How Seattle Public Schools assignment works
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) uses a neighborhood-based assignment system. Each home address falls into a specific elementary school's catchment, a middle school's catchment, and a high school's catchment. The school boundaries are not always intuitive — two homes on the same block can sometimes feed into different schools.
Before you fall in love with a home, verify the school assignments through the SPS school finder. Then visit the schools if possible.
How school quality varies in Seattle
Public school quality in Seattle varies neighborhood to neighborhood. Some elementary schools — Green Lake, Bryant, Bagley, Lawton, Schmitz Park — are consistently well-rated. Others struggle. Middle and high schools are fewer and tend to consolidate students from multiple elementary catchments.
- Top-rated SPS elementary schools generally include: Green Lake, Bryant, Bagley, Lawton, Catharine Blaine, Schmitz Park, View Ridge, Genesee Hill, Adams, Loyal Heights.
- Top-rated SPS middle schools generally include: Hamilton International, Eckstein, Whitman, McClure (IB program).
- Top-rated SPS high schools generally include: Roosevelt, Ballard, Garfield (IB program), Ingraham (IB program).
Private school options
Seattle has a strong private school market — Lakeside, University Prep, Bush, Seattle Prep, Holy Names, Forest Ridge, Eastside Prep, and others. Tuition runs $25-50K+ per year. Many families consider both public and private. Your housing budget interacts with this decision.
How schools affect home values
Top school catchments command real premiums. A home in the Bryant or Bagley elementary catchment can sell for 10-15% more than a comparable home a few blocks over in a less-rated catchment. This is part of why Wallingford, Green Lake, and View Ridge command the prices they do.