King County

Washington · Public K-12

On the public-school side, King County (Washington) totals 544 K-12 campuses and roughly 278,492 students. Median household income is around $124,746. The level mix is 309 elementary, 80 middle, and 114 high schools.

7-year change in King County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25

Total enrollment

278,470

-8,706 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18

School count

508

+10 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18

% White

36%

was 44%

% Hispanic

20%

was 18%

% Black

was 9%

% Asian

22%

was 18%

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

Residents

2,287,171

all ages · ACS 5-yr

Schools

544

31 districts

Enrollment

278,492

students · NCES CCD

Median income

$124,746

Above Washington avg

Free/reduced lunch

37.9%

Below Washington avg

Elementary

309

126,113 students

Middle

57,323 students

High

114

90,733 students

Combined / other

4,323 students

LARGEST DISTRICT

Seattle School District No. 1

50,773 students · 31 districts in King County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of King County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents

White

55%

Hispanic

11%

Black

Asian

21%

Two or more

12%

Native American

Pacific Islander

School enrollment

White

36%

Hispanic

20%

Black

Asian

22%

Two or more

10%

Native American

Pacific Islander

Bachelor's+

56.7%

adults 25+

Poverty rate

5.2%

ACS 5-year

Unemployment

4.8%

civilian labor

Median age

19.5% under 18

Test scores in King County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 409 schools ranked. Washington state average: 58.4%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)

Midway Elementary· 14.3%
Glacier Middle School· 14.7%
Mill Creek Middle School· 14.7%
River Ridge Elementary· 15.2%
Meadow Ridge Elementary School· 15.3%

See all 409 schools in King County ranked by score →

All schools (544)

Largest A-Z Top rated

Name	City	Level	Grades	Enrollment	Rating
Tahoma Senior High School	Maple Valley	High	09-12	2,919	·
Eastlake High School	Sammamish	High	09-12	2,481	·
Issaquah High School	Issaquah	High	09-12	2,419	·
Redmond High School	Redmond	High	09-12	2,304	·
Skyline High School	Sammamish	High	09-12	2,244	·
Kentridge High School	Kent	High	09-12	2,186	·
Mount Si High School	Snoqualmie	High	09-12	2,152	·
Lake Washington High School	Kirkland	High	09-12	2,081	·
Kentwood High School	Covington	High	09-12	1,995	·
Auburn Senior High School	Auburn	High	09-12	1,918	·
Auburn Riverside High School	Auburn	High	09-12	1,852	·
Newport Senior High School	Bellevue	High	09-12	1,850	·
Mount Rainier High School	Des Moines	High	09-12	1,846	·
Thomas Jefferson High School	Auburn	High	09-12	1,810	·
Hazen Senior High School	Renton	High	09-12	1,796	·
Juanita High School	Kirkland	High	09-12	1,778	·
Lincoln High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,770	·
Bothell High School	Bothell	High	09-12	1,740	·
Ballard High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,697	·
Bellevue High School	Bellevue	High	09-12	1,683	·
Federal Way High School	Federal Way	High	09-12	1,665	·
Woodinville HS	Woodinville	High	09-12	1,662	·
Kent-Meridian High School	Kent	High	09-12	1,639	·
Interlake Senior High School	Bellevue	High	09-12	1,611	·
Shorecrest High School	Shoreline	High	09-12	1,565	·
Kentlake High School	Kent	High	09-12	1,561	·
Auburn Mountainview High School	Auburn	High	09-12	1,560	·
Shorewood High School	Shoreline	High	09-12	1,544	·
Roosevelt High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,542	·
Garfield High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,507	·
Liberty Sr High School	Renton	High	09-12	1,495	·
West Seattle High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,479	·
Inglemoor HS	Kenmore	High	09-12	1,441	·
Mercer Island High School	Mercer Island	High	09-12	1,439	·
Highline High School	Burien	High	09-12	1,423	·
Todd Beamer High School	Federal Way	High	09-12	1,412	·
Ingraham High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,391	·
Sammamish Senior High	Bellevue	High	09-12	1,363	·
Decatur High School	Federal Way	High	09-12	1,352	·
Enumclaw Sr High School	Enumclaw	High	09-12	1,333	·
Franklin High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,277	·
Inglewood Middle School	Sammamish	Middle	06-08	1,229	·
Renton Senior High School	Renton	High	09-12	1,208	·
Lindbergh Senior High School	Renton	High	09-12	1,201	·
Chief Sealth International High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,184	·
Summit Trail Middle School	Ravensdale	Middle	06-08	1,097	·
Evergreen High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,080	·
Nathan Hale High School	Seattle	High	09-12	1,052	·
Maple View Middle School	Covington	Middle	06-08	1,046	·
Albert Einstein Middle School	Shoreline	Middle	06-08	1,032	·
Eckstein Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	1,024	·
Madison Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	1,017	·
Redmond Middle School	Redmond	Middle	06-08	1,009	·
Tyee Middle School	Bellevue	Middle	06-08	1,007	·
Kellogg Middle School	Shoreline	Middle	06-08	991	·
Hamilton International Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	983	·
Odle Middle School	Bellevue	Middle	06-08	974	·
Cascade Middle School	Auburn	Middle	06-08	966	·
Islander Middle School	Mercer Island	Middle	06-08	960	·
Olympic Middle School	Auburn	Middle	06-08	956	·
Lake Wilderness Elementary	Maple Valley	Elementary	PK-05	923	·
Mt Baker Middle School	Auburn	Middle	06-08	917	·
Nelsen Middle School	Renton	Middle	06-08	913	·
Northwood Middle School	Renton	Middle	06-08	911	·
Foster Senior High School	Tukwila	High	09-12	910	·
Rainier Middle School	Auburn	Middle	06-08	907	·
Rose Hill Middle School	Redmond	Middle	06-08	901	·
Cedarcrest High School	Duvall	High	09-12	889	·
Pine Lake Middle School	Sammamish	Middle	06-08	877	·
Cedar Heights Middle School	Covington	Middle	06-08	876	·
Cleveland High School STEM	Seattle	High	09-12	875	·
Mill Creek Middle School	Kent	Middle	06-08	866	·
Leota Middle School	Woodinville	Middle	06-08	858	·
Rainier Beach High School	Seattle	High	09-12	854	·
Maywood Middle School	Renton	Middle	06-08	826	·
Jane Addams Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	824	·
Canyon Ridge Middle School	Kent	Middle	06-08	821	·
Aki Kurose Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	817	·
McKnight Middle School	Renton	Middle	06-08	811	·
Evergreen Middle School	Kent	Middle	06-08	810	·
Issaquah Middle School	Issaquah	Middle	06-08	808	·
Glacier Middle School	Seatac	Middle	06-08	803	·
Glacier Park Elementary	Maple Valley	Elementary	PK-05	803	·
Timberline Middle School	Redmond	Middle	06-08	788	·
Meeker Middle School	Renton	Middle	06-08	779	·
Evergreen Middle School	Redmond	Middle	06-08	761	·
Mercer International Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	753	·
Northshore Middle School	Bothell	Middle	06-08	753	·
Chinook Middle School	Bellevue	Middle	06-08	752	·
Vera Risdon Middle School	Newcastle	Middle	06-08	751	·
Kirkland Middle School	Kirkland	Middle	06-08	746	·
Somerset Elementary School	Bellevue	Elementary	KG-05	741	·
Kenmore Middle School	Kenmore	Middle	06-08	733	·
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	729	·
David T. Denny International Middle School	Seattle	Middle	06-08	722	·
Mattson Middle School	Covington	Middle	06-08	719	·
Chinook Elementary School	Auburn	Elementary	PK-05	700	·
Beaver Lake Middle School	Issaquah	Middle	06-08	699	·
River Ridge Elementary	Seatac	Elementary	PK-05	697	·
Tahoma Elementary	Maple Valley	Elementary	PK-05	688	·

