Browns Point Elementary School

1526 51st Street Northeast

School District

Tacoma
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 11, 2025

Don’t fool yourself. The school is mostly concerned about their rating and it shows when the teachers put so much pressure on the kids taking the ridiculous iReady tests! My child does ask for help in class and the teacher will either tell him to wait or get frustrated. Sure the events are fun at the school but the PTA is very clicky and 2-faced. Some of them really have overstayed their spot on the board and should allow others to try it out instead of hoarding. There are fights in my son’s class. Nothing is ever really done or enforced.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2024

Our family has been at Browns Point for 7 years and absolutely love it! The new principal is amazing and is really great with the students. We’ve lucked out and all of the teachers that our children have had have been beyond fantastic. We love going to the events that the school puts on. Overall, I feel that the school is doing a good job working with what they have (they do have to abide by district policies and budget cuts).
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2024

My oldest child started kindergarten at Brown's Point Elementary in 2013 and I have had a student at the school ever since (three kids, youngest is currently in 5th grade). We've had nearly every teacher at the school for one grade or another and I'd say that overall, the teachers are stellar. Off the top of my head, we've had Ms. Fields, Ms. Greer, Ms. Scott, Ms. Gallagher, Ms. Hasehauer, Ms. Jensen, Ms. Rosetto, Ms. Morris, Ms. Beco-Larson, Ms. Liebl, and others that I'm sure I'm forgetting. They've all done their best. When one of my kids struggled to learn to read (due to the pandemic), her teacher made sure she got the support she needed in the classroom. When one of my kids struggled with classroom behavior expectations and focus, his teacher reached out to us for support quickly so we could ensure a positive classroom experience for him. The school counselor, Ms. Byrd, also went above and beyond for my son during 3rd and 4th grade when he needed extra support. Also, I think the administration does their best (we've been there through three principals in 10+ years) and the PTA provides generous financial support for the kids' learning experiences and social-emotional experiences. To note, I never participated in the PTA as a single, working parent with three kids spread over 6 years. I also think that as the years have progressed, things have gotten better at the school. If I compare my oldest child's 3rd grade experience to my youngest child's 3rd grade experience, or my middle child's 5th grade experience to my youngest child's 5th grade experience, things have gotten better for the kids. My oldest daughter, from 3rd through 5th grade, often stressed about homework and schoolwork. My younger kids do not feel that stress because while I'm sure the kids still achieve the same level of academic success, the teachers ensure that this occurs without copious amounts of nightly homework and lost recesses over missing assignments (I've been thrilled since that went away!) The kids are less stressed and the teachers are more supportive now than 10 years ago. Overall, if your kids are going to school to learn and make friends, BPE is a great school.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2024

We have had two children at this school 2016-Present. Excluding the COVID year it has been a great experience. The community is tight for those that choose to get involved. On one of our children has a mild learning disability and the staff was proactive about identifying it and getting him on a plan. Overall we love BPE.
Submitted by parent on June 28, 2024

I was disappointed in my students first year at this school. Her teacher seemed like she was confused when I ask questions about school work and would often put my child in the hall and I only found out through my child! We been trying to get assistance for my child through the district. I am not too familiar with the PTA but felt forced to vote for people I didn’t know by being asked several times to vote for a lady I wasn’t comfortable voting for. She comes across as rude and unapproachable . The principal seems very nice and genuinely cares about the students. One time I saw her sit in the floor with the students.l during an assembly.Lunch times could be longer. We are looking into homeschool
Submitted by parent on June 28, 2024

I’m disappointed in the PTA more than the school itself. I asked for a copy of the budget and never received one. I was concerned where all of the money went to that was raised. Another parent told me that a large portion of the money was used to “keep the teachers happy”. Because they always want more and complain that they never have enough. The money needs to be spent on the students wellbeing more programs not to feed people! The PTA was very aggressive. I was harassed several times to vote for a person I barely know and in fact she makes me very uncomfortable when I do see her in the school. Bullying and lack of consequences have increased in the school. There were several days that my student didn’t feel safe to go to school.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2024

I was disappointed this school year due to my observation of how a few teachers spoke to their students and the use of the PTA money. I attended the PTA meeting only to learn that a majority of the funding that was raised was going to be used next year so that the president can switch the fundraising time. No one had a say so. There was a very large amount of money raised and I often heard that the PTA spent money to feed people and the staff constantly rather than use it toward the students enrichment as it really should have been. You can not talk to the PTA president because she has her mind made up. I was brushed off when I asked about moving the fundraiser. I agree that some money can be set aside for teachers but a majority should go back into the students immediately. The teachers at this school are very expectant of the money and often complain about everything. A friend donated so much to this school and was never recognized yet a gossipy mean parent that makes me feel uncomfortable was only because there’s a group that’s obvious that will only vote for each other regardless so it’s really biased. Teachers here only groom the students that have parents that volunteer because they are so dependent on volunteers at this school yet the school doesn’t recognize its volunteers only the PTA does. Teachers are ungrateful. Safety is also an issue as there has been a significant uptick of fighting with no accountability.
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2024

This school does not support any student that isn’t typically developing white kid. If you child need any additional services like speech, Ot, Pt , or special education go to another school. Don’t get me wrong there are some great teachers but the norm is yelling and unsupportive classroom environment. The PTA raises a ton of money but could use it so much better by bringing in anti bulling programming.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2024

