Best Washington Public Schools (2026)

Washington is the #12 largest school system in the United States, serving 1,101,913 students across the 2,562 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are , serving 120,562 students). 90% of all K-12 students in Washington attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.

The percentage of students achieving in Washington is 41%. The percentage of students achieving is 53%.

The top-ranked public schools in Washington are Cascadia Elementary School, Challenge Elementary School, and Stephen Decatur Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test scores.

There are 51 Blue Ribbon Schools, 63 magnet schools, 17 charter schools, and 85 special education schools.

Minority enrollment is 52%, with the majority being Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 18:1.

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This State (WA)

# Schools

2,562 Schools

# Students

1,101,913 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Public School
Year	Washington
2017	512
2016	504
2015	502
2014	511
2013	492
2012	498
2011	501
2010	500
2009	493
2008	491
2007	503
2006	497
2005	498
2004	509
2003	499
2002	504
2001	502
2000	505
1999	505
1998	507
1997	514
1996	513
1995	513
1994	511
1993	500
1992	496
1991	478
1990	479
1989	461
1988	464
1987	457

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Gender %

# Teachers

62,271 Teachers

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Teachers Per Public School
Year	Washington
2017	51
2016	49
2015	49
2013	48
2012	49
2011	51
2010	50
2009	52
2008	51
2007	50
2006	51
2005	51
2004	50
2003	46
2002	49
2001	46
2000	48
1999	46
1998	46
1997	46
1996	43
1995	45
1994	45
1993	44
1992	40
1991	41
1990	42
1989	40

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Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (1990-2023)
Year	Washington
2023	16:1
2022	16:1
2021	16:1
2020	17:1
2019	17:1
2018	19:1
2017	18:1
2016	19:1
2015	18:1
2013	19:1
2012	20:1
2011	19:1
2010	19:1
2009	19:1
2008	19:1
2007	19:1
2006	19:1
2005	19:1
2004	19:1
2003	19:1
2002	19:1
2001	20:1
2000	20:1
1999	21:1
1998	20:1
1997	20:1
1996	21:1
1995	20:1
1994	20:1
1993	21:1
1992	21:1
1991	21:1
1990	21:1

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Washington
Pre-K	24,937
Kind	76,558
1	77,985
2	81,905
3	78,340
4	81,171
5	81,833
6	80,670
7	81,478
8	82,231
9	86,768
10	88,735
11	87,555
12	91,747

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="state-rank">State Acdeamy

State Average (WA)

41%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Washington
2023	41%
2022	40%
2019	50%
2018	51%
2017	51%
2016	51%
2015	49%
2014	65%
2013	64%
2012	63%
2011	60%

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53%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Washington
2023	53%
2022	53%
2019	61%
2018	61%
2017	61%
2016	62%
2015	56%
2014	74%
2013	73%
2012	72%
2011	70%

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49%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Washington
2023	49%
2022	49%

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84%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Washington
2023	84%
2022	84%
2019	84%
2018	88%
2017	82%
2016	81%
2015	81%
2014	80%
2013	78%
2012	78%
2011	77%

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Eligible for

49%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	Washington
2023	41%
2022	36%
2021	35%
2020	35%
2019	35%
2018	37%
2017	37%
2016	38%
2015	39%
2014	39%
2013	38%
2012	37%
2011	33%
2010	33%
2009	29%
2008	28%
2007	28%
2006	29%
2005	27%
2004	27%
2003	26%

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Eligible for (22-23)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	Washington
2023	8%
2022	7%
2021	7%
2020	8%
2019	8%
2018	7%
2017	7%
2016	7%
2015	7%
2014	7%
2013	7%
2012	7%
2011	7%
2010	8%
2009	9%
2008	9%
2007	9%
2006	8%
2005	9%
2004	9%
2003	9%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.69

