WashingtonSchoolsScience and Math Institute

Science and Math Institute

PublicRegular
Tacoma, Washington · Tacoma School District
Teachers27.0FTE
Ratio22.4:1students per teacher
Students604enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students604
Grade Span9–12
Student:Teacher22.4:1
Free/Reduced Lunch39%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Student : Teacher
20.6:1
8.0%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
29
7.4%vs prior yr
Enrollment
597
1.2%vs prior yr
Avg Experience
13
years
Counselors
ASCA max 1:250
Nurses
NASN max 1:750
Psychologists
NASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:615
SSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.5:117.1:119.7:122.4:125.0:127.6:12020202120222023202426.7:124.0:124.4:122.4:120.6:1This schoolUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

596600604608612616232425272829202020212022202320246156006106045972325252729EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment615600610604597
Teacher FTE2325252729
Pupil : Teacher ratio26.7:124.0:124.4:122.4:120.6:115.4:1

Teacher Experience & Qualifications (2024)

Average years of experience12.5 yrs
Novice teachers (< 3 yrs)0%
Hold advanced degree81%
Source: State Department of Education teacher workforce reports.

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:1331:2661:3991:5311:66420201:615Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric2020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)
Nurses (FTE)
Psychologists (FTE)
Social Workers (FTE)1
Counselor : Pupils1:250
Nurse : Pupils1:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:6151:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20202020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.