Helen Stafford Elementary School

451 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.

451

Total Students

27.9

Full-Time Teachers

16.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

74.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Helen Stafford Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	78
Hispanic	118
Black	64
Asian	101
Two or More	54
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	33

Hispanic
118 (26.2 %)
Asian
101 (22.4 %)
White
78 (17.3 %)
Black
64 (14.2 %)
Two or More
54 (12.0 %)
Pacific Islander
33 (7.3 %)
American Indian
3 (0.7 %)

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:	451
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	27.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.2
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 34

Kindergarten 75

Grade 1 76

Grade 2 67

Grade 3 68

Grade 4 65

Grade 5 66