Here are 2024 Niche top public schools in Pierce Co. Is your child’s school on the list?
One of the biggest factors that parents consider when making a decision about where they want to raise their children is whether or not that city or neighborhood they are interested in has good schools that will provide their children with the best education possible.
If you’ve ever wondered where the best schools in the Pierce County area are located, wonder no more because Niche, a school ranking and information site, has a searchable website that gives parents more in depth information on local schools. Niche published their annual ranking of schools that is based on data provided by the Department of Education. According to the list, Pierce County is home to eight of the best public schools in the state.
University Place School district has seven elementary schools, middle schools and high schools ranked in the top five schools in Pierce County.
Here are the best public school in Pierce County, according to the Niche 2024 best schools rankings.
Top 5 Pierce Co. elementary schools
1. Carbonado Historical School
Carbonado Historical School is part of the Carbonado School District 19 and has 179 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school was ranked #41 for best public elementary schools in Washington.
2. University Place Primary School
University Place Primary School is part of the University Place School District and has 469 students enrolled. According to state test scores, 77% of students are at least proficient in math and 72% in reading.
Chambers Elementary School is part of the University Place School District. It has a total of 485 students enrolled and has a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
4. Mountain Meadow Elementary School
Mountain Meadow Elementary School is part of the White River School District and is located in the city of Buckley. The school is ranked #5 for best public school teachers in Washington.
Sunset Primary School is part of the University Place School District and has a total of 588 students enrolled. According to state test scores, 67% of students are at least proficient in math and 67% in reading.
Top 5 best Pierce Co. public middle schools
1. Narrows View Intermediate School
Narrows View Intermediate School is part of the University Place School District and has 676 students enrolled. The middle school was also ranked #7 overall for best public middle schools in Washington.
- Overall grade: A
- Academics: A
- Teachers: A
- Diversity: A
Drum Intermediate School is part of the University Place School District and has 627 students enrolled. The middle school was also ranked #12 for best public middle schools in Washington.
- University Place School District
- Overall grade: A
- Academics: A
- Teachers: A
- Diversity: A
3. Carbonado Historical School
Carbonado Historical School is part of the Carbonado School District 19 and has 179 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The student to teacher ratio is 15 to 1, and according to test scores, 72% of students are proficient in math and 82% of students are proficient in reading.
- Overall grade: A
- Academics: A
- Teachers: A+
- Diversity: C
Curtis Junior High is part of the University Place School District and has 875 students in eighth and ninth grades. The student to teacher ratio is 21 to 1, and according to test scores, 65% of students are proficient in math and 78% of students are proficient in reading. Curtis also ranked #40 for best public middle schools in all of Washington.
- Overall grade: A
- Academics: A
- Teachers: A-
- Diversity: A
Kopachuck Middle School is part of the Peninsula School District and is located in Gig Harbor. The school has 441 students in sixth grade through eighth grade and has a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. Kopachuck Middle school ranked a #42 for best public middle schools in all of Washington.
- Overall grade: A-
- Academics: A-
- Teachers: A
- Diversity: B
Top 5 best Pierce Co. high schools
Curtis Senior High School is part of the University Place School District. The high school has 1,345 students in grades 10 through 12 and has a student-teacher ratio of 22 to 1. It was ranked #28 for best public high schools in all of Washington.
2. Summit Public School: Olympus
Summit Olympus is part of its own independent charter district that has a total of nine schools that are located in Northern California and in Washington. Summit Olympus is one of the best schools in Pierce County, but it is also ranked the #1 best charter high school in Washington.
The Science and Math Institute is part of the Tacoma School District and has over 600 students. The student-teacher ratio is 23 to 1 and according to test scores, 52% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.
Steilacoom high School is part of the Steilacoom Historical School District and has 971 students enrolled. The student-teacher ratio is 21 to 1, and according to state test scores, 87% of students are at least proficient in math and 84% in reading.
5. Harrison Preparatory School
Harrison Preparatory School is part of the Clover Park School District in Lakewood. According to state tests, 49% of students are at least proficient in math and 70% in reading. Harrison Prep was also ranked #39 for best college prep public high schools in the state.
How Niche grades are calculated
Niche uses a myriad of datasets to determine each ranking, depending on the type of school, mixing quantifiable data with parent and student reviews. Certain aspects of data are worth more than others. A full breakdown of methodology is available here.
“We get deep, too, asking questions about everything from college prep to cafeteria food,” Niche said on its website. “Though quality data is a priority, at Niche, we know that a school is more than a collection of stats.”
In general, the factors included make up the following categories:
- Academic Grade: Based on state assessment proficiency and survey responses on academics from students and parents.
- Teacher Grade: Based on teacher salary, teacher absenteeism, state test results and survey responses on teachers from students and parents.
- District Grade: Based on rigorous academic and student life data analysis and millions of reviews from students and parents.
- Culture & Diversity Grade: Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses from students and parents on school culture and diversity.
- Parent/Student Surveys Grade: Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale regarding the overall experience of students and parents from the school.
Niche rankings are calculated using public data and reviews from the public and alumni and should not be taken as definitive rankings.
