Helen Stafford Elementary School
Tacoma, WA · Tacoma School District · Grades PK-5
983rd of 1,174 Washington elementary schools statewide · better than 16%▼ Declining
Helen Stafford Elementary School ranking
SchoolRow ranks Helen Stafford Elementary School 983rd of 1,174 Washington elementary schools for 2024–25, based on WA Smarter Balanced / WCAS 2024–25 English and Math results — better than 16% of elementary schools statewide. Its statewide percentile went from 40th in 2019 to 16th in 2025 — declining.
Helen Stafford Elementary School test scores
Percent meeting or exceeding the state standard, WA Smarter Balanced / WCAS 2024–25 · 212 students tested
Helen Stafford Elementary School students
Racial and ethnic breakdown of 432 students (2023–24, NCES) — and how it has shifted since 2013
| Group | Trend | 2013 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 28.7% | 25.7% | ▼ 3.0 pts | |
| Asian | 27.1% | 21.8% | ▼ 5.3 pts | |
| White | 17.6% | 16.2% | ▼ 1.4 pts | |
| Black | 11.8% | 15.5% | ▲ 3.7 pts | |
| Two or more races | 11.0% | 13.9% | ▲ 2.9 pts | |
| Pacific Islander | 3.6% | 6.5% | ▲ 2.9 pts | |
| American Indian | 0.2% | 0.5% | ▲ 0.3 pts |
Homes near Helen Stafford Elementary School
Typical home value $450K in zip 98444 as of 2026-05 · trend since 2000
Data Provided by Zillow Group
Elementary schools near Helen Stafford Elementary School
Closest same-level schools, with 2024–25 state rank
- 4Fern Hill Elementary SchoolTacoma School District · 0.7 mi away738th of 1,174
ELA 41% · Math 39% - 4Christensen ElementaryFranklin Pierce School District · 0.9 mi away821st of 1,174
ELA 41% · Math 32% - 2Birney Elementary SchoolTacoma School District · 0.9 mi away1,044th of 1,174
ELA 31% · Math 20% - 3Larchmont Elementary SchoolTacoma School District · 1.3 mi away894th of 1,174
ELA 38% · Math 31% - 6James Sales ElementaryFranklin Pierce School District · 1.4 mi away562nd of 1,174
ELA 48% · Math 47% - 2Arlington Elementary SchoolTacoma School District · 1.5 mi away1,054th of 1,174
ELA 25% · Math 25% - 4Edison Elementary SchoolTacoma School District · 2.2 mi away795th of 1,174
ELA 40% · Math 35% - 2Lakeview Hope AcademyClover Park School District · 2.2 mi away1,029th of 1,174
ELA 31% · Math 23%
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Helen Stafford Elementary School in?
Helen Stafford Elementary School is part of the Tacoma School District district in Tacoma, Washington.
Is Helen Stafford Elementary School a good school?
SchoolRow ranks Helen Stafford Elementary School 983rd of 1,174 Washington elementary schools (better than 16% statewide) based on 2024–25 test results (WA Smarter Balanced / WCAS 2024–25).
What is the racial makeup of Helen Stafford Elementary School?
Hispanic 26%, Asian 22%, White 16%, Black 16% (432 students, 2023–24).
How much do homes near Helen Stafford Elementary School cost?
The typical home value in zip code 98444 is $450K as of 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI).
Sources: state education department data (WA Smarter Balanced / WCAS 2024–25, low-income, chronic absenteeism), National Center for Education Statistics via the Urban Institute (enrollment, demographics, staffing), Zillow Group (home values). Rankings are computed by SchoolRow from state English and Math results within grade level; they measure test performance, not everything that makes a school good.