The brief
The top-rated high schools in Seattle for 2026 are Lincoln High School (8.5/10), Cleveland High School Stem (8.2/10), and Ballard High School (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 25 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Seattle's 26 ranked high schools span a competitive range, with an average composite score of 6.8/10 and a clear separation at the top. Summit Public School: Sierra leads the metro at 8.6/10, followed closely by Middle College High School at 8.3 and Cleveland High School STEM at 8.2. The table below covers all ranked schools across Seattle's neighborhoods and districts. Eleven schools — 42% of the ranked pool — score 7.0 or higher, meaning families have a solid tier of strong options to compare. Whether you're prioritizing STEM programming, college-prep focus, or a specific part of the city, the data here lets you sort by score, type, and other key metrics to find the fit that makes sense for your student. Use the table to dig into the details behind each ranking.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.5
- 28.2
- 38.0
- 47.7
- 57.6
- 67.5
- 77.4
- 87.2
- 97.1
- 106.9
All 25 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 25
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Lincoln High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,697student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Cleveland High School StemSeattle School District No. 1students 890student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Ballard High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,645student-teacher ratio 23.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 4West Seattle High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,392student-teacher ratio 22.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Rainier Beach High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 765student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Franklin High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,237student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Choice AcademyHighline School Districtstudents 178student-teacher ratio 29.7:1grades 6th–12th
- 8The Center SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 184student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Roosevelt High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,528student-teacher ratio 22.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Nova High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 258student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 11Chief Sealth International High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,201student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Garfield High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,641student-teacher ratio 24.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Middle College High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 95student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Ingraham High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,413student-teacher ratio 20.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Interagency Detention SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 30grades 6th–12th
- 16Nathan Hale High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 1,091student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Summit Public School: SierracharterSummit Public School: Sierrastudents 221student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Interagency ProgramsSeattle School District No. 1students 242student-teacher ratio 6.9:1grades 6th–12th
- 19Rainier Valley Leadership AcademycharterRainier Valley Leadership Academystudents 163student-teacher ratio 13.6:1grades 6th–12th
- 20Summit Public School: AtlascharterSummit Public School: Atlasstudents 545student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 6th–12th
- 21Summit Public School: OlympuscharterSummit Public School: Olympusstudents 148student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Seattle World SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 185student-teacher ratio 11.6:1grades 6th–12th
- 23Evergreen High SchoolHighline School Districtstudents 1,066student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Alan T. Sugiyama High SchoolSeattle School District No. 1students 46student-teacher ratio 9.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Talley High SchoolRenton School Districtstudents 237student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades 6th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Washington education department. Rankings are relative to all public high 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
Lincoln High School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,697 students · 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 7% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 6.0
- 2
Cleveland High School Stem
Seattle School District No. 1
890 students · 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 11% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 7.4
- 3
Ballard High School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,645 students · 23.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 4.3
- 4
West Seattle High School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,392 students · 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 20% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 4.7
- 5
Rainier Beach High School
Seattle School District No. 1
765 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 22% in Washington
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 5.5
- 6
Franklin High School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,237 students · 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 24% in Washington
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 5.5
- 7
Choice Academy
Highline School District
178 students · 29.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 25% in Washington
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 2.8
- 8
The Center School
Seattle School District No. 1
184 students · 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 30% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 5.0
- Environment
- 6.3
- 9
Roosevelt High School
Seattle School District No. 1
1,528 students · 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 33% in Washington
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 5.7
- Environment
- 4.9
- 10
Nova High School
Seattle School District No. 1
258 students · 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 37% in Washington
- Academics
- 7.4
- Growth
- 5.7
- Environment
- 9.9
Questions
What is the best high school in Seattle, Washington?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Lincoln High School is the top-rated high school in Seattle with a composite score of 8.5/10. 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 high schools are in Seattle, Washington?
Seattle has 46 high schools, including 4 charter schools. Of these, 40 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Seattle?
Among 40 Seattle high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Washington).
How does MySchoolScout rate high 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.
Are charter schools included in the Seattle high school rankings?
Seattle has 4 charter high schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
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 elementary schools in Seattle2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle 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