2024 Best Public High Schools in Washington

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  108 reviews

Alum: I loved my experience at stem - everyone from teachers to students are friendly and amazing, and we have a lot of resources, encouragement, and support from the school to enter competitions and pursue our passions. The school is pretty small compared to other high schools though, but that's a good thing for me because I was able to form amazing friendships and we are a tight-knit community. I would not suggest attending if you are not willing to put in the work because it is very stressful due to most classes being honors or AP, and you should be prepared to take multiple science classes in one year. Also, there are not many humanities classes, but I know amazing artists and passionate historians in the school that formed clubs related to their interests. I would highly recommend joining, but only if you are passionate about stem and are ready to take on the workload.... Read 108 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 610

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  362 reviews

Alum: Teachers and Staff are extremely supportive. The competitive culture of the school doesn't feel overwhelming, instead, it drives students towards success!... Read 362 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,792

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  95 reviews

Senior: As a rising senior, I know that my education at ICS has shaped me into the person I am. From 6th grade to the present, ICS has continued to challenge and engage me with its rigorous coursework (all honors classes). Each year builds upon what I have learned in the previous years, which has allowed me to excel in my classes. The teachers are amazing and dedicated to what they do. Although I may have missed out on some of the larger social aspects associated with a larger school, the small community at ICS is fun to be a part of, as you get to know everyone on an individual basis, including teachers, fellow students, and underclassman over the course of 6 years. There are lots of opportunities for mentorship and leadership with the clubs and activities here as well. ICS isn't the right school for everyone, but it definitely is for me and I'm glad I go here!... Read 95 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 430

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  418 reviews

Senior: The teachers are generally good. The main problem is the segregation between the AL/IB programs and the General Education programs which results in AL/IB students getting prioritized with better classes, better teachers, etc. The counseling staff is overworked and have a tough time reaching out to students. There is also very poor and inefficient admin communication. Reputation and money is clearly prioritized above students' mental health with many students being forced to learn both AP and IB content in the same class (which substantially increases the workload) so that they can take more standardized tests.... Read 418 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,569

• Student-teacher ratio 1569:1

• Highline School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  169 reviews

Senior: My favorite thing about Raisbeck Aviation High School is the diversity and the resources that my teachers provide. Their are kids from all over the area whether they live on an island or right in the school area. They are all welcome here. I see kids from from so many cultures and environments in school, but no matter the differences we all get along. And if someone is being picked on then they are free to tell a teacher and that teacher will help them work it out. At Raisbeck, the students are given so many opportunities to expand their minds and hearts. And our teachers are a great recourses to go to. Just ask for help on anything that a student might me having trouble with and they will answer any questions you may have. And if they specifically don't have that answer then they will direct you to another recourse that will. Here at my school everyone is welcome here. We have clubs and activities to join. We have a sports team. We even have our own mascot, a Friday the Phoenix. Bye!... Read 169 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 402

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  95 reviews

Senior: International School was amazing! It being a very small school compared to others in the district, a sense of community was formed between each grade. Everyone knew each other and we were able to talk to anyone! It was an amazing 7 years!... Read 95 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 591

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  213 reviews

Junior: Good school with a strong performing arts program and lots of resources for students. I'm in band and jazz band and we perform, travel, and compete often. There's a specialized college and career counselor who's very helpful to talk to. I transferred starting junior year and I found it pretty easy to make friends, largely because of my involvement in band. Also, this school is very committed to sports. Multiple teams made it to state tournaments this year. However, BHS is very clique-y. Imagine you're in a high school movie surrounded by rich kids who care immensely about popularity and football. SO many girls are bleach blondes. I found it jarring to move into this social environment. Also, BHS seems to have low standards for their teachers. Multiple teachers display rampant favoritism and some are incompetent. The social studies department will either overwork you and grade unfairly or slack off for the entire year.... Read 213 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,514

• Student-teacher ratio 1514:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  64 reviews

Freshman: Overall, North Creek is pretty great. Good choice of classes, beautiful campus (very well maintained and super sustainable). Everyone there is pretty nice. The only complaint I have… are the teachers. This obviously differs from person to person, and I’m only in my freshman year, but I really haven’t had a good experience with a lot of teachers, and I can say that I’m speaking for a lot of people. I think that they need to do a better job with hiring teachers that are suited for their jobs and a better job monitoring them. Now I know that this may be difficult, but I think that there are plenty of ways to fix this issue. We do a couple of surveys every once in a while, and I think including one for feedback for teachers would definitely be something they should do. Another thing I’d like to mention that from my experience had been really outstanding is the counselors and administration. They do an amazing job at supporting students, and have a great system. Anyways, that’s it. Go jags!... Read 64 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,698

