Tacoma School of the Arts

658 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

The **Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA)**, located in downtown Tacoma, is a unique public high school that integrates a rigorous academic curriculum with an intensive focus on the visual and performing arts. As part of the Tacoma Public Schools district, SOTA operates on a specialized model that embeds students within the city’s vibrant cultural infrastructure. By partnering with local museums, theaters, and professional artists, the school provides students with a real-world environment that bridges the gap between traditional classroom learning and professional artistic practice.

The school is renowned for its diverse arts disciplines, including dance, visual arts, theater, music, creative writing, and film. Because it functions as a "school of choice," SOTA attracts students from across the region who are looking for a community that values creative expression and collaborative project-based learning. With its urban campus setting, SOTA encourages students to take ownership of their education, fostering a culture of independence and innovation that prepares them for both higher education and careers in the creative industries.

658

Total Students

33.6

Full-Time Teachers

19.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

45.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Tacoma School of the Arts
Demographic	Student Count
White	292
Hispanic	134
Black	64
Asian	22
Two or More	113
American Indian	10
Pacific Islander	7

White
292 (45.5%)
Hispanic
134 (20.9%)
Two or More
113 (17.6%)
Black
64 (10.0%)
Asian
22 (3.4%)
American Indian
10 (1.6%)
Pacific Islander
7 (1.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Tacoma School District
Phone:	(253)571-7900
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	658
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	33.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	218
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	83

* 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

Grade 9 184

Grade 10 188

Grade 11 161

Grade 12 125