Skip to Main Content
© Mapbox / © OpenStreetMap
Public School0
Seattle Public Schools

Garfield High School

#11 in Best Public High Schools in Washington
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Public
  • 9-12
  • Seattle, WA
  • 448 reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Diversity
    A+
  3. Teachers
    A-
  4. College Prep
    A+
  5. Clubs & Activities
    C+
  6. Health & Safety
    B-
  7. Administration
    C+
  8. Sports
    A
  9. Food
    C-
  10. Resources & Facilities
    C-
View Full Report Card
Garfield High School is a top rated, public school located in Seattle, WA. It has 1,761 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 23 to 1. According to state test scores, 86% of students are at least proficient in math and 96% in reading.
Address
400 23 Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Telephone
(206) 252-2270
Website
garfieldhs.seattleschools.org/about/about_garfield

Garfield High School Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

Academics

Percent Proficient - Reading
96%
Percent Proficient - Math
86%
Average Graduation Rate
88%
Average SAT
1290
497 responses
Average ACT
30
180 responses
AP Enrollment
48%
Niche College Admissions Calculator
Popular Colleges

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges.

Do You Work at Garfield High School? Claim Your School Today!
Claim your free account to keep your school's data up-to-date and get insights on user activity for your profile.
Living in the Area
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Cost of Living
    C-
  2. Good for Families
    A
  3. Housing
    C
Area Feel
Urban
Median Household Income
$60,080
National
$55,322
Median Rent
$1,201
National
$949
Median Home Value
$436,633
National
$184,700

Culture & Safety

Health & Safety
B-
Based on chronic student absenteeism, suspensions/expulsions, and survey responses on the school environment from students and parents.
Poll
89%
of students agree that they feel safe at their school.36 responses
Poll
78%
of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there.36 responses
Poll
What are your favorite school events or traditions?
Based on 115 responses
Report
  • Purple and White Day
    29%
  • True Dawgs Cheer
    17%
  • Homecoming
    14%
  • Y-E-L-L
    12%
  • Dramatic paws
    7%
  • Basketball games
    7%
  • Post
    7%

Students

Diversity
A+
Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
Students
1,761
Free or Reduced Lunch
34%
82%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive.45 responses
76%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy.45 responses
82%
of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic.45 responses

Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio
23:1
National
17:1
Average Teacher Salary
$74,174
Teachers in First/Second Year
15.4%
58%
of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons.62 responses
77%
of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students.62 responses
58%
of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom.62 responses

Clubs & Activities

Clubs & Activities
C+
Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
Girls Athletic Participation
Average
Boys Athletic Participation
Average
Expenses Per Student
$14,678/ year
National
$12,239
89%
of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.72 responses
42%
of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need.72 responses
82%
of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations.72 responses
Schools like Garfield High School
More

Garfield High School Reviews

448 reviews
All Categories
Garfield High School is a great school-- the top-notch academics AND athletics make Garfield a highly desired secondary school to enroll in. The music program (orchestra and jazz bands) are very well known for their prestige and excellence, and a wide array of clubs/activities exist at this school. Garfield is located in Seattle's Central District, which makes it a great central location for students from all over the city. The school offers several college planning and resource programs that are available to students who need it the most, which is a major plus. Other resources include the Teen Health Center, which also serves the community. Furthermore, Garfield has very good access to local restaurants and stores, including Ezells, Med Mix, Seattle Fish Guys, and much more. The school is right next to Medgar Evers Pool as well.
Start Your Review of Garfield High School
Rate It!
Garfield high school is an excellent school, but as with most public schools, has some exceptions. This was the first public school I had ever attended, so I was somewhat culture shocked freshman year. Garfield is debatably Seattle's most famous high school, sitting proudly in the Central District and toting alumni like Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Macklemore, and others. The school is known for its outstanding music program, its talented sports teams (the boys basketball team has won State 13 times and most of its players go on to D1 schools), and its AP program. The student body is also very diverse and big on social activism. The downsides about the school are that it isn't funded very well, has some pretty bad teachers, is academically segregated to an extent, and occasionally there are lockdowns since the neighborhood around it isn't the best. That being said, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and I am very glad I chose to attend this school.
Transferred from another school district halfway through and was welcomed wonderfully and I love the school. Sure, the administration has had problems but Seattle school district as a whole is having problems. Go dogs!