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Nova High School

Public Grades 9-12

37^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 438 Washington High Schools

Better than 92% of Washington high schools

Summary

Nova High School is a small public high school serving 256 students in grades 9-12 in Seattle's Capitol Hill/First Hill area, and it has achieved a remarkable transformation from a low to a top-rated school in recent years.

The school excels in supporting specific student groups, ranking exceptionally high statewide for students in special education and those from low-income families. Academically, Nova's students outperform both district and state averages in English Language Arts and Science, often surpassing nearby schools like Garfield High School. However, the school's graduation rate is lower than the Seattle School District No. 1 average, and its math scores have shown significant variability from year to year, presenting a unique profile compared to its peers.

Nova's success is supported by its small size and higher per-student spending, which allows for more individualized attention. This model stands in stark contrast to other nearby schools, such as the severely struggling Seattle World School, and highlights how targeted resources in a small environment can lead to strong academic outcomes for a diverse student population.

256

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,628

Per pupil spending ?

33.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

301 21st Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98122-5364

(206) 252-3500

District: Seattle School District No. 1

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.0%

Not Specified:

21.1%

Hispanic:

10.5%

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Compare Nova High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 48th percentile in 2013 → 92nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (70% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Washington high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 44 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Washington average (76% vs 83%)

!Dropout rate above the Washington average (13% vs 10%)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school70%

District avg63%

Washington avg48%

37^th of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 70 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to top 8% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	89.4	37 of 438	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	84.1	56 of 437	87.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.9	104 of 442	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	81.7	61 of 434	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	83.3	56 of 455	87.7%	★★★★☆
2019	64.3	137 of 417	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.1	231 of 315	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	44.5	191 of 301	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.7	239 of 306	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	53.4	236 of 454	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.1	262 of 450	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	56.7	174 of 440	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	77.6	74 of 423	82.5%	★★★★☆
2009	72.3	104 of 402	74.1%	★★★★☆
2008	61.0	167 of 396	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.0	138 of 399	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.0	128 of 395	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.1	143 of 394	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.2	128 of 390	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	92.0	22 of 350	93.7%	★★★★★
2024	72.5	73 of 347	79.0%	★★★★☆
2023	83.4	47 of 357	86.8%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	113 of 368	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	79.0	54 of 390	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	53.7	167 of 358	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	23.9	207 of 243	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	86.9	25 of 355	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	84.4	30 of 356	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	76.8	45 of 362	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	87.6	28 of 370	92.4%	★★★★★
2021	84.6	25 of 392	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	59.1	93 of 227	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	77.8	58 of 359	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	97.7	4 of 362	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	87.9	36 of 358	89.9%	★★★★★
2022	82.8	52 of 363	85.7%	★★★★☆
2021	87.1	38 of 395	90.4%	★★★★★
2019	74.0	75 of 355	78.9%	★★★★☆
2018	42.4	166 of 254	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Non-Binary

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	87.1	1 of 3	66.7%	★★★★★
2023	81.8	1 of 2	50.0%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	99.6	2 of 127	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.8	2 of 110	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	99.0	1 of 110	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	92.7	4 of 130	96.9%	★★★★★
2021	97.3	3 of 212	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	81.9	17 of 128	86.7%	★★★★☆
2018	63.2	32 of 139	77.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	88.5	33 of 373	91.2%	★★★★★
2024	70.0	94 of 374	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	88 of 379	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	84.1	42 of 390	89.2%	★★★★☆
2021	79.1	67 of 413	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	60.3	139 of 382	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	31.4	186 of 222	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)98th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)94th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)93rd percentile~ school

White (2025)91st percentile~ school

Male (2025)84th percentile-8 vs school

Non-Binary (2024)67th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts79%+26 vs state

Science79%+30 vs state

Math52%+9 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, October 22, 2018

An excellent school for independent learners and students who face challenges. The teachers and staff are caring and extremely qualified, and they bring a student-centered approach that engages students. The scores posted here don't reflect the true value of this school, and the strength of the support students receive from their teachers. Close Quote

Schools Near Nova High School

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
Nova High School	Public	9-12	301 21st Avenue East	Seattle	98122	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-3500	256	18	14.4	33.6%	133 (52.0%)	14 (5.5%)	27 (10.5%)	5 (2.0%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	20 (7.8%)	89.4	37^th of 438 public high schools	91.6%		84.1	56^th of 437 public high schools	87.2%	19	79.3	79.3	79.4	79.4	51.6	51.6	$24,628	$806	$23,821
Garfield High School	Public	9-12	400 23 Ave	Seattle	98122	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-2270	1,507	70	21.5	41.2%	499 (33.1%)	443 (29.4%)	151 (10.0%)	177 (11.7%)	11 (0.7%)	11 (0.7%)	183 (12.1%)	81.8	58^th of 438 public high schools	86.8%		88.2	46^th of 437 public high schools	89.5%	12	74.7	74.7	71.3	71.3	46.7	46.7	$18,761	$738	$18,023
Seattle World School	Public, Magnet	6-12	1700 East Union St.	Seattle	98122	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	Yes	No	Yes	(206) 252-2200	218	16	13.7	89.4%	6 (2.8%)	36 (16.5%)	152 (69.7%)	23 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)							$27,854	$1,431	$26,423
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
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
Franklin High School	Public	9-12	3013 S Mt Baker Bv	Seattle	98144	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-6150	1,277	65	19.6	57.2%	205 (16.1%)	336 (26.3%)	308 (24.1%)	310 (24.3%)	3 (0.2%)	9 (0.7%)	97 (7.6%)	43.7	244^th of 438 public high schools	44.3%		45.8	231^st of 437 public high schools	47.1%	13	37.3	37.3	66.8	66.8	29.0	29.0	$22,081	$746	$21,335
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
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 Open Doors	Public	9-12	3528 S. Ferdinand Street	Seattle	98118	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 252-0010	132	0		50.8%	46 (34.8%)	13 (9.8%)	32 (24.2%)	13 (9.8%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	13 (9.8%)								(n/a)							$13,838	$579	$13,259

Frequently Asked Questions about Nova High School

How many students attend Nova High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 256 students attended Nova High School.

What is the racial makeup of Nova High School?

Students at Nova High School are 52% White, 21% Not Specified, 11% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 5% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Nova High School in?

Seattle School District No. 1

Is Nova High School a good school?

Yes. Nova High School ranks in the top 8.4% of Washington high schools.

Rate Nova 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.