2024 Best School Districts in Washington

• Bellevue, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  147 reviews

Senior: I grew up in the Bellevue school district from elementary to high school. My elementary had a bilingual option and I had a great advantage learning Spanish for 5 years. My elementary had a great playground and open field to do all kinds of activities and I especially loved playing soccer all with friends. I remember my kindergarten teacher giving us cool Star Wars figurines or laminated photos of galaxies and paintings for doing well in his all Spanish class. I continued Spanish at a high school level for two years at my middles school, but I could not chose electives for 6th grade. My high school was big and I had fun but stayed closer friends with my friends from middle school, even I didn't go to school with them. My high school has IB, AP, WANIC, and running start as options and allowed me to learn about myself. I learned that I had a hard time with IB and AP so I continued with running start and am close to finishing my AA degree before graduating high school.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 31

• Students 19,510

• Mercer Island, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  24 reviews

Middle school student: Mercer Island school district does a well job of teaching kids on a multitude of subjects, from electives to music to academics. The district offers opportunities for students of young ages to discover their passions, whether or not it be a musical instrument, a particular sport, or a school subject. For instance, someone like me found a passion for music by enrolling in the district orchestra and was able to continue pursuing that passion throughout my education. Mercer Island School District is definitely one of the top districts out there.... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,065

• Redmond, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  89 reviews

Sophomore: Lake Washington School District has very good academics, clubs, activities throughout the school, and makes a good attempt at making sure everyone feels included. The district has a lot of diversity will people for various backgrounds and I feel the district values acceptance of all students. The majority of teachers are great from my experience, however some classes and teachers aren’t great at supporting students and lets students learn individually. I believe the overall district is a great environment with some actions and fixes that need to be improved upon.... Read 89 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 58

• Students 30,730

• Bainbridge Island, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  29 reviews

Senior: As a Trans person this school makes me want to run away and never come back. The amount of money and influence has left the island a drug fueled teen wonderland. However the education you wil receive on the Island is the best you can possibly get. I know more about most things then other people my age. Along with the huge amount of community service you can do makes my heart feel better. The educators are hit or miss on Bainbridge. Some are the smartest people I've met but can not teach for the life of them. And the ability to go follow your interests is huge because Bainbridge works with multiple trade schools and colleges to keep students interested and going to school.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 10

• Students 3,638

• Issaquah, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  100 reviews

Senior: The Issaquah School District is an overall nice and proper district in regards to educational practice. Teachers push their students to excel with strict curriculum while also aiding them for their failures. I have personally witnessed many teachers within the Issaquah School District as living in the Sammamish/Issaquah area my whole life has forced me to do so. I will say, there are definitely some unpleasant teachers but for the most part, the teachers serving in this community seem to genuinely connect and care for the well being of their student body. The "best parts" for me personally have been the constant push that these teachers give you, they look deep into their students and encourage them to do even better than what the students think is possible. The "worst part" is the workload. These teachers love to push their students, but sometimes too an extreme. In my past junior year, I averaged going to bed around 12-2 am every night studying and doing school work.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 30

• Students 19,590

• Bothell, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  111 reviews

Junior: Northshore School District is a warm and welcoming location where everyone belongs. All races, ethnicities, and sexualities have a place in the heart of this community. I've been involved in Northshore School District for 9 years and counting! This district does not tolerate bullying or harassment, making it a safe environment. School spirit, clubs, and sports are taken seriously. And there is a wide variety of courses available, so that everyone can pursue their own individual path in life. The teachers put in effort and dedication to not only teach, but support students. Overall, this is an excellent school district!... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 39

• Students 22,974

• University Place, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  33 reviews

Sophomore: Honestly, though high school has its up and downs, the University Place School District has done an amazing job supporting every student. When it comes to preparation for after school, they provide students with all sorts of plans, not just college. When in school, they have a huge selection of classes at the high school to help you narrow down your interests. Most of the staff truly want you to succeed and it shows. Athletics are surprisingly good for a well-off academic school. Our aquatic teams can be relied on to win state most years, and other teams too! There are community events and just a great culture all centered around the school district. Overall it’s an amazing school district that most others just can’t top.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 8