Terrible support from school staff when your child needs help. Several of the teachers here are beyond expiration date and need to retire. The way that they talk to the students is beyond belief. Do they get monitored or reviewed?? This school brags about being so great but it’s all fluff. The bully pledge is a joke!! Kids get picked on and even beat up often. There aren’t resources for kids that are on level so they’re sent to the halls. This school has a reputation for being clicky and it is. If you don’t conform to everyone’s beliefs you will be judged. The PTA raises money but where does it go? What has my child benefited from? What a joke!!! Safety has been a concern because the school does not communicate when there have been safety concerns at the school in the past. I do not recommend this school if you want to feel welcomed or you want to see your child thrive.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2023

In my experience, parents with a student of color really have to advocate. There's a misconception that all of the minority students are "choice in" students and you can tell. I felt like I had to advocate for my student's advanced status to be taken seriously. Only at the end of the year was my student given some work that challenged them. I get that they couldn't take my word for my kid's academic prowess but they didn't even investigate. Half way through the year all of sudden they seemed shocked by what I'd been staying all along. The ancillary teachers and staff were awesome but I didn't love my student's general education experience. I also felt the principal was aloof and unapproachable. My student had a teacher who was a veteran teacher and just didn't seem to care or seemed distracted. I felt like many of my concerns were met with a smile but fell on deaf ears. Name wise this school has clout but I didn't feel like the experience was superior.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2022

I would not recommend this school to anyone save for wealthy white families with non disabled learners. The principal is a teacher's union shill and she doesn't care about the kids at all; rather, the preferences and conveniences are prioritized above learning outcomes and making children feel welcome. I would not choose to move to this district again given the horrendous leadership and entitled teachers infecting this school.
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2021

This school has spiraled into being subpar at best. The principal only cares for the families who are wealthy and have influence in her world. The teachers are mean to kids and then try to hide it under a fake pretense of being interested in the children’s progress. My child has learning differences and needed support and during the pandemic they refused to make any kind of accommodations and got rid of the things we did have before that were helping. My child showed not only lack of progress but regression and this school did everything they could to avoid educating. They just let students who need help struggle with no support. The leadership is geared to promote the kids who are already successful so they can keep their ratings and their scores but if you have a child who needs anything look out because they will not help and then try to run off your family. This school is not neurodiverse and also not a culturally or economically diverse population at all, just mostly wealthy Caucasian people. And that’s exactly how they want to keep it.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2021

The PTA is very cliquish and gossipy. The leadership needs a turnover. They want your money but do not make you feel like a part of the school. If your child isn’t one of theirs or a friend of, you can count on your child not having a good experience here. There is favoritism and exclusion even with the teachers.Communication to parents and safety of the students could use improvement.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2019

I was very disappointed with how our family was treated at this school. I felt like it was best to remove my child from this school because our experience shows that this school discriminates against people of color starting with the front office. Additionally, the staff at this school made many assumptions about my family that were stereotypical such as being low-income and being on assistance; for example, i was asked on many occasions to sign up for fee lunch even after informing them on multiple occasions that my family would not qualify. There were also many times that other people of white descent would be helped before me even after patiently waiting 5+ minutes. It was very clear that our family was not welcomed at this school. I have always been very involved with my child's class and school overall, however and unfortunately, it was very clear to me that my family was not welcome at Browns Point Elementary so we we had to make a switch. After switching to a new school, it became even more apparent at the discrimination my family had been facing. It is unacceptable and the school should be investigated and reprimanded.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2018

sadly, I feel disappointed. There is a lot of ugliness that did not exist a few years back, and it seems like it is due to the leadership in the school.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2018

Hugely disappointed by the changes over the last year with the new principal and how they have treated our family and a child with disabilities.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2018

This school has so much parent involvement. It’s a close net community that cares about their child’s education. New school should be done being built by 2019. I moved to this area due to the school.
Submitted by other on December 14, 2016

All three of our kids went K-5 at Browns Point (spanning 2001-2010). All in all, we & they loved Browns Point. Teachers & staff really care about the students. We have very fond memories of that place.
Submitted by other on August 20, 2016

Very involved community, great staff and teachers. I moved to this area primarily because of this school! Been 6 years with 4 more to go and not one bad experience!
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2014

Browns Point is the best elementary school in the Tacoma Public School District in my opinion. It is an older school that is rich in traditions, but open to new trends. Some of the traditions include the 1st grade play, 3rd grade field trip to Northwest Trek, 4th grade Heritage project, and 5th grade Camp. The teachers are excellent, most have years of experience and advanced certifications, and they care about their students and their craft. The halls are always decorated with student artwork and writings. Classrooms are roomy because half of the school used to be a middle school, so there is a full size gym, music room, and a large library. The new principal is energetic and friendly, and he likes bringing technology into elementary education. He updated the website this year! My children started in kindergarten and have had a well rounded education in reading, math, writing as well as PE, library, music, art, and several field trips. The school also has the Highly Capable classes (JAWS and SAIL). The PTA sponsors WatchDOGs, the Science Fair, Art Docents, and parents volunteer in the classroom, all of which make this a stand out school.