Helen B. Stafford Elementary School

Tacoma, WA 98444

Phone: (253) 571-4300
District: Tacoma School District

4

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 445 students

Helen B. Stafford Elementary School, a public school located in Tacoma, WA, serves grades PK-5 in the Tacoma School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Helen B. Stafford Elementary School is a public school located in Tacoma, WA. 445 students attend Helen B. Stafford Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 2/10 The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessment data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and using 2025 Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Student Growth 6/10 The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Worrisome patterns of chronic student absenteeism have been identified.

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

Posted: January 7, 2026

The staff, teachers, and principal at this school are fantastic. They have an awesome curriculum for social-emotional development and care about their students deeply. Kids can earn their "self-manager" badge by practicing their ROAR (Respect others, Offer kindness, Always be safe, Responsible Lions!). My kiddo attended K-1st grade here and loved his teachers. It's easy to communicate with whomever you need (teacher, nurse, principal, etc). The diversity of the school is fantastic. The P.E. class is so fun for the kids. Mr. Wood (PE teacher) is awesome (but again, all the teachers are!). The only concern we had for our kid was whether he was being challenged enough. He came home often saying the work was too easy (it wasn't always true) and we heard he was "fidgety" in class. Our gut told us he was bored and needing just a bit more academically. That said, I do generally recommend the school. They work hard to tailor to each student as they're able. For example, my kiddo was placed in a reading group with other kids around his higher reading level. They also support the students who are underperforming very well. They have a lot of lower-income students, which grants them access to more resources than other schools and they use those resources well. Depending on your needs, this could be a great choice for your kiddo!

Posted: March 1, 2017

Both of my kids have gone to Stafford for a few years! We have had amazing experiences, I love the staff

Posted: March 1, 2015

Stafford is an amazing school they regularly go above and beyond the call of duty.They create an environment that creates self esteem and self worth and confidence in a child. My child has blossomed here loves going everyday and is excited to go and when she comes home charged and ready to back. This is the best school I have had the pleasure to work with. Would highly recommend this school to any parent. My child is special needs they make her feel normal and she fits in AMAZING! !!!!!!

Posted: November 22, 2014

This school fully convinced me to leave the public school system entirely and to go into the private sector. My son was one of 30 student, 15 of which were ESL and 2 were obviously special needs. As for the other 13, 3 of them were bullies who were completely left unchecked because of the enormous task the teacher had in dealing with the struggling 17. My son was miserable. Not to mention the office staff was so disrespectful EVERY time I was in the office. I cannot recommend this school.

Posted: June 27, 2014

I've been a teacher at Stafford for the last five years. I have worked all over Tacoma and I can say without a doubt that it is the best school I have ever worked at. A few of the reasons we have such high success is because every teacher works together. Unfortunately that doesn't happen in a lot of schools. Teachers feel they have to stick to their own grade levels. Not at Stafford. As a Kinder teacher I feel comfortable talking with 5th grade teachers and vice versa. We also have an amazing principal who doesn't micro manage us, she trusts us and she lets us teach. Every teacher goes out of their way to make each and every day the best day of our students lives. Stafford is a unique building, with amazing kids, amazing parents, and an amazing community. I feel very lucky to be a part of this amazing school.

Posted: October 31, 2013

Absolutely LOVE this school. The principal, Ms. Evans, is wonderful and the teachers and staff are truly great. Very forward thinking and innovative when it comes to dealing with issues that come up with students who are struggling academically or just having a hard day. They reward good behavior and have excellent and supportive ways of dealing with the bad behavior. We have a 1st and 3rd grader in this school and they love it here. Lots of learning too, of course!

Posted: February 28, 2010

Posted: May 4, 2009

Posted: August 19, 2008

Posted: March 17, 2008

Posted: October 25, 2007

Posted: October 11, 2007

Reviews provided by GreatSchools™

# Name Type City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Hawaiian Village Apartment Complex Lakewood WA 4.1 mi
2 Stadium District Neighborhood/Subdivision Tacoma WA 6.3 mi
3 westridge apartments Apartment Complex Tacoma WA 6.4 mi
4 North End Neighborhood/Subdivision Tacoma WA 6.5 mi
5 Gem Heights Neighborhood/Subdivision Puyallup WA 8.5 mi
6 Silver Creek Neighborhood/Subdivision Puyallup WA 9.2 mi
7 Clocktower Neighborhood/Subdivision DuPont WA 10.4 mi
8 Lost Creek Neighborhood/Subdivision Graham WA 11.1 mi
9 Tahoma Meadows Neighborhood/Subdivision Yelm WA 17.7 mi
10 Avonlea Neighborhood/Subdivision Lacey WA 21 mi
11 Woodsmuir Neighborhood/Subdivision Olympia WA 21.6 mi
12 The Carriages at Fairwood Downs Apartment Complex Renton WA 23.7 mi
13 McCormick Woods Neighborhood/Subdivision Port Orchard WA 25.1 mi
14 The Ridge at McCormick Woods Neighborhood/Subdivision Port Orchard WA 25.5 mi
15 Manette Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 28.2 mi
16 Kitsap Lake Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 29.7 mi
17 Fairway Lane Apartment Complex Bremerton WA 31.3 mi
18 Blueberry Meadows Neighborhood/Subdivision Bremerton WA 31.6 mi
# Name City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Stonegate Olympia WA 20.9 mi
2 Black Diamond Black Diamond WA 23.2 mi
3 Maple Valley Maple Valley WA 23.4 mi
4 Port Orchard Port Orchard WA 26.6 mi
5 Downtown Seattle Seattle WA 30.3 mi
6 Bainbridge Island Bainbridge Island WA 31.3 mi
7 East Bremerton Bremerton WA 32.6 mi
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