2024 Best Public High Schools in Washington

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  111 reviews

Parent: We couldn't be happier with this wonderful school! Our son faced some behavior challenges, and Ms. Cardakli dealt with the situation so thoughtfully. She kept his social-emotional wellbeing front and center while addressing the issue in a kind and constructive way. We're grateful for her caring approach and for the positive learning environment she fosters. Kudos to Cardakli and the entire staff for supporting our child's growth. This school has been a blessing for our family!... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 609

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  368 reviews

Senior: Newport is a great school with extreme diversity. They promote safety and equality throughout all groups of people and out of all the schools in BSD, people say they feel the safest at Newport. The inclusivity and diverse programs, clubs, and groups of people here emits such a welcoming environment most students love it here at Newport. I’d say the worst part is probably the construction going on right now which somewhat affects our learning environment, but we’re all willing to endure it as it’s not a HUGE negative factor to our learning environment.... Read 368 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,726

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  96 reviews

Senior: As a rising senior, I know that my education at ICS has shaped me into the person I am. From 6th grade to the present, ICS has continued to challenge and engage me with its rigorous coursework (all honors classes). Each year builds upon what I have learned in the previous years, which has allowed me to excel in my classes. The teachers are amazing and dedicated to what they do. Although I may have missed out on some of the larger social aspects associated with a larger school, the small community at ICS is fun to be a part of, as you get to know everyone on an individual basis, including teachers, fellow students, and underclassman over the course of 6 years. There are lots of opportunities for mentorship and leadership with the clubs and activities here as well. ICS isn't the right school for everyone, but it definitely is for me and I'm glad I go here!... Read 96 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 405

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  423 reviews

Senior: The IB program is extremely rigorous as most students take the most difficult combinations possible within the program.... Read 423 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,543

• Student-teacher ratio 1543:1

• Highline School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  171 reviews

Senior: Raisbeck Aviation High School offers a unique educational experience centered around aviation and aerospace. The best part of my time here has been the hands-on learning opportunities, from great clubs to engineering projects, which have ignited my passion for learning. However, the workload can be intense, and the pressure to excel can sometimes feel overwhelming. I appreciate the supportive community of peers and teachers, but I believe there could be more emphasis on mental health and work-life balance. Overall, I hope to see continued growth in providing resources for student well-being while maintaining the school's focus on innovation in aerospace education.... Read 171 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 405

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  96 reviews

Senior: I really like International School, because of the close-knit environment which allows students to learn. Most of the teachers are very good and knowledgeable. One thing I would like to see change is that I would like the school to move to a new building.... Read 96 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 593

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  218 reviews

Alum: The Bellevue school district is credited to be one of the best in the country, and I believe the district is given due credit. The teaching staff and counselors are very open with their schedule to any questions or advice asked in regards to school life and beyond. The school holds a high standard for recommended course load, which has helped immensely with transferring credits for required college credits. The only thing I wished they did more, was emphasize exactly how much money could have been saved by taking as many college level courses and AP exams would have helped with finances regarding college tuition, as I believe I would have pushed myself harder to take more of those mentioned classes.... Read 218 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,517

• Student-teacher ratio 1517:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  80 reviews

Senior: My first year was online, that was not a fun year. The teachers were not engaging and it was hard to meet anyone new. I like most of my teachers, but some are condescending and like to target certain students, while other students can do whatever they want. I only really liked a handful of teachers, because they made learning fun and the material engaging. They seem to really like their job and kids. The school is clicky, but if you have a group of friends, you'll be fine. Some groups of girls are really mean, but the guys are pretty chill. I wish they had more electives, and more varieties from year to year. I also wish the early release day was on Fridays instead of Wednesdays.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,781

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  475 reviews

Senior: Redmond High School is an overall 3.7 out of five stars. The physical building, facilities and food are good but nothing to write home about. The administration is alright, though there have been many cases where there have been overreactions and misunderstandings that could have been easily avoided. If anything that means that they are at least cautious. The teachers are a coin flip, some are the best while others are the worst. I have been lucky enough to any experience a few subpar teachers but I have heard horror stories of those unlucky enough to have one every period. However, the good teachers are truly some of the best people I have ever been around and really strive to make a connection with students and make the classroom feel like more than just a place to learn about math or science. Academics are okay, there is no shortage of challenging courses, but there are also many courses that leave much to be desired and feel more like daycare than a classroom.... Read 475 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,218