• Students 5,613

• Pullman, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: Growing up in the Pullman School District was one of the biggest blessings of living where I lived; the schools knew what to do when educating youth, but they may have been too homework heavy. The schools in this area are phenomenal. We are rated as some of the top schools in Washington, and Washington's education is already top-rated in the country. The teachers are excellent, the classes well-structured and informative, and the environment is safe and warm. However, because this school wanted the students to achieve incredible academic excellence there was an overload of homework in many classes. The school could benefit from working with what motivates the students to learn, study, and grow. Overall, these schools are a cut above the rest because of their excellent, education, teachers, and environment.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 2,654

• Shoreline, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  58 reviews

Junior: The student culture is wonderful and diverse, and there is a large focus on equity and social justice. As a queer person of color I feel comfortable and happy in the social environment that has been established. There are a wide variety of clubs and many, many ways to get involved in the community and gain leadership experience. The courses are fairly rigorous, and while some AP classes are offered the selection is limited and AP classes can only be taken starting sophomore year. The honors courses have been watered down in the name of equity to the point of redundancy. If you want to push yourself, you have to seek opportunities beyond the classroom, because the courses aren't extremely rigorous.... Read 58 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 18

• Students 9,487

• Vashon, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  13 reviews

Junior: I LOVE going to vashon as a commuter. Day-day life is great, with a small teacher/student ratio and teachers that are obviously passionate about their jobs. I have been going to vashon for 5 years, and some of my favorite things are the homemade school lunches, small class sizes, and the rare extracurriculars that the school offers. I don’t give them a 5/5 stars because I think they could improve on more racial diversity, and also they don’t tell you that as a commuter, you cannot do the running start program. In conclusion, The school is great, especially compared to other schools. There are a few problems that could mean a lot to a few people, but otherwise, the school offers great services for their students and i recommend!... Read 13 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 1,519

• Olympia, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  74 reviews

Freshman: As someone who’s gone to the schools in this district for her entire life, the experience and stats say that Olympia School District is definitely the best district in Thurston County. Now that I’m a Freshman at Olympia High School, I’m amazed by all the great opportunities this school has to offer so far. So many great teachers who make their students feel safe and comfortable to reach out for support and guidance. There are also several seniors who attend top schools such as Standford and Ivy Leagues each year.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 20

• Students 9,508

• Maple Valley, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  90 reviews

Senior: The best thing about THS is the variety of courses available. They make a conscious effort to provide as many types of AP, college in the high school, and electives as possible. They also make a effort to provide a plethora of resources available to the students especially in the Future Ready Center where students can talk to a counselor about how to achieve their after-high-school plans, receive information on scholarships and learn about alternative study opportunities.... Read 90 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 10

• Students 8,887

• Camas, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  44 reviews

Junior: I'm a high schooler and while it can certainly be improved in many places, I like this district. All of the teachers I've had in my time here have been lovely and I can tell they're genuinely passionate about what they teach. Also, as a queer and neurodivergent person, I generally feel accepted here (for the most part, and I am well aware that just because I haven't experienced much nastiness, it absolutely doesn't mean it's not there and it doesn't invalidate the experiences of those who have). I really like the amount of STEM courses offered at CHS. I wish more money and attention was devoted to the arts, though.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 7,225

• Oakesdale, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Senior: I have been a student at Oakesdale High School since preschool, and it has overall been an amazing experience for me. Being a part of such a small school means that you have the opportunity to be actively involved in a large array of activities, and be successful. I have personally participated in three sports, as well as drama, band, knowledge bowl, NHS, ASB, and many FFA activities. Our teachers are all very encouraging of our involvement, and are flexible with lessons in order to help us make everything work. This is not the case at a lot of other schools. I will say that it is very hard at times to only have approximately ten people in each class, because your options of friends are very limited. However, in the end, Oakesdale becomes a second family for each of us, and provides opportunities for everyone, no matter their athletic ability, interests, or background.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 2

• Students 154

• West Richland, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  76 reviews

Senior: Richland School District is incredible. The academics are wonderful, with a great staff and incredibly talented students. The athletics are also exceptional, with Richland Schools often winning local championships, and even performing well at State-wide competitions. The Richland School District is talented in the arts as well. I have had the opportunity to participate in each of these areas, and have been given the ideal circumstances to thrive and excel in each. With great teachers and coaches, Richland School District is a great place to grow up! The only thing I would change is the student leadership. As with most large schools, student leadership is only available to the most "elite" and "popular", and the leadership teachers often fail to hold their students accountable to mistakes that cost the school hundreds of dollars.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 22

