2023 Best School Districts with IB Programs in the Seattle Area

• Bellevue, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  138 reviews

Junior: Bellevue School district is a great place for academia and extracurricular activities. These include music and the arts as well. There are vast opportunities for students like me to explore, grow and strengthen their interests, leadership and themselves. They also excel in providing technology to students in relation to academics. However, with the loads of activities students have to do in balancing grades and extracurriculars because very stressful. Though it pressures us to learn how to manage our time, it still brings much stress for students and it isn't easy for some of us to manage much of that time with taking care of ourselves at the same time. Regardless of the stress it can cause, it also creates a strong sense of community as many students go through stresses together. Overall, Bellevue school district is a good and wealthy district where there is a great, but not perfect, community.... Read 138 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 31

• Students 20,191

• Bothell, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  107 reviews

Junior: I transferred to NSD after living abroad for 5 years, and at first, I was worried that the level of education would not be the same as what I had in Europe. However, I love it here. The teachers are so passionate about what they do, and the students are so motivated to do well, and the counselors are great. There are many opportunities for higher level courses, and lots of ways to connect with peers. However, one thing I struggle with is the diversity, at least at my school. It is a mainly upper-middle class white student body with some students of color, and coming from abroad, it is a lack of diversity I am not used to. However, all in all, NSD is great!... Read 107 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 39

• Students 23,310

• Issaquah, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.03 out of 5  94 reviews

Senior: Overall Issaquah School District has been a great experience. They have worked hard to make sure that students are getting the education needed and doing everything they can to accommodate students as best as possible. Especially during this pandemic, they have sent emails to provide information on what is allowed and what is needed to be done while online school is occurring. The way the schedule is for online school is very stressful for students, specifically on Mondays and Tuesdays. I think they could make the schedule less confusing and stressful by changing the Monday-Tuesday schedule to the Thursday-Friday schedule.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 28

• Students 20,164

• Seattle, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.76 out of 5  209 reviews

Parent: I thought they managed public schools well. Although the school district is generally diverse, there are pockets within Seattle that differ in ethnicity and income. The school district addressed these differences with greater services in the areas of greater need. For example, the school district has stated that it is committed to providing resources needed for African American Males. The statistics have shown that this group has not fared well in public schools. The school district started the program for African American Male Achievement, a mentoring program which includes guidance from adult African American Males. The mentoring program starts in 7th grade and continues through high school graduation.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 109

• Students 53,973

• Sumner, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior in high-school who didn’t get much of a high-school experience. My freshmen year got cut short so I only went to school for 7 months till covid struck; then my sophomore year was all online and i’m currently full running start student for these past 2 years. But, the time I did have at Sumner High, was good! The people are so kind hearted, everyone helps everybody and we are all like family there. The football games were my favorite; I never went to them until last year and this year but the whole community that shows up is beautiful. It’s such amazing memories to make with your friends, seeing everyone do cheers, taking pictures and running onto the field after was great. One thing I would change would be how many kids go to this school, they are building a whole new add on to the school cause we have so many kids. I just feel it’s a little to over crowded but you do get a chance to meet so many new people this way! I would say overall my experience was good... Read 54 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 15

• Students 9,793

• Lynnwood, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: My experience with the Edmonds School District has been fairly great! I have enjoyed many of my teachers and developed supportive relationships. I also have a close group of supportive friends and feel included in class and extracurriculars. I wish there was more diversity among students and staff; however, I am content with the overall quality of education. I also feel like there should be an opportunity for students to take IB at other high schools besides just EWHS.... Read 54 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 38

• Students 20,851

• Kent, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.7 out of 5  141 reviews

Junior: Kent School District is a diverse community with students who come from all sorts of backgrounds, and around the world. My experience was good so far, help is offered a majority of the time and opportunities- Volunteer, jobs, programs, etc. are sent through email. There are many clubs to try, and the student environment is mixed from ambitious students to relaxed rebellious ones as well. Staff is kind and understanding as far as I've seen, however some teacher's classes are, at times distracted. There are quite a number of students who do misbehave and disrupt the class, and some teachings on subjects are not effective. A few classes are a bit difficult than others due to the personality and methods of teachers, who at times don't make sense or offer help. Overall there are improvements to be made, but my school journey so far was enjoyable.... Read 141 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 44

