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The Center School

Public Grades 9-12

28^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 396 Washington High Schools

Better than 93% of Washington high schools

Summary

The Center School is a small public high school serving grades 9–12 in downtown Seattle, with 165 students at 305 Harrison Street. Part of Seattle School District No. 1, it offers a much smaller setting than nearby comprehensive high schools, which typically enroll 1,500–1,800 students. The school ranks 28th out of 396 Washington schools for 2025–2026, placing it in the 93rd percentile, and has ranked in the top 70 statewide in each of the most recent years.

Science is the school’s clearest academic strength: 76.92% of students were proficient in 2025–2026, compared with 65.01% districtwide and 50.95% statewide. Math was more mixed, with 51.35% proficiency—above the state’s 43.11% but below the district’s 60.24%. Historically, English Language Arts has also been strong, ranging from 82.76% to 91.67% in the three prior reported years, although the latest ELA result was suppressed and cannot be treated as a zero or otherwise evaluated. Compared with nearby Lincoln High School, Garfield High School, and West Seattle High School, The Center School is especially competitive in science but trails them in some math and graduation measures.

The 2024–2025 graduation rate was 86.0%, nearly identical to the district’s 86.1% and above the state’s 82.6%, though below Lincoln, Garfield, and West Seattle. A 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio is notably favorable compared with those larger schools, and reported per-student spending was $29,206, though small schools often have higher costs because fixed expenses are spread across fewer students. Overall, the data suggest a high-performing, close-knit school with particularly strong science and historically strong ELA, while math and year-to-year graduation changes deserve attention. Because enrollment is small, annual results may fluctuate more than at larger schools.

165

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,206

Per pupil spending ?

14.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109-4623

(206) 252-9850

District: Seattle School District No. 1

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.2%

Not Specified:

19.4%

Hispanic:

10.3%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 90th percentile in 2013 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (62% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Washington high schools

✓86% graduate in 4 years — above the Washington average (83%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg64%

Washington avg48%

28^th of 396

Washington public high schools ?

Top 7%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 13High Schools in the Seattle School District No. 1

45^th of 238Seattle 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
2026	92.5	28 of 396	92.9%	★★★★★
2025	79.2	70 of 438	84.0%	★★★★☆
2024	93.8	23 of 437	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	21 of 442	95.2%	★★★★★
2022	77.9	77 of 434	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	91.4	25 of 455	94.5%	★★★★★
2019	78.8	70 of 417	83.2%	★★★★☆
2018	79.8	51 of 315	83.8%	★★★★☆
2016	90.1	13 of 306	95.8%	★★★★★
2013	76.2	45 of 454	90.1%	★★★★★
2012	79.9	23 of 450	94.9%	★★★★★
2011	76.0	35 of 440	92.0%	★★★★★
2010	83.7	44 of 423	89.6%	★★★★☆
2009	77.5	72 of 402	82.1%	★★★★☆
2008	77.2	68 of 396	82.8%	★★★★☆
2007	87.6	22 of 399	94.5%	★★★★★
2006	87.9	23 of 395	94.2%	★★★★★
2005	92.1	17 of 394	95.7%	★★★★★
2004	87.8	28 of 390	92.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	88.4	29 of 350	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	94.3	15 of 347	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	96.0	10 of 357	97.2%	★★★★★
2022	67.9	106 of 368	71.2%	★★★★☆
2021	88.5	34 of 390	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	73.3	83 of 358	76.8%	★★★★☆
2018	82.1	31 of 243	87.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	96.9	7 of 362	98.1%	★★★★★
2021	98.6	3 of 392	99.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	83.2	53 of 362	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	63 of 358	82.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.4	86 of 363	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	90.6	25 of 395	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	82.3	46 of 355	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	64.9	86 of 254	66.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	98.4	2 of 110	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	97.3	4 of 212	98.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	88.5	29 of 319	90.9%	★★★★★
2025	78.3	61 of 373	83.6%	★★★★☆
2024	94.9	11 of 374	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	19 of 379	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	76.6	75 of 390	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	86.6	38 of 413	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	75.5	77 of 382	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	37 of 222	83.3%	★★★★☆

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 (2023)98th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)98th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)92nd percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)91st percentile~ school

Male (2024)85th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

Science77%+26 vs state

Math51%+8 vs state

2.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, February 13, 2012

Center is a refugee school. Focuse on arts was the original charter but it offers less art study opportunities than most district high schools. Case in point; all musical instruments were removed from the school in 2010 “because they were a nuisance”. Because of its arts status Center is free of district boundary lines. Center is the only alternative for students from the worst Seattle schools. For many attending Center, their designated High School is not an option. As a result ratings of the school become inflated because the alternative for so many involved is so much worse. Parents involved enough to find this alternative are also capable of backing & defending the school vigorously. For this reason many who choose this school find that it is vastly overrated.

The gross lack of parity in Seattle Schools is inexcusable & sets up the conditions for an overrated school such a Center to exist; highest $/student in the state with less than mediocre results. District leadership & vision only prevents every school from being a Roosevelt or Garfield. If Seattle Schools had parity there would be no Center. Close Quote

Schools Near The Center 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)		SBAC Math (2026)		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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
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%)	92.5	28^th of 396 public high schools	92.9%		79.2	70^th of 438 public high schools	84.0%	42	76.9	76.9			51.4	51.4	$29,206	$741	$28,465
Seattle World School	Public, Magnet	9-12	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)	15.4	15.4					$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	98134	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%)	44.1	214^th of 396 public high schools	46.0%		37.1	280^th of 438 public high schools	36.1%	66	37.5	37.5	62.5	62.5	26.5	26.5	$20,964	$627	$20,337
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%)								(n/a)					41.4	41.4	$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%)	89.6	38^th of 396 public high schools	90.4%		81.8	58^th of 438 public high schools	86.8%	20	65.1	65.1	79.8	79.8	53.2	53.2	$18,761	$738	$18,023
Lincoln High School	Public	9-12	4400 Interlake Ave N	Seattle	98103	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	No	No	No	(206) 413-2500	1,770	76	23.1	11.6%	1,010 (57.1%)	57 (3.2%)	176 (9.9%)	199 (11.2%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	283 (16.0%)	98.8	3^rd of 396 public high schools	99.2%		96.8	11^th of 438 public high schools	97.5%	8	84.0	84.0	92.5	92.5	76.9	76.9	$18,365	$764	$17,600
Bridges Transition	Public	9-12	2445 3rd Ave S MS 31-680	Seattle	98124	King County	Seattle School District No. 1	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(206) 482-0704	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Interagency Programs	Public	6-12	2445 3rd AVE S	Seattle	98124	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%)	7.6	384^th of 396 public high schools	3.0%		12.1	403^rd of 438 public high schools	8.0%	19	17.9	17.9	32.3	32.3	10.0	10.0	$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

Frequently Asked Questions about The Center School

How many students attend The Center School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 165 students attended The Center School.

Is The Center School a good school?

Yes. The Center School ranks in the top 7.1% of Washington high schools.

What district is The Center School in?

Seattle School District No. 1

What is the racial makeup of The Center School?

Students at The Center School are 58% White, 19% Not Specified, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American.

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.