About Education In Seattle
A Seattle education is an important part of many Seattleites’ lives, especially due to the high concentration of technology, engineering, and other jobs that require advanced degrees. Among the city’s population over the age of 25, 53.8% have a bachelor’s degree or above (the national average is 27.5%); 92.9% (the national average is 84.6%) have Seattle high schools diploma or equivalent.
In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Seattle has one of the highest percentages of college graduates among major U.S. cities. In addition to the obvious educational institutions, there are also significant adult literacy programs and substantial homeschooling. Seattle is also the most literate city in the United States, according to a study by Central Connecticut State University.
Is Seattle Good For Education?
Public schools in Seattle have been noted by several organizations as being some of the best in the nation. This quality education is due to strong funding from local governments and a commitment to providing students with resources necessary to succeed academically.
In addition, educational attainment levels among Seattle residents are high compared to other cities; recent data shows that more than 45 percent of adults over 25 years old hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Furthermore, there are many institutions of higher learning within the city limits offering advanced degrees or specialized training programs.
Is Seattle An Educated City?
Seattle education association is no stranger to accolades, but a new ranking from personal finance website WalletHub might be the most impressive. In a study of more than 500 cities nationwide, Seattle ranked fifth on the list of the best educated cities in America.
When it comes to the public school system, Seattle times education reporter offers some of the best in the nation. The city boasts a number of top school districts that consistently rank among the best for academics and extracurricular opportunities.
With a variety of advanced placements and rigorous student preparation courses, Seattle’s public schools are well-equipped to prepare students for post-secondary education.
Education System Structure In Seattle
Colleges And Universities
Seattle is home to the University of Washington, one of the most respected public universities in the United States. With more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UW is the largest school in the Pacific Northwest, and many of its departments are ranked among the top 10 U.S. research universities according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
A 2006 study by Newsweek International ranked Washington University as the second best university in the world. In addition, the University of Washington is ranked 16th internationally in the 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Other notable universities in the city are Seattle University, a Jesuit university, and Seattle Pacific University, a Liberal Methodist university.
There are also smaller schools, such as the private university City University of Seattle. Antioch University Seattle offers undergraduate and graduate degrees for working adults.
Cornwall Art Institute, Seattle Art Institute, Gage Institute of the Arts, and Visual Concepts offer bachelor’s degrees in fine arts, including dance, music, and theater.
Seattle also has three colleges within the Seattle College District system, North, Central and South. Time magazine named Seattle Central College of the Year in 2001, saying the school “pushes diverse students to work together in small teams.”
Since 2013, Northeastern University has established a postgraduate satellite campus near South Lake Union.
Primary And Secondary Education
Education in Seattle is highly regarded. This is partly due to the high concentration of jobs in technology, engineering and medical industries, which require a high level of education.
In addition to public schools, this place has several government-funded schools that offer the International Baccalaureate and immersion programs in various languages, such as Spanish, English, and Japanese.
Like other parts of the United States, there are also some private international schools, and the school system in Seattle is divided into three levels:
- Elementary – Kindergarten to Grade 5
- Middle School – Grades 6 to 8
- High School Grades 9-12
Seattle Public Schools is the school district for the majority of students in the city. It abolished segregation without a court order, but continued efforts to achieve racial balance in a racially divided city (there were more minorities in the south of town than in the north).
In 2006, a challenge to Seattle’s segregation system was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that race is not a legal criterion for de-discrimination, but is open to formulas for de-discrimination based on other indicators, such as income or economic class.
In 2002, West Seattle High School made headlines when attention was paid to the school’s “Indian” mascot. Despite a bitter battle between SPS and alumni president and attorney Robert Zoffel, the school later changed its mascot to “Wildcat.”
Public Schools In Seattle
Overall, the standard of education in Seattle’s public schools is good. In fact, the state has proven to have one of the highest high school graduation one of the highest rates in the nation.
There is still some disparity, though. Seattle is somewhat ethnically divided, with more ethnic minorities living in the southern part of the city. Because attendance is based on zoning, those in more disadvantaged areas often have only access to substandard school.
In more affluent areas, public education offer a standard of teaching excellence along with a wide range of extracurricular activities. Foreign parents will need to keep school standards in mind when choosing where to live.
Allocations at Seattle public schools are determined by watershed area and the public school system prioritizes students who live nearby. Foreigners living in Seattle will be eligible to send their children to one of the city’s public schools. Although public education in Seattle preschool program does not require tuition, expats will need to budget for additional expenses.
Charter Schools are public schools that are administered by a nonprofit board, which allows them to be more flexible in their curriculum and teaching methods than regular educational campaigns.
There are currently only a handful of charter schools in Seattle. Enrollment in a charter school is done by lottery, open to anyone living in the school district.