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	Washington
2023	0.68
2022	0.68
2021	0.67
2020	0.65
2019	0.65
2018	0.64
2017	0.64
2016	0.63
2015	0.62
2014	0.61
2013	0.61
2012	0.60
2011	0.58
2010	0.56
2009	0.55
2008	0.54
2007	0.51
2006	0.49
2005	0.49
2004	0.48
2003	0.47
2002	0.45
2001	0.44
2000	0.42
1999	0.40
1998	0.40
1997	0.39
1996	0.39
1995	0.36
1994	0.35
1993	0.34
1992	0.33
1991	0.32

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# American Indian Students

14,075 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of Public School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	Washington
2023	1%
2022	1%
2021	1%
2020	1%
2019	1%
2018	1%
2017	1%
2016	2%
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	2%
2011	2%
2010	4%
2009	4%
2008	4%
2007	4%
2006	3%
2005	3%
2004	3%
2003	3%
2002	3%
2001	4%
2000	3%
1999	3%
1998	3%
1997	3%
1996	3%
1995	3%
1994	3%
1993	3%
1992	3%
1991	2%

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# Asian Students

97,774 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	9%
2022	9%
2021	8%
2020	8%
2019	8%
2018	8%
2017	8%
2016	8%
2015	8%
2014	7%
2013	8%
2012	7%
2011	7%
2010	10%
2009	10%
2008	9%
2007	8%
2006	8%
2005	8%
2004	8%
2003	8%
2002	8%
2001	7%
2000	7%
1999	7%
1998	7%
1997	7%
1996	7%
1995	6%
1994	6%
1993	6%
1992	6%
1991	6%

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# Hispanic Students

284,883 Students

% Hispanic Students

26%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	26%
2022	25%
2021	25%
2020	24%
2019	24%
2018	23%
2017	23%
2016	22%
2015	22%
2014	21%
2013	20%
2012	20%
2011	18%
2010	16%
2009	16%
2008	15%
2007	14%
2006	14%
2005	13%
2004	12%
2003	12%
2002	11%
2001	10%
2000	10%
1999	9%
1998	9%
1997	8%
1996	8%
1995	7%
1994	7%
1993	6%
1992	6%
1991	6%

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# Black Students

52,276 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	5%
2022	5%
2021	5%
2020	5%
2019	5%
2018	4%
2017	4%
2016	4%
2015	4%
2014	5%
2013	5%
2012	5%
2011	5%
2010	6%
2009	5%
2008	6%
2007	6%
2006	6%
2005	6%
2004	6%
2003	6%
2002	5%
2001	5%
2000	5%
1999	5%
1998	5%
1997	5%
1996	4%
1995	5%
1994	4%
1993	4%
1992	4%
1991	4%

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# White Students

528,881 Students

% White Students

48%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	49%
2022	50%
2021	51%
2020	53%
2019	53%
2018	55%
2017	55%
2016	56%
2015	57%
2014	58%
2013	59%
2012	60%
2011	63%
2010	64%
2009	65%
2008	66%
2007	68%
2006	69%
2005	70%
2004	71%
2003	71%
2002	73%
2001	74%
2000	75%
1999	76%
1998	76%
1997	77%
1996	78%
1995	79%
1994	80%
1993	81%
1992	81%
1991	82%

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# Hawaiian Students

15,943 Students

% Hawaiian Students

View Data

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	1%
2022	1%
2021	1%
2020	1%
2019	1%
2018	1%
2017	1%
2016	1%
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%

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# Two or more races Students

97,429 Students

% of Two or more races Students

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	Washington
2023	9%
2022	9%
2021	9%
2020	8%
2019	8%
2018	8%
2017	8%
2016	7%
2015	7%
2014	7%
2013	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="state-revenue-and-spending">State Revenue and Spending

This State (WA)

Total Revenue

$20,715 MM

View Data

Median Total Revenues Trends
Year	Washington
2023	$18 MM
2022	$18 MM
2021	$18 MM
2020	$18 MM
2019	$16 MM
2018	$13 MM
2017	$13 MM
2016	$14 MM
2015	$12 MM
2014	$12 MM
2012	$12 MM
2011	$12 MM
2010	$12 MM
2009	$12 MM
2008	$11 MM
2007	$10 MM
2006	$10 MM
2005	$9 MM
2004	$9 MM
2003	$9 MM
2002	$9 MM
2001	$9 MM
2000	$8 MM
1999	$8 MM
1998	$7 MM
1997	$7 MM
1996	$7 MM
1995	$6 MM

