📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (SBAC 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Washington
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bainbridge Island School District | Bainbridge Island | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Issaquah School District | Issaquah | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Lake Washington School District | Kirkland | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Mercer Island School District | Mercer Island | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Shaw Island School District | Shaw Island | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #6 | Bellevue School District | Bellevue | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Camas School District | Camas | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #8 | Snoqualmie Valley School District | Fall City | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #9 | Centerville School District | Centerville | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Northshore School District | Bothell | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #11 | Tahoma School District | Hobart | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #12 | Almira School District | Almira | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #13 | University Place School District | Tacoma | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #14 | Sumner School District | Sumner | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #15 | Carbonado School District | Carbonado | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #16 | Satsop School District | Satsop | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #17 | Asotin-Anatone School District | Anatone | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #18 | Colfax School District | Colfax | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #19 | Pullman School District | Albion | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #20 | Cashmere School District | Cashmere | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #21 | Freeman School District | Mica | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #22 | Peninsula School District | Gig Harbor | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #23 | Shoreline School District | Seattle | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #24 | Coulee-Hartline School District | Coulee City | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #25 | Paterson School District | Paterson | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
Best School Districts in Washington (2026)
This ranking covers 269 rated public school districts in Washington, scored using SBAC 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Washington School Districts at a Glance
- 287 of the 298 regular school districts operating in Washington have a published rating on this site.
- 90 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from SBAC 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Washington only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Bainbridge Island School District in Bainbridge Island, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Washington is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Washington? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (SBAC 2024–25), the top-rated district is Bainbridge Island School District in Bainbridge Island, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (SBAC 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Washington? ▼
Washington has 298 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 287 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Washington school district ratings based on? ▼
SBAC 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Washington and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Washington are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
90 of the 287 rated districts in Washington score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Washington, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Washington? ▼
In Washington nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Washington is not one of them.