Highline School District
School District · Burien, Washington
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
35
17 elem, 5 mid, 10 high
Enrollment
17,823
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
35
17 elem, 5 mid, 10 high
Enrollment
17,823
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
How this district compares
Washington rank
#182 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$20,594
+$2,870 vs Washington median
District size
17,823 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Highline School District ranks #182 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Highline School District's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 33 schools. Its top-rated schools are Marvista Elementary (7.7/10), Gregory Heights Elementary (7.5/10), and Raisbeck Aviation High School (7.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.3/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Highline School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Highline School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Highline School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (33 of 35). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvista Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Gregory Heights Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Raisbeck Aviation High School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Choice Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Hazel Valley Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Mount Rainier High School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Maritime High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Cascade Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Sylvester Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Bow Lake Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
See all 35 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Highline School District
Highline School District is a Burien, Washington school district serving 35 schools.The district educates 17,823 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.3:1. District-level spending was $20,594 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Highline School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Marvista Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.7/10.
In standardized testing, Highline School District students show an average math proficiency of 35.3% and ELA proficiency of 43.7%.
The district includes 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 10 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Highline School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Highline School District with test data.
Schools in Highline School District
35 schoolsElementary Schools17
Middle Schools5
High Schools10
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Burien
- Total Enrollment
- 17,823
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,029
- District spending per student
- $20,594NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Highline School District?
Highline School District has 35 schools in total — 17 elementary, 5 middle, and 10 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Highline School District?
The average composite rating for Highline School District is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Highline School District?
Highline School District's district-level spending was $20,594 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Highline School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Highline School District is 17.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Highline School District?
Marvista Elementary is the highest-rated school in Highline School District with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What are the test scores in Highline School District?
Across schools in Highline School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 35.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 43.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Highline School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Highline School District has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 35 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 35.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 43.7%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare Highline School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Bellingham School District (25)
- Marysville School District (24)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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