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  462 reviews

Junior: Redmond High School has a lot of great things going on! The school offers a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities, giving students plenty of opportunities to explore their interests and passions. The teachers and staff are dedicated to helping students succeed and providing a supportive learning environment. Additionally, Redmond High School has a strong sense of community, fostering connections among students and creating a positive atmosphere. Overall, it's a place where students can grow, learn, and make lasting memories.... Read 462 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,161

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  513 reviews

Junior: I love how Skyline is an inclusive and diverse environment. It encourages individuality and cooperation. We hold many unique events and celebrations, and I love seeing everyone show their school spirit. The teachers are very supportive and we have a variety of assignments that work for every type of learning. I would love to see more clubs at the school, even though we already have a variety. I would also enjoy it if we had more classes on college readiness and future skills, such as ones dedicated to the college experience and for information on housing, banking, home economics/cooking, and other critical skills.... Read 513 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,218

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  502 reviews

Junior: There are many nice teachers and staff members who are willing to give extra help and advice when needed. There are also many students, so many opportunities to make friends and meet new people as well. Because of the number of students, the hallways do get crowded, as well as the parking lots directly before and afterschool. There are a variety of clubs and sports facilitated by the school that give students many activities and extracurriculars to choose from. The school community is welcoming overall and the school is a safe and fulfilling place for education!... Read 502 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,302

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Mercer Island School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  245 reviews

Alum: Mercer Island spirit is insane, the students, staff, parents, everyone participates in our spirit days and football games even though our team isn't the best. The academics/teachers are really good and it's not that competitive nor are the students snobby and spoiled like the Mercer Island stereotype everyone else believes in. Overall I really enjoyed my experience at MIHS.... Read 245 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,544

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  397 reviews

Alum: Issaquah High School has a variety of classes available, a relaxed school culture, and a multitude of extracurriculars. Issaquah offers many AP, honors, and elective courses. While there are state course requirements, students are given a lot of freedom in choosing their courses. I really enjoyed the relaxed school culture in my time there. The school has a relaxed phone policy and dress code and the administration often involves teachers' feedback in their decision-making. The students themselves are very friendly and academically motivated. Most teachers are approachable and kind. Overall, I hope that the school takes back the strict bathroom policy it implemented this past year. The school itself is a little dirty and overcrowded. The school is large and there are so many people to meet and clubs & sports to get involved in. Overall I really loved my time there! I highly recommend the photography, material science, and woodshop courses offered at IHS!... Read 397 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,464

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  355 reviews

Sophomore: The teachers are amazing and super skilled in their respective fields. However, there are a few rules that allow discrimination and bullying to occur. The campus is great and very easy to get around. The clubs and sports are super interesting and help you feel like a part of your community. The school’s spirit is a little low but that’s mainly because of COVID regulations and the ban of assemblies. Overall, I really enjoy going to Woodinville High School and highly recommend it!... Read 355 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,672

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  247 reviews

Senior: Sammamish is a really good school in a beautiful area. They have a huge variety of courses to select from, including glass blowing, culinary and biotechnology. They have a small music program unfortunately, but my Junior year our jazz band won first place at the Commencement Bay festival. They have really good athletics such as our track team being 2 year girl kingco champions and 1 year boys kingco champs. Our girls soccer, gymnastics and cheer have all gone incredibly far in the 2A division. The football team isn’t fabulous but there’s lots of school spirit. The SHS robotics team has gone to the world championships three years in a row! The teachers are great and very understanding, sammamish has a very welcoming community.... Read 247 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,287

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Seattle Public Schools, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  336 reviews

Alum: As someone who attended Roosevelt a few years back, Roosevelt is truly the best public high school in Seattle. The school is filled with a bunch of well driven students who will grow up to be very successful, which is shown by the amount of students who go on to attend prestigious universities throughout the country (UCLA, NYU, Cal, USC, UW, etc.,). Aside from the phenomenal academics, Roosevelt offers a great social scene, with there being lots of off campus social events on the weekends. Additionally, Roosevelt has very high student participation rate in athletics, as well as music & arts. With notable alumni such as Duff McKagan, Nikki Sixx, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and Mike McCready, what is there to not love about Roosevelt High School?... Read 336 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,575

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bainbridge Island School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  266 reviews

Senior: Most of the teachers all care about their students and there are incredible art as well as materials classes. The facilities that this school has with an industrial kitchen, two wood shops and a metal shop, full ceramic studio with 6 kilns and 8 wheels and a well stocked art room is just amazing. All of the teachers are willing to help out if special attention is needed such as extra help and things like that. The social situation is very different in an island community where people have grown up here their whole lives and all seem to know each other which is fun to see but hard to break into as a new student. Overall very good school academically and with resources.... Read 266 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,275

