wise, the schools in N Tacoma seem fine.
UP is a more highly sought after school district, probably because it is smaller. UP Elem and Curtis JH and Curtis HS all have pretty good reports.
The Peninsula SD (Gig Harbor) is the 2nd highest rated district in the state based on the standardized testing scores. Again, it's smaller and pretty well funded. I'm in Gig Harbor and am excited for when my daughter is school aged.
I taught for 7 years in Tacoma, but was in a private school.
Here are links to their district websites in case you need them.
Tacoma
UP
Gig Harbor

What is your source for Peninsula SD being 2nd in the state? Thank you

[mthomson]

There was a TNT article this past fall. I searched their site and can't find it. This website offers the best info I can find, but doesn't give rankings. You can compare districts side by side.
Peninsula was behind Mercer Isl. or Bellevue I think. Their WASL scores are lower than both, but their student/teacher ratios, teacher experience, and teachers with at least a masters degree are all higher.

[secret_squirrel]

I'm a public school employee in a neighboring district. Tacoma schools are one (if not the) most crowded in the state of WA. Stadium High is beautiful, but disorganized and has a more pervasive drug problem than other schools in the area. I do give them kudos for their lights-on, no freak-dancing school dance policy.

Federal Way Schools try very hard to excel. They have high academic standards (no pass with a D, only C- and above) and work to accommodate their parents. But, the high schools are struggling with an increasingly inner-city population of students that don't care about learning and cause disruption to the students who do care. Being a suburban location for years, the high schools are adjusting. Crime is also on the rise in all of Federal Way.

One district not on your list and near North Tacoma are Fife Schools. They are respected and have a unique system of a primary school (K-1), Intermediate (2-5), middle (6-9), and high (10-12). You might want to check them out - my friend's kids go there and they love the schools.