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| Plaza High School (Tacoma) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Plaza High School |
| Location | Tacoma, Washington |
| Established | 1957 |
| Type | Public high school |
| District | Tacoma Public Schools |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | approx. 900 |
| Colors | Royal blue and white |
| Mascot | Trojan |
Plaza High School (Tacoma) is a public secondary school in Tacoma, Washington, operated by Tacoma School District. The school serves students from Tacoma and surrounding neighborhoods, and its campus has been a focal point for local educational initiatives, community partnerships, and vocational programs linked to regional employers such as Port of Tacoma and institutions like Tacoma Community College. Plaza has interacted with municipal agencies including City of Tacoma, cultural organizations like Tacoma Art Museum, and advocacy groups such as United Way of Pierce County.
Plaza opened in the late 1950s amid post‑war expansion in Pierce County, coinciding with projects at Fort Lewis and growth tied to the Pacific Northwest shipbuilding industry. Early governance involved the Tacoma School Board and collaborations with vocational planners from Washington State Board of Education and labor representatives from International Longshore and Warehouse Union. During the 1960s and 1970s the school navigated desegregation policies shaped by decisions influenced by regional legal contexts including litigations similar to those appearing before the Washington Supreme Court and federal guidance from the United States Department of Education. Plaza adapted curricula during periods of policy change associated with initiatives like No Child Left Behind Act and later programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act. The campus underwent renovations funded through bond measures supported by voters and routed through the Pierce County Auditor and municipal planning via the Washington State Legislature capital budget process.
The Plaza campus sits near transit corridors served by Sound Transit and Pierce Transit, providing student access to internships with entities such as Tacoma Fire Department and MultiCare Health System. Facilities include academic wings rebuilt in partnership with architects known to work with Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, vocational workshops with equipment used by Boeing suppliers, and athletic fields meeting standards observed by Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. The campus hosts community resources like a library modeled on collaborations with the Pierce County Library System, performing arts spaces linked to programs similar to those at University of Puget Sound, and science labs configured to align with curricula from institutions such as University of Washington Tacoma.
Plaza offers college preparatory and career technical education pathways developed in coordination with postsecondary partners including Tacoma Community College, University of Washington, and apprenticeship programs promoted by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Advanced courses reflect frameworks used by the College Board for Advanced Placement and by the International Baccalaureate in nearby districts. Career and technical offerings mirror industry sectors represented by Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Amazon, and healthcare systems like MultiCare Health System. The school participates in statewide assessments overseen by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (Washington), and college counseling services align with admissions processes at institutions such as Washington State University, Seattle University, Gonzaga University, and Pacific Lutheran University.
Student organizations at Plaza include chapters affiliated with national bodies like Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, and SkillsUSA, and civic engagement programs that coordinate with groups such as League of Women Voters and local chapters of the American Red Cross. Arts clubs collaborate with regional arts presenters including Broadway Center for the Performing Arts and festivals like Tacoma Film Festival. Student journalism has reported on topics tied to municipal elections overseen by the Pierce County Elections Division and has featured student commentary on initiatives promoted by Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. Service-learning projects have partnered with nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Food Lifeline.
Plaza fields teams competing under the regulations of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in sports historically including football, basketball, track and field, soccer, and wrestling. Rivalries have involved neighboring schools within Tacoma Public Schools and districts represented at league competitions similar to those run by the South Puget Sound League and Metro League. Student-athletes have progressed to collegiate programs at institutions such as University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon, and Portland State University, and have worked with strength and conditioning professionals connected to regional clubs like Tacoma Defiance and coaching networks affiliated with National Federation of State High School Associations.
Enrollment trends at Plaza reflect demographic shifts in Pierce County and urban migration patterns influenced by regional employers including Joint Base Lewis–McChord and global companies such as Boeing. The student body includes diverse communities represented by cultural organizations like Filipino Community of Pierce County, East African Community Services, and advocacy groups aligned with the NAACP Tacoma-Pierce County Branch. Language programs accommodate speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Somali, and Polish, with services coordinated through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (Washington) and local refugee resettlement partners such as World Relief.
Alumni and faculty from Plaza have entered public service, arts, sports, and business. Graduates have gone on to serve in positions within the Washington State Legislature, City of Tacoma government, and federal postings with the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy. Other alumni have pursued careers at cultural institutions such as the Tacoma Art Museum and media organizations like The News Tribune (Tacoma), or in collegiate athletics at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound. Faculty have included educators who later joined higher education faculties at University of Washington Tacoma and administrators who worked with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (Washington).
Category:High schools in Tacoma, Washington