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West Seattle High School

Q: Is West Seattle High School a good school?

West Seattle High School ranks 50 th of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

50^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Washington High Schools

Better than 89% of Washington high schools

Summary

West Seattle High School is a large, highly-regarded public high school serving grades 9-12 in the Seattle School District No. 1, consistently ranking among the top 15% of all high schools in Washington state.

The school demonstrates remarkable academic strength, particularly in English Language Arts where nearly 88% of students are proficient, far exceeding district and state averages. It also shows exceptional support for specific student groups, ranking in the state's top percentiles for both African American students and those in Special Education. While math and science scores are solid, they present an area for growth compared to its stellar ELA performance. Notably, West Seattle High School achieves these outcomes efficiently, spending significantly less per student than several nearby schools like The Center School and Cleveland High School STEM while maintaining a strong 93% graduation rate.

This represents a dramatic, sustained improvement over the past decade. When compared to other local options, WSHS stands out for its balanced excellence and stability. It significantly outperforms Chief Sealth International High School across core subjects and performs similarly to the charter school Summit Public School: Atlas. The school's story is one of effective transformation into a high-achieving and equitable learning environment for its students.

1,479

Students ?

22.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,281

Per pupil spending ?

18.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3000 California Av SW
Seattle, WA 98116-3302

(206) 252-8800

District: Seattle School District No. 1

Feeder schools for West Seattle High School:

Elementary:	Alki Elementary School
	Fairmount Park Elementary School
	Gatewood Elementary School
	Genesee Hill Elementary
	More...
	Lafayette Elementary School
Middle:	Madison Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.0%

Two or more races:

12.8%

Hispanic:

12.4%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare West Seattle High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 12th percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (68% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Washington high schools

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school68%

District avg63%

Washington avg48%

50^th of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 77 pts since 2015

From bottom 12% (2015) to top 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 15High Schools in the Seattle School District No. 1

45^th of 247Seattle School District No. 1 among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	85.1	50 of 438	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	69 of 437	84.2%	★★★★☆
2023	88.5	41 of 442	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	87.8	40 of 434	90.8%	★★★★★
2021	78.6	69 of 455	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	80.8	58 of 417	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	66.6	103 of 315	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	74.2	71 of 301	76.4%	★★★★☆
2016	73.5	65 of 306	78.8%	★★★★☆
2015	18.7	301 of 341	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	60.3	182 of 454	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.7	227 of 450	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	36.5	292 of 440	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.1	259 of 423	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.7	200 of 402	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.7	200 of 396	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	56.9	193 of 399	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.7	206 of 395	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.0	236 of 394	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	44.2	244 of 390	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	88.8	6 of 80	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	46.9	47 of 89	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.5	66 of 111	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.0	41 of 86	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.7	28 of 54	48.1%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	43.4	65 of 119	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.0	47 of 113	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.4	41 of 118	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.2	46 of 124	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.7	47 of 136	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.4	40 of 121	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.8	45 of 87	48.3%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	90.8	5 of 70	92.9%	★★★★★
2018	38.9	41 of 65	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	85.6	36 of 350	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	77.2	64 of 347	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	85.6	42 of 357	88.2%	★★★★☆
2022	85.9	33 of 368	91.0%	★★★★★
2021	80.8	46 of 390	88.2%	★★★★☆
2019	83.2	41 of 358	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	58.7	110 of 243	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	80.5	33 of 249	86.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.4	61 of 248	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	75.6	41 of 249	83.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.5	30 of 261	88.5%	★★★★☆
2021	50.3	129 of 278	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.7	48 of 241	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	51.7	74 of 156	52.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	69.5	75 of 355	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	50.3	170 of 356	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.0	56 of 362	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	70.4	84 of 370	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	49.2	179 of 392	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.6	72 of 344	79.1%	★★★★☆
2018	53.6	116 of 227	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	81.9	45 of 359	87.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	63 of 362	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	88.1	34 of 358	90.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.5	40 of 363	89.0%	★★★★☆
2021	75.1	75 of 395	81.0%	★★★★☆
2019	77.3	66 of 355	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.3	73 of 254	71.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	56.0	68 of 170	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.2	35 of 161	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	25 of 166	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	29 of 179	83.8%	★★★★☆
2021	65.6	54 of 195	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	60.8	56 of 163	65.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	73.4	25 of 127	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.4	15 of 110	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	94.8	8 of 110	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	91.6	5 of 130	96.2%	★★★★★
2021	63.7	39 of 212	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	54.7	51 of 139	63.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	84.7	48 of 373	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	77.3	65 of 374	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.0	37 of 379	90.2%	★★★★★
2022	86.6	31 of 390	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	79.2	65 of 413	84.3%	★★★★☆
2019	81.8	50 of 382	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	72.0	56 of 222	74.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2022)93rd percentile~ school

African American (2025)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)90th percentile~ school

