Best Schools in Sammamish, Washington

Sammamish, Washington has 14 ranked public schools and an average score of 8.1 out of 10 — a figure that places the city well above most comparable suburban markets. Twelve of those 14 schools, or 86%, score 7 or higher. That kind of consistency is rare: most cities this size carry a wider spread between their strongest and weakest schools, with a meaningful tail below the 7-point mark. Sammamish barely has one.

The elementary tier drives the city's standout performance. Christa McAuliffe Elementary leads all 14 ranked schools with a 9.7 — the highest score in the city. Cascade Ridge Elementary scores 9.5, Sunny Hills Elementary 9.1, Cedar Trails Elementary 9.0, and Rachel Carson Elementary 8.8. Five top-ten-caliber elementary schools in a single city is an unusually strong concentration. Families with children in the K–5 range will find multiple high-performing options within a short radius, often without crossing district lines.

The 8.1 city average is also meaningful because it reflects the middle of the distribution, not just its peaks. When 86% of schools clear 7 out of 10, the floor is high. Parents who have researched other Seattle-area suburbs will recognize this: many comparable cities have one or two standout schools surrounded by mediocre ones. Sammamish runs deep instead.

For parents making a move, school assignment risk here is low by default — the likely neighborhood school almost certainly lands above average. Still, the spread between the top score (9.7) and the city average (8.1) is wide enough that boundary research pays off for families prioritizing elementary placement. Check attendance zones for Christa McAuliffe, Cascade Ridge, and Sunny Hills before committing to a specific address. If your assigned school falls below the city average, ask the district about open enrollment windows — with this many strong schools nearby, transfers are often feasible.