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  518 reviews

Senior: Skyline as a whole is a very good public school in terms of opportunities, resources, and community. There are no major bullying or discriminatory issues, and most kids get along well with each other. Most students are able to find a community through sports (football, dance, swim, etc), clubs (robotics, club med, baking, etc), fine arts (band, choir, theatre, etc) or other involvements (asb, volunteering, teachers assistants, etc). Once a student finds their friends and place at Skyline, they usually don't stray far from it. The school itself tries to be inclusive and welcoming to all, but the individual pods of kids can be very clique-y at times though. There is a class for almost anything a student could think of, and the career-based/elective courses are often taught by people who have come directly out of that specific field. Most faculty are kind and extremely willing to help students, the students just have to show interest and commitment to their cause.... Read 518 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,170

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  513 reviews

Senior: Eastlake High School is a great school in Sammamish Washington. The courses are relatively easy, and it's a fun school to attend. It's very easy to get to know many people and to get along with everyone, as it's welcoming, and friendly. Over my time here, I've had many great teachers and few that were just okay. I'd say that the science department has great teachers, but the curriculum is difficult to understand without already having the knowledge to it. But, because they were great teachers, they helped me with their support and after school work times. Another great part of Eastlake teachers are the LA/SS teachers. Every single teacher I have met are inviting, warm, and supportive. The LA/SS classes typically feel like a family after a semester because you spend every day with them. I like the schedule at Eastlake. When I took LA/SS, I would have it every day so it was easier to get more connections to the class. My time here at Eastlake has been fun and I am ready to go to college!... Read 513 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,349

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Mercer Island School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  247 reviews

Senior: If you are ambitious and strive to challenge yourself, you will find interesting classes with great teachers. Although, the info regarding these classes is not always readily available and uniformed students can easily make decisions they might regret in terms of class registration.... Read 247 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,524

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  406 reviews

Alum: I had an overall great experience at this school, most of the teachers and staff were great! The food was okay, as far as school lunches go. I didn't do many extracurricular activities, dances, etc. so I can't attest to most of them, but I did spend a lot of time in the drama department. Let me make it clear- I absolutely adore the teachers and staff running it, they really gave it their all and made the best of what they had. But there really was not a lot of support for it, they let go the one drama teacher they had (they excpected the english teachers to step up, and had way more intrest than they could handle so many weren't able to take the class), let go the guy who was maintaining the theatre (that blew up in their faces, tons of stuff broke and assemblies in there were horrid, also the theatre was literally named after him, yikes) I'm pretty sure we didn't really have a budget, most things were self funded. Did I write a review just to complain about it? Yes. They deserve more!... Read 406 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,412

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  359 reviews

Senior: A majority of the teachers here are committed to the success of their students and their well-being. I've only had a small handful of bad experiences with the staff, overall it's a very welcoming environment. There are plenty of clubs, sports, and programs that allow students to be involved and express themselves, however, the whole district is undergoing large budget cuts as the previous superintendent put the school district in a large amount of debt. Schoolwise, has been a great experience socially and academically.... Read 359 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,621

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  253 reviews

Senior: Sammamish High School is an amazing high school. The school is very welcoming to students of different culture, ethnicity, background, etc. The teachers are very supportive of the students and help the students if they need it. The building overall is amazing. This year was the first year that they offered culinary as a class because last year they built kitchens.... Read 253 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,275

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Seattle School District No. 1, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  345 reviews

Senior: When we moved to Seattle because of my dad’s job, it seemed to me like it was a new city altogether. I started high school without knowing anyone. I was the “new kid” once again. It was in the middle of a pandemic, but I jumped in and got involved, finding my people and place. Roosevelt High School allowed me to get involved. Its supportive staff, hundreds of activities and clubs, and inclusive community fostered the perfect place for a freshman like me. At 17 years old, I have moved seven times, alternating between different houses, schools, and cities. I have been “the new kid” in school too many times. But for me, it doesn’t matter, because of Roosevelt. I know that in Roosevelt, I am able to find my place, create a community, and connect with people I love. I found my home at Roosevelt High School.... Read 345 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,541

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bainbridge Island School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  268 reviews

