School District for
Zip Code 98102

About Seattle Public Schools

If you live in ZIP 98102 — Seattle, Washington in King County — your assigned public schools are operated by Seattle Public Schools. Its 7/10 rating sits above the typical Washington district on the funding and enrollment measures NCES reports. The district operates 102 schools and serves roughly 48,000 students (one of the larger districts in the state), covering Pre-K – 12th. Check the rating breakdown and map above, and confirm your specific school assignment directly with the district — boundaries and open-enrollment rules change year to year.

Funding and Resources

According to NCES 2024–2025, Seattle Public Schools spends approximately $16,000 per student per year, placing it 10% above the Washington state average of approximately $14,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. 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 102 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Seattle Public Schools qualifies as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 48,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.

Understanding the 7/10 Rating

With a rating of 7/10 (above average), Seattle Public Schools ranks among Washington’s above average-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.

Seattle Public Schools earns an above-average rating, reflecting stronger-than-typical resource levels and stable enrollment trends for Washington. Above-average districts generally offer solid program variety, adequate staffing, and a track record of organizational stability. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.

Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 98102

Children in zip code 98102 are assigned to Seattle Public Schools 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 98102, 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 Seattle Public Schools at (206)252-0010 or visit www.seattleschools.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 Seattle

For families considering a purchase in the Seattle area, district assignment matters financially. Because Seattle Public Schools serves zip code 98102, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 98102 and neighboring areas. 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 Seattle Public Schools 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 98102.

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 Seattle Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 98102 data.