Tacoma Public Schools

Tacoma schools will open Sept. 2 for nearly 30,000 students in the Tacoma Public Schools (TPS).
Families new to Tacoma can learn which school their child should attend by contacting the district’s Enrollment Services Office at 253.571.1000.

School hours
The school day will be a standard six and one-half hours at all grade levels. 

School hours are:

High school: 7:35 a.m.–2:05 p.m.               
Tacoma Science and Math Institute (SAMI): 8:45 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA): 8:15 a.m.–4 p.m.

Middle school: 8:15 a.m.–2:45 p.m.                                                              

Elementary school: 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.                    

Immunization requirements
Washington state law requires all students attending public schools to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, varicella and rubella before registering for school. Children may not attend school if parents do not provide proof of required immunizations by the first day of school. For more information about immunization requirements, call the district’s Health Services Office at 253.571.1506 or the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 253.798.2987.

Meal prices
Breakfast and lunch are available the first day of school. The Tacoma Public Schools offers free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by household income and size. Applications are available in each school office and are mailed out to currently enrolled students over the summer.  

                                                   Breakfast         Lunch

Elementary                  $1.50               $2.50
                Middle School             $1.50               $2.75
                High School                 $1.50               $2.75
                Reduced Price             FREE              FREE
                (Grades K-3)
                 Reduced Price             FREE              $ .40
                 (Grades 4-12)
                 Milk (a la carte)             $ .50                $ .50

Pay online for school meals
Beginning Sept. 2, parents will be able to pay for student’s meals using a secure, online system. Parents will be able to check account balances 24-hours a day, pre-pay for meals, check recent meal purchases and receive e-mail notifications when the account falls below a specified balance. For more information on how to access Lunch Money Now, please contact Food Services at 253.571.3370.

Bus routes
School bus routes are posted on the district’s Web site at http://www0.tacoma.k12.wa.us/distinfo/transportation. Parents can visit the Web site to find their child’s bus route or contact the Transportation Department at 253.571.1853 for assistance.

Supply lists
You can find the list of school supplies your child will need before the start of school on the district’s Web site at www.tacomaschools.org/Schools/Pages/SchoolSupplyLists.aspx. 

Free supplies at back-to-school events
TPS students in need will be able to start school this year with new school supplies, thanks to back-to-school events sponsored by the district, World Vision and several local organizations. Visit the district’s Web site at www.tacomaschools.org for more information or call the Public Information Office at 253.571.1015.

Student Uniforms
Student uniform information is available online at www.tacomaschools.org/Schools/Pages/SchoolsRequiringUniforms.aspx.

2009–10 calendar dates
The Tacoma Public Schools’ 2009–10 calendar can be viewed on the district’s Web site at www.tacomaschools.org/calendar. Early release times are: 10:50 a.m. for high school; 11:30 a.m. for middle school; and 12:15 p.m. for elementary school.

Additional information can be found on the district’s Web site at www.tacomaschools.org or by calling the Public Information Office at 253.571.1015.