• Students 25,720

• Renton, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.68 out of 5  71 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed my last year at Hazen, this is the first time in my life that I attended public school. I told my parents that they should have sent me to public schools since kindergarten, I like public school much better that private schools, the rules are easier to follow, it’s closer to my home, I get free lunches, I also get free transportation, the school gave a computer to use at home, they also gave a hotspot! Hazen school has great people helping the kids and the parents.... Read 71 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 30

• Students 15,584

• Tacoma, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.77 out of 5  136 reviews

Niche User: I started enrolling in Tacoma School District after moving from Kent. It was strange to me at first because it's quite different to the school that I was at earlier. However, the teachers and the classmates were very helpful and friendly. They helped me a lot throughout my years at middle schools and high school. My middle school teachers at Stewart Middle School are very nice and will always be there to help. One thing I noticed about Tacoma School District is that it is pretty diverse. When I was in Kent, there was less than 10 Asians in my grade and only a few African American. Because of this, couldn't get the resource I needed when I went to school in Kent, but got those in Tacoma. On the other hand, I think because Kent school district have better funding, they have more resources offered at school and that the food was better. One thing I think Tacoma school district should add on to their website is a list of resources that student could easily access to them.... Read 136 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 67

• Students 28,688

• Lakewood, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  80 reviews

Alum: School districts in general should start teaching the most important fundamentals for life after high school, since many have to learn themselves when schools should help prepare how to live life after graduating. As well as with preparing for college, they should enforce it as well to be helping with it as early as entering middle school as I believe the earlier you prepare the easier it will be with course-planning throughout your grade school life to get your requirements out of the way and make it easier as you move forward by not having to do retakes or unnecessary makeups and rather have your so desired free periods/fun elective classes etc. throughout high school. I think by doing this can also boost the graduation rate and lower the numbers of high school dropouts by enforcing them at a young age, can foster a more scholarly mindset to focus on achieving educational success to attend college and pursue a career.... Read 80 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 32

• Students 12,556

• Port Orchard, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: South Kitsap High School has given me a lot of opportunities to join clubs and sports and be involved with the school activities. There is so many class options to take for anyone that is interested in a subject. All of the teachers I have had over the years were very helpful and look to get all students prepared for college or adulthood. I think our school could work on trying to get everyone involved with school activities and programs so that everyone feels included.... Read 42 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 18

• Students 10,133

• Federal Way, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  105 reviews

Senior: Overall FWPS is a very good school district! I am currently getting my school rebuilt. This is something that will better our school because before we dealt with overcrowding and no parking spaces in the past, with a bigger school we have more space and more classrooms with more teachers leading to overall better education. I've been in the FWPS school district since I was in second grade and never had any issues with this district. I've learned a lot and now in my senior year of high school I've truly grown and blossomed into the person I am today with the education I got from going to school everyday. I currently have a 3.6 G.P.A and am on track to graduate and get honors and awards. I could have ever been here without going to school everyday and gaining an education that inspires and motivates me to attend college and make a future for myself.... Read 105 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 46

• Students 21,765

• Burien, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  93 reviews

Senior: I went Highline Big Picture starting my sophomore year. The moment I started, on my first day of 10th grade, I felt at home. Because Big Picture has small advisory's that stay together until they graduate, it was easy to feel accepted. Teachers made sure that I got to know the students and the faculty from the very beginning. The thing that I appreciate most about the Highline school district is their ability to listen to the students. On numerous occasions, students were asked to participate in major decisions regarding school. I truly felt as though our voices were heard and that they mattered. The only thing that I would like to see change is how students are disciplined, especially when it comes to discrimination and things such as that. I think that there should be harsher punishments as opposed to a simple handshake and letter of apology. If there were real consequences for people's actions, there would be less of an issue when it came to basic respect on campus.... Read 93 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 42

• Students 18,635

• Spanaway, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.49 out of 5  134 reviews

Senior: Bethel school district provided us with a lot of technology, such as iPads from when I was in 7th grade. Although Covid was unexpected, it gave us an opportunity to continue learning easily so I would like to thank the district for all they did for us students!... Read 134 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 32

• Students 20,076