Joyce Hill

Tacoma Local Schools

Tacoma is home to many excellent schools that are sure to suit every educational need your family may have. The area offers superb public schools, private schools, colleges and universities. The Tacoma community is dedicated to providing a safe and encouraging environment where all students can grow and achieve their goals on a daily basis.

Public Schools

Tacoma Public Schools
The Tacoma Public Schools is the third largest district in Washington. The district serves more than 29,000 children in kindergarten through grade 12. The district has 37 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, five comprehensive high schools and six alternative learning sites.

The Tacoma Public Schools also has Bryant Montessori School for K-8, Sheridan Elementary School language immersion program and Grant Center for the Expressive Arts Elementary School. Tacoma School of the Arts is a successful small high school that was developed collaboratively with community arts organizations. The Tacoma Public Schools has an extensive special education department and programs for highly capable students.

Private Schools

Bellarmine Preparatory School (9 th – 12 th grade)

Annie Wright School (PK-12 th grade)

Life Christian School (PK-12 th grade)

Colleges/Universities

University of Washington- Tacoma

(The following information is sourced from http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/. For this and more information, please follow the link.)

MISSION: The University of Washington Tacoma educates diverse learners and transforms communities by expanding the boundaries of knowledge and discovery.

VALUES: Our fundamental purpose is to educate students for life as global citizens. UW Tacoma is a distinctive expression of the University of Washington that provides access to an exceptional education for citizens who choose to live and learn in the South Puget Sound region.

We recognize that an excellent education connects knowledge across disciplines. At UW Tacoma, excellence is founded on integrity, dedication and collaboration. We believe that learning is a vehicle that advances students toward fulfilling lives and meaningful careers.

Our community of learners is strengthened by a diversity of voices. Listening to the UW Tacoma community, we have identified four core values that guide us: Excellence, Community, Diversity and Innovation. We share these values and strive to live them.

Excellence

UW Tacoma…

• commits to excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and service;
• offers a curriculum that balances core knowledge and skills with responsiveness to student and community need;
• embraces an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge that instills problem-solving and critical thinking skills for meaningful lives;
• engages minds by connecting knowledge with experience, fostering wisdom;
• infuses global and local awareness into its thinking and actions;
• encourages student-faculty-staff interaction and a reciprocal exchange of knowledge;
• nurtures a community of learners and develops the whole person by offering opportunities to learn and grow both inside and outside the classroom;
• provides an environment where students can succeed.

Tacoma Community College

(The following information is sourced from http://www.tacomacc.edu/. For this and more information, please follow the link.)

Mission: TCC creates meaningful and relevant learning, inspires greater equity, and celebrates success in our lives and our communities.

Vision: Tacoma Community College is recognized as a spirited leader in emphasizing and documenting student learning.  We are known for our commitment to innovation and excellence, our inclusive internal and external community, and our technology integration.  We achieve this through the collective dedication and recognition of our college family.

Culture: TCC sustains itself and expands its capacity to contribute to society by identifying and appreciating the gifts, resources, talents and successes that comprise the college.