Bellevue, Washington’s schools not only rank among the top performers of the greater Seattle region, but also count as some of the best schools in the state and country. The district itself, which educates 21,609 students in 30 schools from preschool to Grade 12, enjoys the number 2 spot in Niche’s list of “Best School Districts in Washington.”
District schools contribute to this reputation by offering a variety of resources to each individual student. As a result of dedicated spending (about $352 million for the 2018/2019 school year) and lower student-teacher ratios, Bellevue’s school district sets up the right conditions for truly preparing kids for college.
Students in the Bellevue School District received higher SAT score averages in 2018 compared to other schools in the state and the country. Its students scored 620 in reading and writing and 643 math, while the averages for Washington schools in the same year were 538 for reading and writing and 533 for math. National SAT averages for 2018 were 529 (reading and writing) and 520 (math).
In 2019, 1,500 high school students graduated in the district, and for the population of these students who took AP tests for college credit, their pass rate (78%) was significantly higher than the national average (59%).
General district information
The Bellevue School District employs about 2,900 teachers and staff to teach and support students from preschool to high school. Elementary schools in the district have an average class size of 21.3 students, while middle and high schools have an average of 28.2 and 28.75 students, respectively.
Even though the class size for the district increases as pupils progress from elementary to high school, low student-teacher ratios ensure that each child gets sufficient attention and guidance. Student-teacher ratios in Bellevue average 16:1, an improvement from Washington state’s average ratio of 19:1. More than 400 of the district’s roughly 1,500 teachers are certified by the National Board, and 88% have at least three years of teaching experience under their belt.
Parents also don’t have too much to worry about on the topic of getting the kids to school. The school district provides school buses for students who live outside of the one-mile walk path boundary of their school (kindergarten to eighth grade). Parents of younger kids can keep track of their child’s bus schedule and real-time location using the Edulog Parent Bus Tracking Program. High school students (Grades 9 to 12) can use King County’s metro transit system to get to school and are eligible for a discounted ORCA card.
Bellevue schools also have programs aimed at providing students and parents with additional support, such as counseling, childcare, and technology assistance for remote learning.
For updates and advisories related to COVID-19, parents and students can visit this page.
Parents can find out which schools service their area with Bellevue School District’s dedicated page.
Elementary schools
Ardmore
Located in Bellevue’s Microsoft neighborhood, Ardmore Elementary is one of the first elementary schools in the district to focus on STEM. 420 students are currently enrolled in the school. Its students keep up with the state average when it comes to year-over-year with academic progress. On average, each teacher has a classroom size of 14 students. Boundary map.
Bennett
435 students attend Bennett in classroom sizes that average 15 students per teacher. The school scores high on student progress (from one year to the next), test scores, and the availability of support systems for students dealing with learning disabilities or economic disadvantages. Boundary map
Cherry Crest
Cherry Crest Elementary is a top-rated school in the lushly green neighborhood of Bridle Trails. The school takes a holistic approach to education, integrating social and emotional development into its curriculum. 654 students are currently enrolled in the school, which has an average student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1 and 42 teachers. Cherry Crest students scored excellent test scores in English, math, and science (over 90% for each subject). Boundary map
Cherry Crest
Cherry Crest Elementary is a top-rated school in the lushly green neighborhood of Bridle Trails. The school takes a holistic approach to education, integrating social and emotional development into its curriculum. 654 students are currently enrolled in the school, which has an average student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1 and 42 teachers. Cherry Crest students scored excellent test scores in English, math, and science (over 90% for each subject). Boundary map
Clyde Hill
Clyde Hill has a student population of around 630 students. These students perform above both the district and state averages. The teaching staff includes 32 teachers with an average teaching background of 12.3 years and who typically teach a classroom size of around 14 students. Boundary map
Eastgate
Determined to prepare its students for higher levels, Eastgate Elementary adopts a curriculum designed to challenge its students (484 total). The school has an average class size of 12.8 students. They are taught by 34 teachers who have spent an average of 11.5 years in teaching. Around 12 of the teachers are certified by the National Board. Student test scores in English are higher than the district and state average, while their scores in math and science are at least 14 percentage points above state averages. Boundary map
Enatai
Enatai Elementary is another school in the Bellevue School District that adopts a holistic approach to education (academic performance, social skills, and emotional development). 523 students enjoy the collaborative environment fostered by parents, educational staff, and 32 teachers. The average class in Enatai has 15 students. The school’s test scores keep pace with district averages. Boundary map
Lake Hills
Located in the central Bellevue neighborhood of the same name, Lake Hills is a district school with 544 students. Classroom sizes average 12.8 students per teacher (38 teachers total). The school has several student support programs like Title 1 (for students with difficulty reading) and special education, as well as several community programs. Boundary map
Newport Heights
Situated in the southwestern part of Bellevue, Newport Heights Elementary is the school for kids living in Lake Heights, parts of Hazelwood, and Newport. The school has 553 students. Average student-teacher ratios are one teacher to 13.8 students. Test scores for the school are only two to four percentage points below the district average, still making student performance significantly higher compared to other elementary schools in the state. Boundary map
Phantom Lake
Nearly 480 students from preschool to fifth grade attend Phantom Lake Elementary. The school has a great student-teacher ratio at 11.2 students to one teacher, with teachers possessing an average of about 9 years in teaching experience. Phantom Lake test scores are not far behind the district average for state assessment tests. Boundary map
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest Elementary has about 430 students and 36 teachers in average class sizes of 11.2 students per teacher. The school believes in catering to its students’ needs. As a result, it has several student assistance programs that address reading (Title I), language (ESL), math (Math Club), and learning difficulties (Pacific). Boundary map
Somerset
Somerset is one of Bellevue’s top-ranking elementary schools. 670 kids attend the school and learn in classes with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. The school’s 41 teachers have an average teaching experience of 11.6 years. Students with above average learning abilities can enter into the school’s advanced learning program. As a top-ranking school, Somerset’s test scores have consistently hovered around 90% for all three test areas (English, math, and science) in the past four years. Boundary map
Spiritridge
Another top-performing school in the district, Spiritridge serves the West Lake Sammamish area. Its 696 students scored over 80% for all three subjects tested by the state. An average class in the elementary school has 14.7 students and is taught by a teacher with nearly 10 years of experience. Boundary map
Stevenson
Located in the neighborhood of Crossroads, Stevenson Elementary is a school dedicated to fully using available resources to support its students. The school has several programs, including Spanish Dual Language and special education (as early as preschool). 43 teachers teach at Stevenson in average classroom sizes of 14.2 students. The school currently has 696 students enrolled. Boundary map
Wilburton.
