Tacoma Public Schools offers a variety of Summer School programs for students grade K through 12. Registration starts now and summer classes will begin in July.
Summer School programs are as follows:
Title I Summer School program for eligible fourth graders
Elementary Science Camp for current, eligible, fourth-grade students will operate from July 30 through Aug. 9, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enrollment forms and fliers are currently being distributed to eligible students and are due to the Title I office by June 1.
Eligibility is based on needing additional support in math and reading using the following requirements:
- Not meeting standard in math on third grade MSP.
- Being intensive or strategic on the January DIBELS.
- And/or not meeting standard on the March district math assessment.
Science Camp will take place at eight elementary schools throughout the district: Arlington, Birney, DeLong, Mann, Northeast Tacoma, Sheridan, Stanley and Skyline. Transportation will be offered from the student’s home school to the science camp site. Students will receive breakfast and lunch.
Students will explore the concepts of flight and rocketry while boosting math and reading skills. This active, highly engaging multimedia curriculum will help build confidence in math while preparing students to be successful in fifth grade.
For more information, or to see if your student is eligible, contact the Title I office at 253-571-1111.
Summer Transition programs: from ES to MS and MS to HSThe Title I/LAP department sponsors two transition programs for students transitioning from fifth grade elementary to sixth grade middle school and students transitioning from eighth grade to ninth grade high school, beginning July 30 through Aug. 9, Monday through Thursday.
Times: Middle schools: 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Locations: All nine middle schools
High schools: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Locations: All five comprehensive high schools
Transportation: Students will receive round-trip transportation from their home and to the school they would attend in the upcoming school year.
Food services: Students will receive breakfast and lunch at their school.
Students with low MSP scores in writing, math and reading are invited. The goal is to give students a head start on middle and high school life. Academics are geared toward reviewing and teaching concepts that students will be encountering in the first month of school. Students will learn about school life through social building activities and discussion. Each group of students will also have an introduction to career exploration.
Staff members and administrators will be available to meet students and explain building expectations. High school students can earn a .5 elective credit upon completion of the course.
For more information about the program contact the Title I/LAP office at 253-571-1111.
Indian Education Summer School programIndian Education offers a Summer School program for Title VII Indian Education students in grades K through 5. Summer school will start July 2 and run through Aug. 1 (with the exception of July 4), Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.–noon.
Parents are responsible for providing transportation for their student to Blix Elementary School, 1302 E. 38th St. Students will receive breakfast and lunch.
Academics are geared towards Math Expressions with Native American culturally themed activities, arts, crafts and events. Space is limited to 25 students. Applications will be sent to all eligible Native American students and their families. Contact the Indian Education department at 253-571-1846 for more information.
High School Credit-retrieval Summer School programRegistration for high school credit-retrieval summer school starts now and ends June 28. The credit-retrieval summer school program offers students in grades nine through 12 the opportunity to make up credits from classes they failed during the school year.
Credit-retrieval summer school is an online program, but students are required to check-in with their advisor twice a week at Stewart Middle School, 5010 Pacific Ave. This allows the advisor to monitor the student’s progress and offer additional support. If a student is not making adequate progress, the student will be required to attend summer school each day until progress is adequate.
This program is tuition-based with students paying a fee for each course taken. Some scholarships and financial assistance is available to students based on several factors, including free or reduced lunch status.
Students are required to attend orientation June 27 at Stewart Middle School. Orientation times vary according to the student’s last name. Please check the district’s Web site under “For Students” and click Summer School Enrollment.
More information about the High School Credit-retrieval Summer School program can be found on the District’s Web site at
www.tacomaschools.org.
English Language Learner (ELL) Summer School programELL summer school provides an opportunity for students to continue enhancing their English proficiency and progress in literacy and mathematics skills. Students spend the day learning English through mathematics and literacy instruction using listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Enrichment activities, including cooking, arts, music and field trips are all a part of the program.
Classes for elementary and middle schools will take place from July 2 –31(with the exception of July 4), 9 a.m.–noon. This program will be held at 11 different elementary locations throughout the district for elementary students: Birney, Blix, Boze, Larchmont, Lister, Point Defiance, Reed, Sheridan, Skyline, Stafford and Whitman. Middle school classes will be at First Creek and Gray middle schools.
Classes for high school students will take place from July 2 –Aug. 9 (with the exception of July 4), 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The high school program is at Lincoln High School, 701 S. 37th St.
Transition classes for incoming sixth- and ninth-graders will take place Aug. 13 through Aug. 23, 9 a.m.–noon at First Creek Middle School, 1801 E. 56th St., and Foss High School, 2112 S. Tyler St.
Kindergarten Jumpstart classes will be offered at Blix Elementary School, 1302 E. 38th St., Aug. 13–23.
An ELL Summer School Celebration is tentatively scheduled for Monday, July 30. Students and parents are invited. For more information about the ELL Summer School program, contact the ELL department at 253-571-1415.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer School programThe CTE department sponsors two summer school programs for middle and high students.
Lincoln Tree Farm Environmental Science Day Camp
Ten Advanced Environmental Sciences students and one teacher from Lincoln High School will train with Healthy Forests – Healthy Waters curriculum, and then facilitate a four-day day camp with 45 seventh-grade students from Gray Middle School at the 320-acre Lincoln Tree Farm. Day camp partners include Gray Middle School Science Department, Green River Community College Natural Resources Department and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The camp runs Aug. 20–23, and tuition is free.
Pierce County Skills Center – Tacoma Satellite Campuses
On May 24, the School Board is expected to approve an agreement to operate satellite Skills Center campuses at Lincoln High School, Mount Tahoma High School, and Wilson High School. Estimated participation is 300 high school students. Course offerings will include ProStart Culinary Arts, Welding, Metal Fabrication, Automotive Technology, Construction Trades, Engineering and Design, 3D Animation, Video Game Design, Professional Photography, Entrepreneurship, Digital Communications, Fashion Merchandising, Business English, Natural Resources Management, Applied Algebra, Applied Geometry, Financial Algebra. The program runs July 9 – 26 (Monday – Thursday), and tuition is $50.
For more information about either program, contact the CTE department at 253-571-1126.
Extended School Year (ESY) Special Education Summer School programProgram-based ESY will operate from July 10–Aug. 2, Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, at Reed Elementary School, 1802 S. 36th St. The ESY program is only for special education students identified through the ESY referral process.
A team of school staff members review student data to determine the need for the Extended School Year for special education students Pre-K through 12. Not all special education students will need to attend summer ESY. ESY will serve approximately 50 students during the summer.
For questions or more information contact the Special Education department at 253-571-1040.
Free summer meals, snacks for kids available at some Tacoma schoolsTacoma Public Schools will sponsor the Simplified Summer Food Program for Children. Beginning July 2, the district will provide meals at no charge to children 18 years of age and younger.
This means free breakfast and sack lunches will be available this summer on a first-come, first-served basis to children under 18. Meals will be provided at various times and sites, such as schools, parks and community centers.
To find the location and time of summer meals sites nearest you, visit the district’s Web site at
www.tacomaschools.org and look under the “For Parents” section, choose the School Meals link and then the Summer Meals Program link on the right-hand side, or call Paul Conger in the Nutrition Services office at 253-571-3370. Meals site locations can also be searched by zip code at
www.parenthelp123.org or call the Family Food Hotline at 1-888-4-FOOD-WA (1-888-436-6392).
Registration for most summer school programs start now and summer classes begin soon. Visit the district’s Web site at tacomaschools.org to enroll or for more information.
All meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382 (TTY). The USDA and the Tacoma School District are an equal opportunity provider and employer.