Best High Schools in Zip Code 99218

Zip code 99218 in Spokane, Washington, is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12: a large, high-performing traditional school and a very small alternative school, offering families distinct educational choices within the same area.

The standout school in this zip code is Mead Senior High School, a consistently top-rated school within the strong Mead School District. With nearly 1,800 students, Mead boasts a 90% graduation rate, significantly above the state average, and excels particularly in English Language Arts. In contrast, Lumen High School is a much smaller alternative public school with only about 30 students, operating under Lumen Public School. It serves a student population with high economic need and has a very low student-teacher ratio, but reports a lower graduation rate.

These schools operate with dramatically different resources and models. Lumen spends over five times more per student than Mead, which highlights its specialized, resource-intensive approach for a smaller, high-need population. Meanwhile, Mead demonstrates that a larger, traditional school can achieve excellent outcomes with more moderate per-student spending. For parents, this comparison underscores the importance of matching a school's environment and approach to their child's needs, whether it's the comprehensive programs at a large, high-achieving school like Mead or the highly personalized, alternative setting offered by Lumen.