The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Seattle for 2026 are West Woodland Elementary School (9.5/10), James Baldwin Elementary School (9.5/10), and Catharine Blaine K-8 School (9.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 80 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Seattle's elementary school landscape is one of the strongest in the Pacific Northwest. Across 80 ranked schools, the average composite score sits at 7.6 out of 10 — and 76% of schools clear the 7.0 mark, signaling broad, consistent quality rather than a few isolated standouts. Stevens Elementary School leads the field with a 9.7/10, followed closely by Hawthorne Elementary (9.6) and a cluster of schools at 9.5, including Dearborn Park International and Whittier Elementary. That tight grouping at the top means families have real options among high performers. The table below covers all 80 ranked schools and can be sorted by score, location, or other key metrics — giving you a direct way to compare schools against what matters most for your child.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.5
- 29.5
- 39.3
- 49.3
- 59.1
- 69.0
- 78.9
- 88.9
- 98.9
- 108.8
All 80 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 80
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1West Woodland Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 380student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2James Baldwin Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 233student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 3Catharine Blaine K-8 SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 436student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 4Bryant Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 477student-teacher ratio 18.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Sanislo Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 171student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 6Queen Anne ElementarySeattle School District No. 1students 215student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Gatewood Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 381student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Lafayette Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 504student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 9Mcgilvra Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 215student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Thurgood Marshall ElementarySeattle School District No. 1students 468student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Pathfinder K-8 SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 448student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 12Orca K-8 SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 355student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Arbor Heights Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 511student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 14Sacajawea Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 228student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 15Greenwood Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 324student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Rising Star Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 326student-teacher ratio 10.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 17Daniel Bagley Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 317student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18John Muir Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 333student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Alki Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 270student-teacher ratio 18.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 20Cascadia ElementarySeattle School District No. 1students 485student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Stephen Decatur Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 187student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Magnolia Elementary SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 338student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Genesee Hill ElementarySeattle School District No. 1students 477student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Tops K-8 SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 471student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 25South Shore PK-8 SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 570student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades Pre-K–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Washington education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Washington. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
West Woodland Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
380 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 8.8
- 2
James Baldwin Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
233 students · 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 9.9
- 3
Catharine Blaine K-8 School
Seattle School District No. 1
436 students · 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.4
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.4
- 4
Bryant Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
477 students · 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 9.1
- 5
Sanislo Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
171 students · 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 9.5
- 6
Queen Anne Elementary
Seattle School District No. 1
215 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 9.6
- 7
Gatewood Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
381 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 3% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 8.8
- 8
Lafayette Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
504 students · 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 9.2
- 9
Mcgilvra Elementary School
Seattle School District No. 1
215 students · 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 3% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.9
- Environment
- 8.7
- 10
Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Seattle School District No. 1
468 students · 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 4% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 7.9
- Environment
- 9.7
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Seattle, Washington?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, West Woodland Elementary School is the top-rated elementary school in Seattle with a composite score of 9.5/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Seattle, Washington?
Seattle has 127 elementary schools. Of these, 123 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Seattle?
Among 123 Seattle elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.8/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Washington).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Washington, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Washington, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Seattle2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Seattle2026 rankings and ratings
- All 213 schools in SeattleElementary, middle and high
- Washington schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings