Franklin Pierce Schools Calendar 2026-2027

An eight-acre farm sits near the center of Franklin Pierce Schools’ educational life. Its wetlands, native restoration areas, orchard and vegetable fields produce more than 50,000 pounds of food in a typical year for cafeterias, classrooms and the community. Students learn science, nutrition, agriculture and stewardship in a place that also serves families directly. The farm gives a visible common project to a district spread across Parkland, Midland and communities east and south of Tacoma.

The neighborhood system includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two comprehensive high schools, Franklin Pierce and Washington. Students grow into larger peer groups as the elementary routes merge, while the high schools maintain separate traditions in athletics, arts and student activities. Dual-language education and multilingual support reflect the families living across the district. Native American Education connects more than classroom content, bringing cultural, academic and family support to students from many tribal nations.

Career and technical education begins in the middle grades and continues through high school, using mathematics and science in fields tied to employment. Juniors and seniors can add yearlong programs at the Pierce County Skills Center when a specialized field is unavailable locally. GATES High School provides a smaller alternative path for selected students, but the district’s broader identity rests on its neighborhood schools and shared resources. Franklin Pierce combines a diverse suburban community, two comprehensive high schools and unusually tangible districtwide learning at the farm.