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Puyallup School District

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Puyallup School District is a school district that supports the city of Puyallup, Washington, United States, and its surrounding areas. It was the third school district formed in the state of Washington.[2] It is the 8th largest school district in Washington. The district has 22 elementary schools, seven junior high schools, three senior high schools and an alternative school, which together serve over 22,534 students. The district employs more than 1,560 certificated, 1,450 classified staff, and 570 substitute personnel.[3]

Puyallup School District
Location
Puyallup
, Pierce County, Washington
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoA Tradition of Excellence
GradesKindergarten through 12th grade
SuperintendentDr. John Polm
Asst. superintendent(s)Dr. Vince Pecchia (Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Instructional Leadership)

Corine Pennington (Assistant Superintendent for Business and Support Services)

Amie Brandmire (Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Employee Relations)

Mario Casello (Assistant Superintendent for Operations)
School boardPuyallup School Board (elected)
NCES District ID5306960[1]
Students and staff
Students22,534
Faculty1,560 certificated staff, 1,450 classified staff, 570 substitute personnel
Other information
Websitewww.puyallupsd.org

The current superintendent of the Puyallup School District is Dr. John Polm,[4] who became the superintendent in July 2020 after the retirement of his predecessor, Dr. Tim Yeomans.[5]

History

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The first school in the district was Fort Maloney. It was originally used by soldiers as a storehouse, but later became known as the "Blockhouse" School, where one of its occupants from the John Carson family, Emma Carson, began teaching in 1861.[6]

Soon, as more settlers came west, more small, makeshift schools were built for the children who fared poorly in winter months. After teaching and learning in these makeshift schools, it came to the people's attention that others were less inclined to settle in Puyallup because of the lack of proper schooling facilities. They built Central School in response to a vote in 1885. Because of the new school, in addition to other benefits the Puyallup area had to offer, more settlers began to come to Puyallup.[6]

The school district has closed down two elementary schools so far, Hilltop and Riverside. Hilltop Elementary was acquired during the consolidation of Edgemont SD with Puyallup in 1967. It was closed due to decreasing enrollment numbers and unsustainability.[7] The remaining Hilltop students were transferred to Mountain View and Northwood. Riverside Elementary was acquired during the consolidation of Riverside SD with Puyallup in 1962. It was closed due to its position on a floodplain, decreasing enrollment numbers, and unsustainability.[8] The remaining Riverside students were transferred to Waller Road and Karshner. Both schools were closed together right before the 2007-2008 school year. Riverside was later leased to the Puget Sound Educational Service District for its ReLife program; of which the lease was considered successful interim. The Puyallup school board later declared the property to be a "surplus" and authorized the district to seek a buyer. The former school was sold to the Washington Premier Football Club in 2018.[8]

In 2015, the district was sued for alleged negligence in a sexual abuse case by a student at Ridgecrest Elementary during the 2013 school year. The district settled the suit, paying $3.75 million to the plaintiffs.[9]

In 2018, the beginning of school was delayed[10] due to all teachers in the district striking for several days in response to neighboring districts receiving much higher raises than those in Puyallup.[10][11] In preparation for the strike, the regular school board meeting prior to the start of school was packed with teachers looking for answers and good news from district leadership.[11] After days of delayed school and teachers on the picket lines, the strike came to an end and school resumed when the Puyallup Education Association passed an average 11% raise, making the pay range for teachers $52,000-100,000 annually.[12]

In 2019, several victims of abuse by a former Kalles Junior High teacher and coach stepped forward about what they experienced as students between 1991 and 2004. The abuser, Tim Paulsen, had a great relationship with school administrators and colleagues, making him unassuming to them as someone who could be a child predator. He had inappropriate relations with his students and athletes. The lawsuit resulted in a $7.5 million settlement to be paid by the district. Paulsen could not be criminally charged for the incidents because of the statute of limitations.[13]

Geography

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The school district includes the majority of Puyallup as well as most of Edgewood, North Puyallup, South Hill, and Waller. It also includes portions of Alderton, Fife, Graham, Summit, Summit View, and Sumner.[14]

Demographics

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The following is based on the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years:[15]

By diversity:[15]

By race/ethnicity:[15]

By gender:[15]

  • 48% female
  • 52% male

Schools

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The Puyallup School District in addition to its four high schools, seven junior high schools, and 22 elementary schools has a unified Puyallup Digital Learning (PDL) school which facilitates the Puyallup Online Academy (POA) and Puyallup Parent Partnership (P4) programs.

High schools

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Puyallup has four high schools:[2][6]

Name Type Region Established 2021-22 Enrollment Mascot WIAA Classification
Puyallup Comprehensive III 1910 1,711[16] Vikings 4A
E.B. Walker Alternative III 1975 83[17] Wolves N/A
Governor John R. Rogers Comprehensive II 1968 1,724[18] Rams 4A
Emerald Ridge Comprehensive I 2000 1,434[19] Jaguars 4A

High schools in Puyallup cover grades 10-12.

