Seattle Public Schools
Students Come First
SPS believes it is essential to place the interests of students above all others in every decision we make. The core work of Seattle Public Schools is supporting student learning. We believe it is our responsibility to do whatever it takes to ensure that every child, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, language proficiency, learning style or disability, achieves to their highest level.
Foundational Beliefs for Supporting Student Learning
In Seattle Public Schools, we understand that a shared vision of practice is essential to fostering the inclusive learning communities that each of our students and adults needs to thrive. This shared vision enables educators to work in concert to build their practice with a focus on student learning. The five SPS foundational beliefs center collaborative inquiry, family engagement, academic mindset, student gifts and strengths, and anti-racist practices.
Mission
Seattle Public Schools is committed to eliminating opportunity gaps to ensure access and provide excellence in education for every student.
Vision
Every Seattle Public Schools’ student receives a high-quality, world-class education and graduates prepared for college, career, and community.
104 Schools
63 Elementary Schools
11 K-8 Schools
12 Middle Schools
18 High Schools
Total Enrollment:
49,226 students
Educators:
6,486 school-based staff
Grades Offered:
Preschool – 12th Grade
Budget:
$1.172 Billion
159 Countries of Origin
Race & Ethnicity:
Asian 12%
Black 14%
Hispanic 15%
Multi-Race 13%
Native American 1%
Pacific Island 1%
White 46%
150 Languages or Dialects Spoken at Home
Top 10 Languages:
1. Spanish
2. Somali
3. Vietnamese
4. Chinese, Cantonese
5. Amharic
6. Chinese, Mandarin
7. Oromo
8. Tigrinya
9. Japanese
10. Arabic
Reports & Data
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) District Report Card, School Report Cards
SPS Audits
SPS Progress Monitoring of Goals
Edunomics Lab at Georgetown Washington Public school Spending vs Outcomes
Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools
A forensic history, 1990–2024
Vivian van Gelder, Director of Policy & Research, Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
To understand why we can be optimistic about the future of public education, we must first recognize how our understanding of educational improvement has evolved over the past several decades. The journey of Seattle Public Schools, like that of many urban districts, reveals a progression in our collective knowledge about creating effective educational systems that serve all students well.
With better knowledge, new technologies, and deeply committed educators and families, we have the tools to create learning environments where all students thrive. The path forward won’t be simple, but with sustained focus and shared purpose, we can build an education system that meets the needs of every student, now and in the future.
Seattle Excellence
Seattle Excellence, Seattle Public Schools five year strategic plan, is guided by four priorities and is laser focused on supporting Students of Color who are furthest away from educational justice, beginning with African American boys and teens.
The strategic plan is not about changing students. The work is about changing broken systems and undoing legacies of racism in public education. By actively becoming an anti-racist educational system – and ensuring students furthest away from educational justice thrive – conditions in Seattle Public Schools will improve for all.
School Improvement Plans
The Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) is a product of collaborative inquiry around a comprehensive needs assessment led by school leaders and school staff in collaboration with SPS district staff. The CSIP provides an overview of district and school priority areas, student outcome goals, measures, strategies, activities and connected resource allocations.
CSIPs will remain accessible for review online through the SPS website and in hard copy at each building. Each school’s Building Leadership Team will conduct ongoing progress reviews, adjust practices and strategies, and update annual goals in response to CSIP implementation and impact on student outcomes by each year.
The CSIP also serves as the school-wide improvement plan for Title I schools.