Hilltop Heritage Middle School

447 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Jason Lee Middle School (often referred to as Jason Lee Middle School of the Arts) is located in the historic North End neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington. Serving students in grades 6–8, the school is situated in a charming, traditional building that has long served as a centerpiece for the surrounding community. As part of the Tacoma Public Schools district, it is known for its focus on providing a structured, supportive environment that aims to prepare students for the academic rigors of high school and beyond.

In recent years, the school has placed a notable emphasis on integrating arts and elective programming into its core curriculum to foster creativity and student engagement. Beyond its academic offerings, Jason Lee is characterized by its diverse student body and a strong commitment to fostering a sense of belonging through various extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports. The school benefits from its location in a residential area, maintaining a neighborhood-focused atmosphere while striving to meet the evolving educational needs of Tacoma’s youth.

447

Total Students

22.2

Full-Time Teachers

20.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

62.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Hilltop Heritage Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	172
Hispanic	92
Black	62
Asian	12
Two or More	91
American Indian	5
Pacific Islander	13

White
172 (38.5%)
Hispanic
92 (20.6%)
Two or More
91 (20.4%)
Black
62 (13.9%)
Pacific Islander
13 (2.9%)
Asian
12 (2.7%)
American Indian
5 (1.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle 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)571-7700
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	447
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	22.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	244
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	35

* 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 6 154

Grade 7 140

Grade 8 153