A+
Excellent
93/100

Downing Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 5130 N. 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98406
Overall
A+
93/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
A
0.8 grade levels above the U.S. average · 79th percentile in Washington
Resources
A
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against Washington schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

93
Repit Score
out of 100
283
Students
enrolled
16.3:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$23K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)75%79/1000.8 grade levels above the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)25%88/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 34% students directly certified for free meals (their families receive SNAP or similar aid). Compared with Washington schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +26 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Washington. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency67% (+8 pts vs. state avg 59%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency57% (+10 pts vs. state avg 47%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Washington state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White65%55%reading -3 pts, math -8 pts41st percentile (list)
Hispanic50%50%reading +10 pts, math +14 pts73rd percentile (list)
Multiracial70%70%reading +6 pts, math +12 pts76th percentile (list)
Low-income55%45%reading +13 pts, math +7 pts76th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 5130 N. 26th Street
City Tacoma
ZIP Code 98406
District 5308700
NCES School ID 530870001461
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 98406

Understanding the community around Downing Elementary School helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $96,755
Per Capita Income $53,109
Poverty Rate 2.5%
Households Earning $100K+ 48.2%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 49.0%
High School or Higher 95.3%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $516,600
Median Rent $1,557
Owner-Occupied 65.0%
Renter-Occupied 35.0%
View full data for ZIP 98406 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 98406 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 98406 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Downing Elementary School.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 50.9%
Female 49.1%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 58.7%
Two or More Races 19.8%
Hispanic/Latino 12.4%
Black 5.7%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian 0.4%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 283
Teachers (FTE) 17.4
Student:Teacher Ratio 16.3:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Downing Elementary School?
Downing Elementary School has a Repit School Score of 93 out of 100, earning a grade of A+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Downing Elementary School?
Downing Elementary School has 283 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1.
What grades does Downing Elementary School serve?
Downing Elementary School serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Downing Elementary School receive per student?
Downing Elementary School receives $23,190 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Downing Elementary School in 98406 ▼
Avg Home Value
$623,248
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,217
1-Year Change
+4.3%
% Renters
35.0%

Other Schools in 98406

View all schools and real estate data for 98406 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026