| Metric | Seattle Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 48,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 102 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $16,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Above average |
About Seattle Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools is the public school district assigned to zip code 98112 in Seattle, Washington. Serving students from Pre-K – 12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 98112. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
Seattle Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $16,000 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
With 102 schools, Seattle Public Schools operates 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 8/10 Rating
Seattle Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 8/10, placing it in the above average tier. 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 98112
Children in zip code 98112 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 98112, 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 residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. 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
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Seattle Public Schools serves zip code 98112, homes in and around zip code 98112 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 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 98112.
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 98112 data.
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