Foster Senior High School

Foster Senior High School is a public high school serving about 910 students in grades 9-12 within the Tukwila School District, operating in a high-need community where a significant majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

When looking at the big picture, Foster presents a unique story of strengths and challenges. Academically, its state test scores are generally low, ranking in the 14th percentile, but it shines in a crucial area: getting students to graduation day. With an 89.4% graduation rate, it significantly outperforms the state average and all nearby high schools like Tyee High School and Highline High School. Interestingly, Foster also outperforms its own district in English proficiency, which is uncommon for schools in the area. However, the school's effectiveness varies widely for different student groups, with performance for some subgroups showing significant year-to-year changes.

Compared to other local schools, Foster achieves its higher graduation success even with larger class sizes and lower per-student spending than alternatives such as Innovation Heights Academy. This creates a notable paradox where students are persisting and graduating at high rates despite typically low scores on standardized tests. While the school's overall ranking has declined over the past decade, it has shown recent signs of stabilization, suggesting it may be a relative bright spot within the struggling Tukwila School District.