Teaching & learning
District profile / Washington
Seattle Public Schools
50,773
Students
2024-25 school year
108
Schools
2024-25 school year
$17,985
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · 21% above the Washington median
16.5
Students per teacher
2024-25 · Washington median 18.3
Seattle Public Schools is a public school district based in Seattle, Washington, serving 50,773 students in 108 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 150 Washington districts with 1,000 or more students, making it the largest in the state. Its schools average 470 students each, about the same as the Washington median of 435. It spends about $17,985 per student on day-to-day operations, 21% more than the Washington median. It has roughly 16.5 students per teacher. We've matched 15 news stories to the district.
How Seattle compares
SeattleWashington median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$1.30 billion in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 9%State 51%Local 41%
| Measure | Seattle | Washington median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $17,985 | $14,904 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $10,950 | $8,883 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $1.11 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $1.30 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 3,073 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 6,359 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 16.5 | 18.3 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 442 | 368 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The Washington median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
In the news
15 stories matchedLeadership
Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner talks special education, what's next,
Teaching & learning
Seattle Public Schools aims to become top 5 district by 2031
School safety
Seattle schools to pilot weapons detectors at Rainier Beach and Nathan Hale after deadly shootings
Leadership
91% of Seattle teachers union members authorize strike as contract talks continue
School safety
Seattle Public Schools greenlights weapons detectors under pilot program; some say SROs are needed
School safety
Some Seattle schools to receive weapons detectors
Teaching & learning
2 Seattle schools to place metal detectors at entrances
School safety
Slog AM: Seattle Schools Get Weapons Detectors, Pentagon Will Livestream Firing Squad Execution, a Moose Got Stuck in a Skate Park
School safety
Seattle Public Schools to install weapons detectors at two schools
School safety
Seattle Public Schools to pilot weapons detectors at two high schools this academic year
School safety
Seattle Public Schools to test weapon detectors at multiple high schools
School safety
Seattle schools to pilot weapons detectors at Nathan Hale, Rainier Beach
Teaching & learning
Geothermal Heat Pump Case Study: Seattle Public Schools
Technology & AI
These kids are learning without technology in Seattle Public Schools
Peer districts in Washington
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Public SchoolsSeattle · this district | 50,773 | 108 | $17,985 | 16.5 | #1 |
| Lake Washington School DistrictRedmond | 30,986 | 57 | $14,782 | 17.9 | #2 |
| Spokane School DistrictSpokane | 28,853 | 68 | $15,579 | 14.8 | #3 |
| Tacoma School DistrictTacoma | 28,847 | 67 | $15,922 | 18.8 | #4 |
| Kent School DistrictKent | 25,358 | 46 | $15,847 | 18.0 | #5 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton CountyJonesboro, GA | 51,055 | $11,027 | 14.8 |
| Garland ISDGarland, TX | 51,021 | $10,546 | 15.0 |
| Henrico County Public SchoolsHenrico, VA | 50,915 | $11,071 | 14.9 |
| Charleston 01Charleston, SC | 50,856 | $14,267 | 13.0 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-wa-seattle-public-schools