Senior: Resource management needs to be better. The allocation of funds seems to be a bit mishandled, and it comes back at the students in the form of exorbitantly high prices for parking passes. Overall, great experience, I love most of the teachers (with some very notable exceptions).... Read 268 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,232

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Seattle School District No. 1, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  520 reviews

Senior: I loved Garfield! For public schools it is pretty much as good as it gets. There’s definitely still some problems though, the biggest one being that it’s in a sketchy neighborhood. Throughout my four years we have frequent lockdowns and gang issues. The arts, especially jazz is very good here. I’m not involved in sports but it’s also a very good school for that. School spirit is very big. There’s a good mix of different types of people and so it’s easy to find a group of people that are like you.... Read 520 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,642

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Bellevue School District, WA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  18 reviews

Senior: Big Picture is a unique school in which it blends regular academics with internships once a week. This has led to a bit of watering down both the internship and academic experience. However, if students do work (internship and academics) outside of school as well, Big Picture can be a great place to find you passions!... Read 18 reviews

• grade A

• Students 385

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Issaquah School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  334 reviews

Senior: I have loved going to Liberty it has been so awesome. The staff are great along with the administration and everyone is super welcoming! It is a safe place to be and I am sad to leave next year. The only thing I don’t like about the school is that the portables are such a far walk from my others classes, but it’s okay. Liberty is the best and I have had the best 4 years there!... Read 334 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,476

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Olympia School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  436 reviews

Senior: Olympia High School offers a wide range of programs to accommodate different interests. They offer many AP and Honors Courses, as well as Running Start. For students with interests outside of traditional academics, they offer a program called New Market which lets kids gain experience in firefighting, farming, car mechanics, and more. However, many teachers at the school don't care about their student's success or well-being and have little tact around sensitive subjects. Bathrooms are often shut down because of a lack of janitors or vandalism, and Buses tend to run late. They have many fun sports and clubs and designated time during the school day to participate in these activities with your peers. Overall I enjoyed my experience there but think there is room for improvement especially in regards to the staff.... Read 436 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,838

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Lake Washington School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  213 reviews

Senior: My experience at Lake Washington High School has been exceptional, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Washington State. The school's commitment to academic excellence is evident through its rigorous curriculum, while its diverse and inclusive environment fosters a sense of belonging and celebrates cultural diversity. However, opportunities for improvement include expanding extracurricular activities to cater to a wider range of interests and fostering stronger communication between students, faculty, and administration. By addressing these areas, Lake Washington High can continue to uphold its reputation for excellence and ensure that every student feels supported and empowered to succeed.... Read 213 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,015

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Richland School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  408 reviews

Senior: I moved into Hanford sophomore year and felt very included on day one. You can find some of the nicest and most inclusive people at this school! The staff and resources are also great, especially the career center, which helped my prepare for applying to colleges and helped me get my first job working in the IT department for the school district. I would highly recommend Hanford high school to any and everyone!... Read 408 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,788

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Mukilteo School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  521 reviews

Senior: Overall, I had an amazing high school experience. From the friends I made, sports I played, and courses I took, I was able to maximize my time in high school. The best part of my time in high school was definitely the sports I played. I participated in cross country, wrestling, and track, and through these sports made amazing connections and grew so much. Of course, nothing is perfect, and something I would like to see change is the way that some classes that are the exact same course but taught by a different teacher can end up being taught completely differently. Countless times I was in the same class as a friend, but they would have totally different material and expectations than I did. This contributes to a unfair learning environment and potential failure for some students, just to be compared to the success of another.... Read 521 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,250

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Northshore School District, WA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  499 reviews

Junior: Inglemoor High School is a pretty good school; it has a variety of people from different backgrounds, and the teachers are mostly supportive and engaging. There are a plethora of clubs and activities, ranging from TSA, MUN, and DECA to Band, Orchestra, Choir, and more; furthermore, most of these clubs/activities are rather competitive and win awards. In terms of academics, Inglemoor is the only school in the district to offer International Baccalaureate, a rigorous and completely worth-it program (not really!). Nonetheless, Inglemoor is probably among the most accomplished in the district academically. However, its facilities (besides the music buildings) leave a lot to be desired, since they haven't really changed since the '60s. There is a campus remodel that will start around the summer of 2025, although I will have graduated by then. Overall, it's a pretty good school; there are a lot of nice people and tons of extracurriculars to get involved with.... Read 499 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,542

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1