Helen Stafford Elementary School

453 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Helen B. Stafford Elementary School is located in the Midland area of Tacoma, Washington, and serves as a key educational hub within the Tacoma Public Schools district. The school is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that emphasizes both academic growth and social-emotional development. By focusing on fundamental skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, the school aims to prepare its diverse student body for middle school and beyond, while encouraging students to become active, responsible participants in their community.

Beyond its core curriculum, Stafford Elementary prioritizes inclusivity and student engagement through various support programs and extracurricular opportunities. The school works closely with families and the surrounding Tacoma community to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere where every student’s unique needs are addressed. With a dedicated staff and a focus on continuous improvement, Helen B. Stafford strives to cultivate a culture of kindness and high expectations, ensuring that students have the resources necessary to reach their full potential.

453

Total Students

23.8

Full-Time Teachers

19.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

74.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Helen Stafford Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	67
Hispanic	134
Black	59
Asian	79
Two or More	77
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	35

Hispanic
134 (29.6%)
Asian
79 (17.4%)
Two or More
77 (17.0%)
White
67 (14.8%)
Black
59 (13.0%)
Pacific Islander
35 (7.7%)
American Indian
2 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Tacoma School District
Phone:	(253)571-4300
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	453
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	263
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	74

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 24

Kindergarten 74

Grade 1 71

Grade 2 69

Grade 3 81

Grade 4 61

Grade 5 73