📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Washington

Washington has 268 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Washington Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Bainbridge Island School DistrictBainbridge Island10/10  Excellent99th
#2Issaquah School DistrictIssaquah10/10  Excellent99th
#3Lake Washington School DistrictKirkland10/10  Excellent99th
#4Mercer Island School DistrictMercer Island10/10  Excellent99th
#5Camas School DistrictCamas10/10  Excellent98th
#6Carbonado School DistrictCarbonado10/10  Excellent98th
#7Snoqualmie Valley School DistrictSnoqualmie Valley10/10  Excellent98th
#8Bellevue School DistrictBellevue10/10  Excellent97th
#9Colfax School DistrictColfax10/10  Excellent97th
#10Oakesdale School DistrictOakesdale10/10  Excellent96th
#11Shaw Island School DistrictShaw Island10/10  Excellent96th
#12Anacortes School DistrictAnacortes10/10  Excellent95th
#13Northshore School DistrictNorthshore10/10  Excellent95th
#14Shoreline School DistrictShoreline10/10  Excellent95th
#15Tahoma School DistrictTahoma10/10  Excellent95th
#16University Place School DistrictUniversity Place10/10  Excellent95th
#17Almira School DistrictAlmira10/10  Excellent93th
#18Olympia School DistrictOlympia10/10  Excellent93th
#19Pullman School DistrictPullman10/10  Excellent93th
#20St. John School DistrictSt. John10/10  Excellent93th
#21Sumner School DistrictSumner10/10  Excellent92th
#22Mead School DistrictMead10/10  Excellent91th
#23Riverview School DistrictRiverview10/10  Excellent91th
#24Seattle Public SchoolsSeattle10/10  Excellent91th
#25Peninsula School DistrictPeninsula10/10  Excellent90th

Best School Districts in Washington (2026)

This ranking covers 268 rated public school districts in Washington, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Washington?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Bainbridge Island School District in Bainbridge Island, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.