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Spending

$21,212 MM

View Data

Median Total Expenditures Trends
Year	Washington
2023	$15 MM
2022	$17 MM
2021	$15 MM
2020	$17 MM
2019	$16 MM
2018	$14 MM
2017	$13 MM
2016	$13 MM
2015	$10 MM
2014	$11 MM
2012	$12 MM
2011	$11 MM
2010	$10 MM
2009	$11 MM
2008	$11 MM
2007	$10 MM
2006	$9 MM
2005	$9 MM
2004	$9 MM
2003	$8 MM
2002	$9 MM
2001	$9 MM
2000	$8 MM
1999	$8 MM
1998	$7 MM
1997	$7 MM
1996	$7 MM
1995	$6 MM

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Revenue / Student

$18,799

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Washington
2023	$20,861
2022	$20,595
2021	$22,261
2020	$20,595
2019	$19,502
2018	$17,034
2017	$16,266
2016	$16,359
2015	$11,994
2014	$12,940
2012	$12,445
2011	$12,577
2010	$11,994
2009	$12,260
2008	$11,273
2007	$10,323
2006	$9,385
2005	$8,889
2004	$9,060
2003	$8,698
2002	$7,902
2001	$8,010
2000	$7,416
1999	$7,257
1998	$6,806
1997	$6,273
1995	$5,897
1992	$5,711

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Spending / Student

$19,250

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Washington
2023	$17,883
2022	$19,584
2021	$19,082
2020	$19,584
2019	$18,800
2018	$17,238
2017	$16,506
2016	$15,517
2015	$10,499
2014	$12,404
2012	$11,905
2011	$11,693
2010	$10,499
2009	$11,231
2008	$11,125
2007	$9,967
2006	$8,893
2005	$8,879
2004	$8,617
2003	$8,253
2002	$7,974
2001	$8,055
2000	$7,278
1999	$7,029
1998	$6,800
1997	$6,422
1995	$6,024
1992	$6,438

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<�鶹��ý class="list-title center">Best Washington Public Schools by County (2026)

County

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Adams County

5,408

84%

Asotin County

3,181

21%

Benton County

38,657

48%

Chelan County

12,645

55%

Clallam County

10,570

39%

Clark County

153

74,881

40%

Columbia County

1,049

34%

Cowlitz County

17,236

29%

Douglas County

7,353

59%

Ferry County

940

39%

Franklin County

21,212

78%

Garfield County

349

14%

Grant County

19,179

66%

Grays Harbor County

11,035

40%

Island County

8,820

38%

Jefferson County

2,481

23%

King County

537

279,738

63%

Kitsap County

34,437

41%

Kittitas County

4,860

27%

Klickitat County

5,000

35%

Lewis County

12,687

31%

Lincoln County

2,269

16%

Mason County

8,391

46%

Okanogan County

12,470

55%

Pacific County

2,868

35%

Pend Oreille County

1,787

21%

Pierce County

282

143,335

55%

San Juan County

1,795

31%

Skagit County

18,449

48%

Skamania County

883

22%

Snohomish County

226

117,444

50%

Spokane County

188

76,419

27%

Stevens County

6,374

28%

Thurston County

43,784

44%

Wahkiakum County

412

21%

Walla Walla County

8,459

50%

Whatcom County

27,692

39%

Whitman County

4,625

27%

Yakima County

118

52,739

79%

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Washington?

The top-ranked public schools in Washington include Cascadia Elementary School, Challenge Elementary School, and Stephen Decatur Elementary School.

How many public schools are located in Washington?

2,562 public schools are located in Washington.

What percentage of students in Washington go to public school?

90% of all K-12 students in Washington attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).

What is the racial composition of students in Washington?

Minority enrollment in Washington is 52%, with the majority being Hispanic.

Which public schools in Washington are often viewed compared to one another?

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