King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties have 38 school districts and 375,000+ students combined. We’re giving you the 411 on state rankings, student-teacher ratio, graduation rates, and more for the major districts in and around Seattle. And don’t worry, there won’t be any homework.
Before we dive in, here are four fast facts about schools districts in the Seattle area:
- Seattle Public Schools is the state’s largest district with 53,973 students
- Mercer Island is rated as the best district in Washington, per Niche’s rankings.
- Niche also listed the Kent district as Washington’s most diverse .
- 13 out of 15 districts listed have a graduation rate above the state’s average .
Bainbridge Island School District
- Number of schools: 7
- Number of students: 3,604
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 2 district with best teachers in Washington
- 93% graduation rate
Bellevue School District
- Number of schools: 30
- Number of students: 19,510
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 2 best school district in Washington
- 93% graduation rate
Edmonds School District teachers average 14.8 years of experience.
Photo via Edmonds School District
Edmonds School District
- Number of schools: 35
- Number of students: 20,933
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No.19 most diverse school district in Washington
- 79% graduation rate
Federal Way School District
- Number of schools: 46
- Number of students: 21,765
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 2 most diverse school district in Washington
- 84% graduation rate
Highline School District
- Number of schools: 35
- Number of students: 18,635
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 13 most diverse school district in Washington
- 76% graduation rate
At Timberline Middle School in Redmond, 39 different languages are spoken.
Photo via Lake Washington District
Issaquah School District
- Number of schools: 27
- Number of students: 20,164
- Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
- No. 6 best school district in Washington
- 95% graduation rate
Kent School District
- Number of schools: 44
- Number of students: 24,983
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- No. 1 most diverse school district in Washington
- 80% graduation rate
Lake Washington School District
- Number of schools: 57
- Number of students: 30,964
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 3 best school district in Washington
- 94% graduation rate
Lindbergh High School in Renton celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.
Photo via Renton School District
Mercer Island School District
- Number of schools: 6
- Number of students: 4,192
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 1 best school district in Washington
- 95% graduation rate
Northshore School District
- Number of schools: 36
- Number of students: 23,310
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 3 district with best teachers in Washington
- 94% graduation rate
Renton School District
- Number of schools: 27
- Number of students: 15,584
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 3 most diverse school district in Washington
- 77% graduation rate
Seattle Public Schools
- Number of schools: 104
- Number of students: 50,056
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- No. 14 best school district in Washington
- 84% graduation rate
Vashion High School is one of only four schools in the island’s district.
Photo via Vashion School District
Shoreline School District
- Number of schools: 16
- Number of students: 9.522
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 9 best school district in Washington
- 91% graduation rate
Tukwila School District
- Number of schools: 5
- Number of students: 2,712
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- No. 6 most diverse school in Washington
- 84% graduation rate
Vashon Island School District
- Number of schools: 4
- Number of students: 1.515
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- No. 15 best school district in Washington
- 92% graduation rate