• Students 13,831

• Leavenworth, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: Cascade High School is a very good school! All the teachers care about there students, and are willing to put in extra work to make sure there needs are meet. I had a great experience.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 7

• Students 1,256

• Seattle, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  220 reviews

Alum: My specific high school was a magnet school for AP programs and music, but located in a lower income part of Seattle. This led to a very visible split within academics and the student body. Everyone at the school is aware of this. Programs like honors for all were implemented, and are a great first step in the direction of more equal footing for all students, but there is a long way to go before any meaningful change is created. This school has wonderful communities within it, and more school spirit than most. I enjoyed my time here, but all the positive experiences were in spite of district management and not because of it. Large cutbacks in funding and staff numbers led to severe overcrowding and under funding. There was a high rate of staff turnover after covid, and teachers were not adequately supported. This meant the learning of students suffered.... Read 220 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 109

• Students 51,443

• Snoqualmie, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  36 reviews

Alum: Most of the teachers I had were very good and very supportive. I went to class with the expectation to learn and that expectation was well met. I felt fulfilled from my classes. Overall, I liked my experience and I felt that the curriculum was accessible to me and I was able to be successful. The students created a fun and welcoming community that I enjoyed being a part of. However, there were some teachers that I had that seemed less suited to teaching. There were not many, but the disregard of the accommodations afforded my through a 504 plan and the lack of any kind of leniency after I suffered from a concussion made a few teachers stand out rather negatively in my mind.... Read 36 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 14

• Students 7,181

• Mead, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  60 reviews

Alum: It is a great place to learn! The teachers are awesome and very flexible when it comes to the individual learning needs of the students. The faculty was great and so were the students. It was a warm, encouraging environment where questions were encouraged. The only thing I would change is that students often find it difficult to break out of their friend groups when it is such a small school.... Read 60 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 17

• Students 10,141

• Saint John, WA•

• School District

• grade A minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 138

• Steilacoom, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  39 reviews

Senior: I have been in the Steilacoom School District since kindergarten as well as my father and uncles. There are 2 elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The children of Steilacoom and Dupont end up attending this school district. I feel that it is a much better environment than many of the other districts in our area. We are given opportunities to different sports, clubs, activities, and opportunities offered in our community. It is fairly safe as it is in a nice area and primarily middle class families are in this district. I would recommend any family to send their children to this school district as it is safe, offers good education, and promotes diversity throughout.... Read 39 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 10

• Students 3,177

• Palouse, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Senior: I have attend elementary, middle and high school at the Palouse school district. My experience here has been excellent. I have earned a quality education and the main reason for this is the one on one attention that received from my teachers. Our teachers at Palouse honestly care about our futures and our feelings. If you're having a bad day you can't make through the class with out a teacher asking if you're okay. Another reason I love the Palouse school district is because of the family feeling. Not only are the teachers very nice and caring but the students are as well. Coming in as a freshman into high school can be very scary but the upperclassmen were very welcoming; this is not a very common thing. If you were to walk the halls of my school you would see all kinds of students conversing with one another. Attending this school has been an excellent experience.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 3

• Students 171

• Cashmere, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: The close, tight-knit community at Cashmere is what makes it so very special. The teachers do what they can to connect with every student. While the students do what they can to be involved and connect with each other. My experience in the Cashmere School District was one I’ll never forget and I hope others in the future can say the same.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 3

• Students 1,622

• Lake Stevens, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  62 reviews

Senior: I have been a student in the Lake Stevens School District since I was in kindergarten. Over the years, I have been a member of multiple sports and clubs. I have come across countless teachers and staff members, and throughout my experiences, I have been met with nothing but kindness. I am extremely grateful for the memories Lake Stevens has given me. I have run into some adults who peeved me, but you will have that issue anywhere. For the most part, I have had no problems with my schooling in Lake Stevens. I have only positive things to say.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 15

• Students 9,551

• Colfax, WA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: The teachers were very interactive and overall good. They offered college in the high school which really helped me in college, I was a semester ahead of everyone else. Teachers encouraged your involvement in extracurricular activities, I was a three-sport athlete. There wasn't much diversity in our school and we weren't great at involving new kids because most of us were born and raised in Colfax. Most of the teachers have or have had kids go through the school system so it is very family-oriented. I love going back and seeing changes that have been made. The school is currently undergoing a massive remodel that will add a lot of new opportunities for kids.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 526