Junior high schools

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Puyallup has seven junior high schools:[2][6]

Name Region Established 2021-22 Enrollment[20] Mascot Notes
Charles H. Aylen III 1962 692 Falcons Formerly "West Junior High School" in reference to its western location in the original bounds of the City of Puyallup. Renamed to Charles H. Aylen JH in 1970 after Ballou JH opened. Rebuilt in 2004.
Frank H. Ballou II 1970 875 Bruins Opened adjacent to Firgrove Elementary. Classroom addition completed in 2021.
Edgemont III 1938 506 Eagles Acquired when Edgemont School District consolidated with Puyallup School District in 1967.[7]
Dr. Vitt P. Ferrucci I 1982 814 Cougars PAGE host school for Region I starting 2019-2020. Opened adjacent to Pierce College Puyallup. Currently being expanded in a $25.7 million project.[21]
Glacier View I 2008 823 Avalanche Opened adjacent to Emerald Ridge HS.
Eileen B. Kalles III 1956 817 Tyees Formerly "East Junior High School" in reference to its eastern location in the original bounds of the City of Puyallup. Renamed to Eileen B. Kalles JH in 1970 after Ballou JH opened. Rebuilt in 2004.

Originally the only Puyallup Accelerated and Gifted Education (PAGE) host school in the district, serving all regions, until 2019-2020 when it became host to only Region III.

Doris M. Stahl II 1993 897 Storm PAGE host school for Region II starting 2019-2020. Classroom addition completed in 2021.

Junior high schools in Puyallup serve grades 7-9.

Elementary schools

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Puyallup has 22 elementary schools:[2][6]

Name Region Established 2021-22 Enrollment[20] Mascot Notes
Frank B. Brouillet II 1990 552 Bobcats
Emma L. Carson II 2007 686 Coyotes
Dessie F. Evans II 2019 899 Owls Newest school in the district. Named after longtime Puyallup schoolteacher Dessie Evans. Built as relief school for Firgrove and Zeiger elementary schools after the area experienced tremendous growth, with both of these schools holding close to 800 students each.
G.W. Edgerton I 2007 680 Wolves
Firgrove II 1930 580 Hawks Acquired when Firgrove School consolidated with Puyallup School District in the 1950s.[22] The original brick building of the 1930s school was a part of the expanded campus before it was torn down in 2021 alongside the predecessor buildings. The replacement was completed in 2019.
Fruitland III 1965 558 Rams
Warren D. Hunt I 1990 709 Highlanders Classroom addition completed in 2017.
Paul H. Karshner III 1953 375 Tigers Shares namesake with the Karshner Museum for Arts & Culture.
Maplewood III 1891 367 Mustangs
Ezra M. Meeker III 1890 355 Eagles Named after famed pioneer Ezra Meeker who founded the City of Puyallup.
Mountain View III 1966 291 Mustangs Acquired when Edgemont School District consolidated with Puyallup School District in 1967.[7]
Northwood III 1974 589 Knights Acquired when Edgemont School District consolidated with Puyallup School District in 1967.[7] Building replaced in 2019.
Florence L. Pope I 1981 625 Thunderbirds Classroom addition and remodel completed in 2020.
Ridgecrest I 1981 445 Raiders
Shaw Road I 1992 622 Trailblazers Classroom addition completed in 2019.
F.R. Spinning III 1891 287 Vikings
J.P. Stewart III 1923 309 Stars
Sunrise I 1973 651 Superstars Building replaced in 2019.
Waller Road III 1913 311 Roadrunners
Wildwood Park I 1966 379 Wildcats
Woodland II 1884 554 Eagles Oldest continuing school in the Puyallup School District.
Edward Zeiger II 1996 502 Explorers

Elementary schools in Puyallup serve grades K-6.

References

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  1. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Puyallup School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  2. ^ a b c d "Schools". puyallupsd.ss11.sharpschool.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "About Our District". puyallupsd.ss11.sharpschool.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "Superintendent's Office". puyallupsd.ss11.sharpschool.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Dr. John Polm is Puyallup's current superintendent". puyallupsd.ss11.sharpschool.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "History". puyallupsd.ss11.sharpschool.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "School board agrees to close Hilltop Elementary School (7/13/09)". Kalles Junior High, Puyallup School District. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "District finalizes the sale of Riverside Elementary". Emerald Ridge High School, Puyallup School District. March 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Ingalls, Chris (May 4, 2017). "$3.75 million settlement of school abuse claim". KING 5. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "No school Friday for Puyallup School District". king5.com. September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Puyallup teachers pack school board meeting demanding raises". king5.com. August 20, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Teacher Strikes End In Tukwila And Puyallup, Seattle Educators Approve Contract". KNKX Public Radio. September 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Puyallup district pays $7.75 million to settle suit claiming ex-teacher abused 7 boys". The Seattle Times. April 27, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  14. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division (December 23, 2009). 2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Pierce County, WA (PDF) (Map). 1:80,000. U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d "Students at Puyallup School District".
  16. ^ "Puyallup High School, Puyallup School District". Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "E B Walker High School, Puyallup School District". Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "Gov John Rogers High School, Puyallup School District". Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "Emerald Ridge High School, Puyallup School District". Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Puyallup School District". Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  21. ^ Peterson, Josephine (July 24, 2020). "Planned Puyallup Junior High expansion will reduce portables, add parent drop-off lane". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Vest, Carl. "The Firgrove School History & Preservation". South Hill Historical Society. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
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