University Place School District

3717 Grandview Dr W
University Place, WA 98466-2138
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 5%

Top Rankings

University Place School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 2,225 students in University Place School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in Washington.
Public High Schools in University Place School District have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the Washington public high school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 65% statewide average).
Public High School in University Place School District have a Graduation Rate of 95%, which is more than the Washington average of 84%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Curtis Senior High School, with 95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Washington or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Washington public high school average of 51% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
8 Schools
856 Schools
# Students
5,635 Students
388,516 Students
# Teachers
295 Teachers
18,642 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

University Place School District, which is ranked within the top 5% of all 306 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 91% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#15 out of 307 school districts
(Top 5%)
59%
41%
70%
53%
59%
49%
95%
84%
(2022-23)
21.6%
34.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.68
% American Indian
n/a
2%
% Asian
10%
8%
% Hispanic
17%
26%
% Black
10%
5%
% White
44%
49%
% Hawaiian
2%
1%
% Two or more races
17%
9%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,270 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,889. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,795 is less than the state median of $19,341. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$92 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$89 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,270
$18,889
Spending / Student
$15,795
$19,341

Best University Place School District Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Curtis Senior High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8425 40th W
Tacoma, WA 98466
(253) 566-5710
Gr: 10-12 | 1,321 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #22.
Curtis Junior High School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3725 Grandview Drive West
Tacoma, WA 98466
(253) 566-5670
Gr: 8-9 | 904 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 56%

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,635 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 56%
  • : 95% (Top 5% in WA)
  • : Top 5%
  • : 59% (Top 10%)
  • : 70% (Top 10%)
  • : 59% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

Quick Links