Lake Washington School District operates 51 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Lake Washington School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 29,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 51 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $13,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 9/10 — Great | — | Top 10% nationally |
About Lake Washington School District
Zip code 98033 in Kirkland, Washington is served by Lake Washington School District for public school enrollment. The district covers grades Pre-K – 12th. This page provides a data-driven overview of Lake Washington School District’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Lake Washington School District spends approximately $13,000 per student per year, placing it 10% below the Washington state average of approximately $14,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 51 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Lake Washington School District qualifies as a very large district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 29,000 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 9/10 Rating
With a rating of 9/10 (top-tier), Lake Washington School District ranks among Washington’s top-tier-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Lake Washington School District is among the highest-rated public school districts in Washington. Top-tier ratings reflect strong per-pupil investment, stable enrollment, and structural indicators consistent with high-performing educational systems. Homes in and around zip code 98033 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for school quality will find a well-resourced district. Even within top-rated districts, individual school quality varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 98033
Children in zip code 98033 are assigned to Lake Washington School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 98033, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Lake Washington School District at (425)936-1200 or visit www.lwsd.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Washington districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Kirkland
For families considering a purchase in the Kirkland area, district assignment matters financially. Because Lake Washington School District serves zip code 98033, homes in and around zip code 98033 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Washington, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Lake Washington School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 98033.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Lake Washington School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 98033 data.