Male (2025)87th percentile~ school

White (2025)87th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)87th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)80th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)60th percentile-29 vs school

Asian (2025)45th percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts88%+35 vs state

Science59%+10 vs state

Math56%+14 vs state

3.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, March 11, 2019

Vibrant school. Lots to offer for academics, theater, music, athletics. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, May 2, 2011

It appears that the teachers are handing out A's like candy to low performing students to up the overall stats so they regain all of their cut funding. Incomplete homework, late assignments, and one paragraph essays will get you an easy A in almost any class. Close Quote

Schools Near West Seattle High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)		SBAC Math (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 11th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 10th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
West Seattle High School	Public	9-12	3000 California Av SW	Seattle	98116	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-8800	1,479	65	22.5	18.4%	946 (64.0%)	68 (4.6%)	183 (12.4%)	63 (4.3%)	8 (0.5%)	5 (0.3%)	189 (12.8%)	85.1	50^th of 438 public high schools	88.6%		81.1	69^th of 437 public high schools	84.2%	19	59.0	59.0	87.9	87.9	56.2	56.2	$19,281	$748	$18,533
Southwest Youth and Family Services	Public	9-12	4555 Delridge Way SW	Seattle	98106	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	No	(206) 937-7680	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Interagency Programs	Public	6-12	2445 3rd AVE S	Seattle	98134	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-0749	211	35	6.0	68.2%	39 (18.5%)	60 (28.4%)	61 (28.9%)	11 (5.2%)	2 (0.9%)	2 (0.9%)	24 (11.4%)	12.1	403^rd of 438 public high schools	8.0%		7.4	425^th of 437 public high schools	2.7%	22	33.3	33.3	32.3	32.3			$44,768	$3,814	$40,954
Seattle Skills Center	Public, Magnet	9-12	2445 3rd Ave S	Seattle	98124	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	Yes	No	No	(206) 252-0733	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)							$19,067	$803	$18,264
Career Link	Public	9-12	6000 16th Ave SW	Seattle	98106	King County	Highline School District	No	No	No	No	(206) 631-7630	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Chief Sealth International High School	Public	9-12	2600 SW Thistle	Seattle	98126	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-8550	1,184	63	18.8	51.6%	302 (25.5%)	273 (23.1%)	299 (25.3%)	159 (13.4%)	7 (0.6%)	20 (1.7%)	113 (9.5%)	44.9	236^th of 438 public high schools	46.1%		27.2	331^st of 437 public high schools	24.3%	95	47.4	47.4	61.9	61.9	26.4	26.4	$23,948	$736	$23,211
Summit Public School: Sierra	Public, Charter	9-12	1025 S King St	Seattle	98104	King County	Summit Public School: Sierra	Yes	No	No	Yes	(206) 453-2520	214	14	15.2	38.3%	88 (41.1%)	56 (26.2%)	28 (13.1%)	8 (3.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (12.1%)	37.1	280^th of 438 public high schools	36.1%		64.2	130^th of 437 public high schools	70.3%	150	49.0	49.0	51.7	51.7	24.1	24.1	$20,964	$627	$20,337
The Center School	Public	9-12	305 Harrison St	Seattle	98109	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-9850	165	12	13.9	14.5%	96 (58.2%)	3 (1.8%)	17 (10.3%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	14 (8.5%)	79.2	70^th of 438 public high schools	84.0%		93.8	23^rd of 437 public high schools	94.7%	47	95.7	95.7	82.8	82.8	31.8	31.8	$29,206	$741	$28,465
Interagency Detention School	Public	6-12	1211 E Alder Ms 1-F	Seattle	98122	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 205-9422	47	0		27.7%	9 (19.1%)	26 (55.3%)	11 (23.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)								(n/a)							$25,019	$579	$24,441
Cleveland High School STEM	Public	9-12	5511 15 Ave S	Seattle	98108	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-7800	875	45	19.6	50.1%	120 (13.7%)	144 (16.5%)	100 (11.4%)	420 (48.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	81 (9.3%)	66	125^th of 438 public high schools	71.5%		69.2	117^th of 437 public high schools	73.2%	8	47.0	47.0	69.6	69.6	49.0	49.0	$23,287	$782	$22,505

Frequently Asked Questions about West Seattle High School

What schools feed into West Seattle High School?

West Seattle High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alki Elementary School
Elementary : Fairmount Park Elementary School
Elementary : Gatewood Elementary School
Elementary : Genesee Hill Elementary
Elementary : Lafayette Elementary School
Middle : Madison Middle School

What district is West Seattle High School in?

Seattle School District No. 1

What is the racial makeup of West Seattle High School?

Students at West Seattle High School are 64% White, 13% Two or more races, 12% Hispanic, 5% African American, 4% Asian, 1% Not Specified.

How many students attend West Seattle High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,479 students attended West Seattle High School.

Is West Seattle High School a good school?

West Seattle High School ranks 50^th of 438 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate West Seattle High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.