school board debated between three possible educational models, all of which would have an effect on the future construction of schools. The models included the 8-4 system, the 6-6 system, and the 6-3-3 system. The 8-4 system, which was the typical model for schools prior to World War I, had grades one through eight in elementary schools with grades nine through 12 in high schools. The proposed 6-6 system advocated for grades one through six in elementary school, with grades seven through 12 in high school. The 6-3-3 system, which was eventually adopted, advocated for grades one through six in elementary school, grades seven through nine in middle school, and grades 10 through 12 in high school. Promoting the transition to this new elementary, intermediate, high school model, Tacoma voters authorized a $2.4 million plan in 1923, which jump-started construction of six new intermediate schools and additions to several existing elementary schools. Jason Lee was the first intermediate school to be constructed, soon followed by James P. Stewart and Morton M. McCarver middle schools. Franklin B. Gault, Allan C. Mason, and Robert Gray middle schools were the last constructed, and all opened on the same day the following year. The onset of World War II resulted in another significant population spike within Tacoma and its schools, as both the Port of Tacoma and Fort Lewis boomed with similar economic prowess as seen previously in World War I. From 1950 to 1956, public school enrollment shot from 22,157 to 29,778, illustrating a 26% increase. The overcrowding of aging elementary schools and need for construction in suburban areas prompted the school board to draft a new building campaign, which emphasized quick, cheap, and flexible school construction. Boundary The district includes almost all of Tacoma, Browns Point, Dash Point, Ruston, most of Fircrest, plus portions of Lakewood, Midland, and University Place. List of schools Elementary schools Arlington Elementary School Birney Elementary School Blix Elementary School Boze Elementary School Browns Point Elementary School Bryan Montessori (PK-8) Crescent Heights Elementary School DeLong Elementary School Downing Elementary School Edison Elementary School Fawcett Elementary School Fern Hill Elementary School Franklin Elementary School Geiger Montessori School Grant Center for the Expressive Arts Jefferson Elementary School Larchmont Elementary School Lister Elementary School Lowell Elementary School Mary Lyon Elementary School Manitou Park Elementary School Mann Elementary School McCarver Elementary School Northeast Tacoma Elementary School Point Defiance Elementary School Jennie Reed