Cities in King County

Seattle94 schools Seattle42 schools Kent33 schools Renton33 schools Bellevue30 schools Auburn27 schools Kirkland27 schools Redmond24 schools Federal Way20 schools Shoreline16 schools Burien13 schools Federal Way13 schools Woodinville12 schools Sammamish10 schools Des Moines9 schools Enumclaw9 schools Issaquah9 schools Auburn8 schools Bothell8 schools Covington8 schools Maple Valley8 schools Seatac8 schools Carnation6 schools Issaquah6 schools Mercer Island6 schools Renton6 schools Snoqualmie6 schools Kenmore5 schools Tukwila5 schools Sammamish4 schools Snoqualmie4 schools Vashon4 schools Bellevue3 schools Duvall3 schools Kent3 schools Newcastle3 schools Black Diamond2 schools Fall City2 schools Lake Forest Park2 schools North Bend2 schools Skykomish2 schools Des Moines1 school Medina1 school Normandy Park1 school North Bend1 school Pacific1 school Ravensdale1 school Redmond1 school Tukwila1 school Vashon1 school

About King County

King County is a broad county of about 2,287,171 residents in Washington. Its public-school system educates approximately 278,492 students across 544 schools.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $124,746 a year, 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 58% above the Washington median.

Looking at the level breakdown, King County covers 309 elementary schools (126,113 students), 80 middle schools (57,323), 114 high schools (90,733), and 41 combined or other schools.

Seattle School District No. 1 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 50,773 students on its own.

Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in King County has contracted 3% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 287,176 students to 278,470. The school count climbed from 498 to 508 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment decreased from 44% to 36%.

On this page, the community for King County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve King County?

There are 544 public K-12 schools in King County, Washington, with a combined enrollment of about 278,492.

How many high schools are in King County?

King County, Washington has 114 public high schools, serving approximately 90,733 students.

How many middle schools are in King County?

King County, Washington has 80 public middle schools, serving approximately 57,323 students.

How many elementary schools are in King County?

King County, Washington has 309 public elementary schools, serving approximately 126,113 students.

What is the largest school district in King County?

Seattle School District No. 1 is the largest school district in King County, serving approximately 50,773 students. The county contains 31 school districts overall.

What is the population of King County?

King County, Washington has a population of approximately 2,287,171, with a median age of 37. About 19.5% of residents are under 18.

What is the median household income in King County?

Median household income in King County is $124,746, above the Washington average of $79,106. About 5.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

How educated are residents of King County?

Approximately 56.7% of adults 25 and older in King County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of students in King County qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Roughly 37.9% of students in King County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Washington county average of 53.8%.

What is the student-teacher ratio in King County schools?

Across King County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 19.1 to 1.

King County school rankings

Largest schools All rankings →

DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data