WashingtonSchoolsJames Sales Elementary

James Sales Elementary

PublicRegular
Tacoma, Washington · Franklin Pierce School District
Teachers25.0FTE
Ratio15.1:1students per teacher
Students377enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students377
Grade Span0–5
Student:Teacher15.1:1
Free/Reduced Lunch72%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Student : Teacher
16.1:1
6.6%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
24
4.0%vs prior yr
Enrollment
387
2.7%vs prior yr
Avg Experience
10
years
Counselors
1:381
6.6%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurses
NASN max 1:750
Psychologists
NASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:381
6.6%vs prior yrSSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.6:114.9:115.2:115.6:115.9:116.2:12020202120222023202414.7:115.2:116.0:115.1:116.1:1James Sales ElementaryUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

375381386392397403242425252626202020212022202320243813814013773872625252524EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment381381401377387
Teacher FTE2625252524
Pupil : Teacher ratio14.7:115.2:116.0:115.1:116.1:115.4:1

Teacher Experience & Qualifications (2024)

Average years of experience9.5 yrs
Novice teachers (< 3 yrs)0%
Hold advanced degree68%
Source: State Department of Education teacher workforce reports.

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:881:1761:2641:3531:441201720201:4081:3811:4081:381Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric20172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)11
Nurses (FTE)
Psychologists (FTE)
Social Workers (FTE)11
Counselor : Pupils1:4081:3811:250
Nurse : Pupils1:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:4081:3811:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20172020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.