2024 Best Elementary Schools in Washington

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Washington

The state of Washington has over one thousand different elementary schools (1,812) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. That’s a full 75% more than the typical state, although on a per capita basis, Washington actually ranks #30 in the nation, averaging about 4% fewer elementary schools than most states. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean school quality drops necessarily, it can actually mean the opposite at times. The typical elementary school in Washington has about 335 students on average, which puts it 12% smaller than the national average. On a positive note though, despite the smaller school size, there are still about 15 students per every teacher as compared to anywhere else in the nation (as evidenced by Washington elementary schools having a 15:1 student to teacher ratio, 7% higher than the national average).

As a whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the 1,800+ elementary schools, just under half (39%) are rated above average. Still that leaves nearly 700 options (714) for the parent to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 536. In other words, there’s still nearly 550 school options in Washington that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in Washington a good option?

Washington has 1,356 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 99% or about 1,342 of them. That’s a large number and for those with above average expectations, nearly half (46%) score above the national average. It's worth noting that the typical public school size in Washington tends to be slightly larger when compared to the national average, clocking in at 382 students per school, about 0% higher than the typical state average.

What is the best public elementary school in Washington?

Based in Redmond and known for its exceptional quality among nearly 5 thousand other traditional public schools in the state (1,342), is Ella Baker Elementary School - ranked as the best public elementary school in Washington State. With 504 students and a student to teacher ratio of 16:1 – 14% higher than most states – this school offers tremendous focus per student and often leads to better student learning outcomes. About 46% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Washington

Some ask are charter schools in Washington a good option? This really depends on your preference but with just 5 charter options (5 to be exact) it’s not quite as prevalent as traditional public schools. The typical charter elementary school in Washington scores an A– grade and although far below average at 93%, this is certainly due to its limited availability throughout the state. In other words there may only be 5 charter options available but they are all of high quality – but still check your locality before making any decisions as they may not always be available near you. The typical charter school size is also smaller too when compared against traditional public counterparts since charter schools have just 328 students per school on average (14% lower than most states).

What is the best charter elementary school in Washington?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Washington State is Rainier Prep located near Seattle. It's known for its emphasis on academic excellence and has 344 students enrolled with 14 students per every teacher at the school (14:1 ratio) which is right at even with the national average.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Washington

Although still relatively small compared to certain states with much larger numbers – such as Texas – there are actually 9 magnet elementary schools spread throughout various cities throughout the state of Washington including Redmond and Seattle. The median grade for these magnet schools is surprisingly high at a B+, even above normal conditions nationally which is typically only at an B overall grade level. About 78% of these magnet programs rank above national averages – which equates out to 7 different magnet program options throughout Washington State - so there are still quite a few options available if one looks hard enough or goes into more rural areas of this beautiful western state.

What is the best magnet elementary school in Washington?

Hailing from Redmond comes Explorer Community School ranked as best magnet elementary school within the State of Washington boundaries. It’s home to 71 students and has 24 students per every teacher at Explorer Community School (24:1 ratio) which is actually 71% higher than national averages. As concerned family can imagine, you're encouraged to double-check with the staff to confirm how the school handles such large class sizes. At the same time, the school is ranked and rated phenomenally, so digging in is probably well worth the time.