State district guide

Washington public school districts

Compare district systems across Washington by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

View county rankings Find a school

Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Washington, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

Seattle School District No. 1

51,238 reported students

Check county context

Wahkiakum County

85/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Washington

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

329 districts in state file

Washington public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	Seattle School District No. 1 LEA ID 5307710 King County109 schools	King County 54/100 county score	51,238	109	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
2	Lake Washington School District LEA ID 5304230 King County58 schools	King County 54/100 county score	30,991	58	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
3	Spokane School District LEA ID 5308250 Spokane County68 schools	Spokane County 52/100 county score	28,714	68	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
4	Tacoma School District LEA ID 5308700 Pierce County69 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	28,311	69	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
5	Kent School District LEA ID 5303960 King County45 schools	King County 54/100 county score	25,586	45	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
6	Puyallup School District LEA ID 5306960 Pierce County37 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	23,104	37	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
7	Northshore School District LEA ID 5305910 Snohomish County39 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	22,944	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
8	Evergreen School District (Clark) LEA ID 5302700 Clark County39 schools	Clark County 49/100 county score	22,591	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
9	Vancouver School District LEA ID 5309270 Clark County43 schools	Clark County 49/100 county score	22,003	43	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	Federal Way School District LEA ID 5302820 King County46 schools	King County 54/100 county score	21,606	46	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
11	Bethel School District LEA ID 5300480 Pierce County34 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	21,156	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
12	Edmonds School District LEA ID 5302400 Snohomish County39 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	20,459	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
13	Everett School District LEA ID 5302670 Snohomish County33 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	20,359	33	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
14	Issaquah School District LEA ID 5303750 King County30 schools	King County 54/100 county score	19,524	30	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
15	Kennewick School District LEA ID 5303930 Benton County33 schools	Benton County 50/100 county score	19,311	33	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
16	Bellevue School District LEA ID 5300390 King County32 schools	King County 54/100 county score	19,089	32	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
17	Pasco School District LEA ID 5306570 Franklin County29 schools	Franklin County 45/100 county score	18,515	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
18	Highline School District LEA ID 5303540 King County43 schools	King County 54/100 county score	18,048	43	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
19	Auburn School District LEA ID 5300300 King County27 schools	King County 54/100 county score	17,857	27	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
20	Yakima School District LEA ID 5310110 Yakima County29 schools	Yakima County 41/100 county score	15,553	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	Renton School District LEA ID 5307230 King County30 schools	King County 54/100 county score	15,230	30	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	Mukilteo School District LEA ID 5305430 Snohomish County25 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	15,131	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
23	North Thurston Public Schools LEA ID 5305850 Thurston County24 schools	Thurston County 48/100 county score	15,119	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
24	Central Valley School District LEA ID 5301110 Spokane County32 schools	Spokane County 52/100 county score	14,688	32	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	Richland School District LEA ID 5307320 Benton County23 schools	Benton County 50/100 county score	13,948	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
26	Clover Park School District LEA ID 5301410 Pierce County32 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	12,566	32	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
27	Battle Ground School District LEA ID 5300380 Clark County21 schools	Clark County 49/100 county score	12,393	21	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	Bellingham School District LEA ID 5300420 Whatcom County25 schools	Whatcom County 46/100 county score	11,614	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
29	Central Kitsap School District LEA ID 5301080 Kitsap County19 schools	Kitsap County 52/100 county score	11,206	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
30	Sumner-Bonney Lake School District LEA ID 5308610 Pierce County15 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	10,414	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	Mead School District LEA ID 5304920 Spokane County17 schools	Spokane County 52/100 county score	10,320	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	Marysville School District LEA ID 5304860 Snohomish County24 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	10,196	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
33	Lake Stevens School District LEA ID 5304200 Snohomish County15 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	9,687	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
34	Olympia School District LEA ID 5306180 Thurston County20 schools	Thurston County 48/100 county score	9,633	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	Shoreline School District LEA ID 5307920 King County18 schools	King County 54/100 county score	9,564	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	Snohomish School District LEA ID 5308020 Snohomish County18 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	9,418	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
37	South Kitsap School District LEA ID 5308160 Kitsap County17 schools	Kitsap County 52/100 county score	9,196	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
38	Tahoma School District LEA ID 5308760 King County10 schools	King County 54/100 county score	9,112	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	Peninsula School District LEA ID 5306690 Pierce County18 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	8,969	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
40	Moses Lake School District LEA ID 5305220 Grant County20 schools	Grant County 43/100 county score	8,686	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
41	Franklin Pierce School District LEA ID 5302940 Pierce County15 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	7,425	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
42	Wenatchee School District LEA ID 5309660 Chelan County19 schools	Chelan County 50/100 county score	7,347	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
43	Camas School District LEA ID 5300810 Clark County16 schools	Clark County 49/100 county score	7,324	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	Snoqualmie Valley School District LEA ID 5308040 King County14 schools	King County 54/100 county score	7,086	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
45	Mount Vernon School District LEA ID 5305400 Skagit County14 schools	Skagit County 48/100 county score	6,545	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
46	Tumwater School District LEA ID 5309100 Thurston County15 schools	Thurston County 48/100 county score	6,461	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
47	Sunnyside School District LEA ID 5308670 Yakima County9 schools	Yakima County 41/100 county score	6,369	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	Longview School District LEA ID 5304470 Cowlitz County18 schools	Cowlitz County 47/100 county score	6,311	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
49	Eastmont School District LEA ID 5302310 Douglas County12 schools	Douglas County 61/100 county score	6,032	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
50	Omak School District LEA ID 5306220 Okanogan County8 schools	Okanogan County 53/100 county score	5,834	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
51	Monroe School District LEA ID 5305130 Snohomish County12 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	5,734	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
52	Oak Harbor School District LEA ID 5305940 Island County12 schools	Island County 58/100 county score	5,730	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
53	Yelm School District LEA ID 5310140 Thurston County10 schools	Thurston County 48/100 county score	5,668	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
54	University Place School District LEA ID 5309180 Pierce County8 schools	Pierce County 46/100 county score	5,619	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
55	Walla Walla Public Schools LEA ID 5309450 Walla Walla County16 schools	Walla Walla County 46/100 county score	5,599	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
56	Cheney School District LEA ID 5301230 Spokane County12 schools	Spokane County 52/100 county score	5,540	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
57	Arlington School District LEA ID 5300240 Snohomish County11 schools	Snohomish County 54/100 county score	5,506	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
58	West Valley School District (Yakima) LEA ID 5309720 Yakima County16 schools	Yakima County 41/100 county score	5,490	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 4 virtual Open district guide
59	North Kitsap School District LEA ID 5305760 Kitsap County14 schools	Kitsap County 52/100 county score	5,418	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
60	Kelso School District LEA ID 5300003 Cowlitz County13 schools	Cowlitz County 47/100 county score	4,940	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

Wahkiakum School District

Wahkiakum County

Students: 431
Schools: 2

Reardan-Edwall School District

Lincoln County

Students: 671
Schools: 3

Davenport School District

Lincoln County

Students: 615
Schools: 5

Odessa School District

Lincoln County

Students: 236
Schools: 2

Wilbur School District

Lincoln County

Students: 217
Schools: 2

Almira School District

Lincoln County

Students: 144
Schools: 1

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington School Districts

What are the best school districts in Washington?

Seattle School District No. 1, Lake Washington School District, Spokane School District are the largest Washington district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Washington districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 82 Washington districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Washington?

This page includes 329 Washington public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Back to Washington county rankings Back to all states