Summary:
Zip code 98116 has five public schools serving prekindergarten through 12th grade: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. All are part of Seattle School District No. 1, which ranks 45th of 238 Washington districts. Together, the schools enroll 3,748 students, with school sizes ranging from 269 students at Alki Elementary School to 1,479 at West Seattle High School. Overall, the area has strong academic results, with every reported proficiency score above the Washington state average.
Madison Middle School is the strongest-ranked school overall, placing 25th of 514 middle schools statewide and in the 95th percentile. It performs well in English, math, and science, particularly math. Among elementary schools, Genesee Hill Elementary has the strongest all-subject academic results, leading the elementary schools in English, math, and science. It also has the lowest student-teacher ratio. Alki Elementary School has the highest current elementary ranking, while Lafayette Elementary School has shown the largest recent improvement, with substantial gains in all three tested subjects and a sharp rise in statewide ranking.
West Seattle High School ranks in the 91st percentile and stands out for its 93% graduation rate, 3.3% dropout rate, and highest English proficiency in the ZIP code. Its math performance is more moderate, and science is its clearest area for improvement because it falls below the district average, though it remains above the state average. Elementary schools generally show the most consistent performance across subjects, especially in math and science. Families should also consider differences in school size, grade levels, student-teacher ratios, and available programs, since rankings and test results do not capture every aspect of the school experience.
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