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Seattle Public Schools, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  513 reviews

Senior: So far, my experience at Garfield High School has been great in my four years here! At Garfield, there are plenty of clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities to keep students busy. Some of the extracurricular activities that I participated in were Garfield Swim and Dive and Theatre. Although Garfield is a great school, there are many things that Garfield can improve on. One of the things that come to mind is safety and health among other students. During the 2022-2023 school year, there have been two known fights between students where the students fighting got arrested. In my opinion, arresting students in an unnecessary action can potentially ruin the individual's life. There shouldn't be students arrested on campus because it endangers their education and their health. On top of that, that arrest will be on their personal record. Now, there are exceptions to arresting students on campus. If a student were to commit a serious felony, then action should be taken.... Read 513 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,675

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  15 reviews

Niche User: BP cares deeply about students and has an advisory program 6-12th grade that connects advisors, students and families. Courses are built on project based learning in which students have choice in how they approach learning and have several opportunities to connect their interests to what they are learning as well as connect to real world issues and topics. High school students have internships all 4 years where they pursue meaningful projects at businesses across the Puget Sound. Real world mentors guide and support students at these internships as they explore their interests, develop 21st century skills and grow in their independence, preparing for a successful launch to college and career. This school supports students in building on their strengths and finding their passions.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A

• Students 364

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  326 reviews

Senior: I made good friends, the school is nice and pretty clean most of the time, and most of the teachers are very good at what they do. In general its hard to go to school 5 days a week because it's a lot of stress but liberty makes it worth it. They have lots of sports and school functions that students can attend outside of school hours. I loved cooking club and going to football games because it brought me closer to the school and my friends!... Read 326 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,481

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Olympia School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  431 reviews

Senior: Overall I would say that Olympia High School is a great place to go to! I have met some of the best faculty there and people! Most of my teachers have been kind, understanding, and teach the material well to the students! I like that there are options for students to challenge themselves in various ways, like by taking AP classes. Not only is Olympia High School academically strong, but there are lots of extracurriculars as well! However, I feel that Olympia High School could improve in some areas. The bathrooms are quite messy oftentimes and are difficult to use. Also, many teachers are switching to a standards based grading system which is difficult to translate to the gradebook and to understand those standards based grades in traditional grading system. I feel that the traditional grading is a more accurate reflection of how a student performs and gives more specificity on their performance than a standards based grading 0-4 scale. Other than those issues, I really like my school!... Read 431 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,840

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: I transferred here in the middle of my high school career and have found a very positive experience. Very helpful staff, wonderful teachers, and a strong academic community focused on success are all things one can expect to find in this high school in the Kirkland area. The campus is clean and safe, with seldom any problems that interfere with the daily learning environment. The student body is respectful, without any pronounced problems of bullying or discrimination that can be found at other schools. All and all, this is a wonderful choice for any family considering moving to the King County district and wondering where to send their children to high school.... Read 208 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,930

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Richland School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  392 reviews

Senior: Hanford High School has helped me discover and develop a passion for learning! The staff and teachers are knowledgeable and welcoming to students and they really make an effort to set every student up for future success. Personally, being able to take classes like Sports Med, Anatomy, and Kinesiology at Hanford helped me to discover my love for studying the human body. My teachers helped introduce me to different potential careers and gave me confidence heading into my senior year. Overall, Hanford High School has had a positive impact on my education and helped to set me up for future success.... Read 392 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,888

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Mukilteo School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  513 reviews

Senior: The best part of Kamiak I have experienced is the performing arts programs. We have amazing performing arts programs that build an amazing community and give students the opportunities to express themselves. I have had good experiences with staff members, with just a few who have struck me in the wrong way. The biggest issue in Kamiak is the diversity and awareness/recognition of diversity. Diverse students are not often acknowledged or given spaces to connect. It has been a concern among multiple minority groups.... Read 513 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,119

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  492 reviews

Sophomore: I love the raging school spirit at football home games and the strength of the clubs, such as DECA! Our music program is very strong though. I love all my classes, especially the advanced ones, but if I could change one thing about Inglemoor, it would be the bathrooms. The bathrooms are not the newest, and sometimes smell like vape or weed. The drains in the bathroom sometimes overflow as well, which is not fun. In addition, the entire Inglemoor campus is currently an outdoor one, which does not make it the safest or most secure. However, the entire Inglemoor campus will soon be getting a renovation, which will change that.... Read 492 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,561

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1