Not too far away from downtown Bellevue, Wilburton Elementary is a recently opened school (2018). It currently has 543 students learning in classes made up of 13.5 students on average. Boundary map
Woodridge
Located in the central Bellevue neighborhood of the same name, Woodridge Elementary is a school with a strong STEM streak. Its 484 students test higher in math and science than the district average thanks to its STEM program and an average classroom size of around 13 students. The school employs 36 teachers with an average teaching experience of 10.7 years. 42% of them are National Board-certified. Boundary map
Middle schools
Chinook
Chinook Middle has a student body of 936 students who are instructed by 54 teachers in an average classroom size of 17.6. The school has an above average number of National Board Certified teachers in the district (40%) and emphasizes the students’ social and emotional development as much as their academic progress. Boundary map
Highland
Highland Middle provides schooling for 496 students. Its educational staff consists of 35 teachers who have an average teaching experience of 8.8 years and a class size of 12.8 students. The school promotes biliteracy through the Spanish Dual Language Program and also provides additional support to children with developmental and intellectual disabilities through the Pacific Program. Boundary map
Odle
Odle Middle School’s 1,036 students benefit from a wide variety of programs from special education to advanced learning. The school prides itself in accommodating students from all backgrounds and fostering an environment that encourages academic, social, and emotional development. An average classroom has a ratio of 15.7 students to a teacher. A total of 67 teachers with an average of 10 years in teaching enable students to test higher than the state and district averages on English, math, and science. Boundary map
Tillicum
Tillicum Middle is a top-performing school in the neighborhood of West Lake Sammamish. Its educational staff includes 49 teachers with around 13.4 years of teaching experience. A typical Tillicum classroom has 16 students. The school offers a diverse curriculum that includes languages, the performing arts, and personal growth courses, and its students score significantly higher on English, math, and science tests than the state average. Boundary map
Tyee
With access to 58 teachers with a teaching experience of 10.4 years on average, Tyee Middle’s 1,049 students enjoy high quality education in a supportive environment. The school has advanced learning and special education programs. The students learn in an average classroom size of 17.9, and test high in English, math, and science (over 80% for each area). Boundary map
High schools
Bellevue
1,556 students attend this high school in downtown Bellevue. One of four public high schools in the district, Bellevue High was recently ranked by Newsweek as #443 in its 2020 list of “Top 500 STEM High Schools.” 92% of the high school’s students graduate on time. 82 teachers support students through their four years of study, and student-teacher ratios for Bellevue are only slightly above the state average at 19.8 students to one teacher. Boundary map
Interlake
Ranked at the 220tth spot of Newsweek’s list of the best STEM schools in the country, Interlake High School has 1,717 students and 102 teachers (with 11 years of experience on average). The school’s classroom size is 17.3 students, and 92% of its students graduate on time. Interlake has a strong curriculum supplemented by an IB program, advanced learning opportunities, and two special education programs: Pacific (for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities) and Evergreen Transition (for young adults with disabilities). Boundary map
Newport
Newport High’s rigorous curriculum is geared toward preparing all of its students to excel in college. It has over 27 AP courses, a Spanish language immersion program, a special program for students with autism, and over 60 student clubs. Newport’s 1,787 students have access to 95 teachers with an average teaching experience of 13.3 years. Student-teacher ratios average at 18.4 students to a teacher. The school has a 96% on-time graduation rate and was also mentioned in Newsweek’s list of top STEM schools (#385). Boundary map
Sammamish
At Sammamish, high school students follow a problem-based curriculum that strives to develop each student’s ability to collaborate and apply critical thinking inside and outside of the course content. The school’s 72 teachers are divided among the 1,284 students at a ratio of one teacher to 17 students. It also offers a Spanish language immersion program and the Cascade Program for students who require behavioral support in their studies. Boundary map
Other school districts around Bellevue, WA
School districts in the Eastside region of King County, WA place high when ranked with other districts in the state and the nation. For Bellevue residents who may live on borders or wish to enroll their kids in specific schools outside of the district, inter-district transfers are an option. Bellevue School District’s Student Placement Office handles these transfer requests and can inform parents about slot availability in the schools they wish to transfer to.
Issaquah
Bordering Bellevue to the southeast, Issaquah School District is another top-rated public school system in the area. The district has 26 schools from preschool to high school, which total up to almost 21,000 students. Even though the average classroom size is 22 students, the district has a 92% high school graduation rate and above average test scores in math and English for the state.
Lake Washington
This school district to the northeast of Bellevue, WA accommodates 31,106 students in the cities of Kirkland, Redmond, parts of Sammamish, and the Bothell and Woodinville borders. The over 50 schools in the 76-square mile district rate high in academic performance and progress. Student-teacher ratios are consistent with the state average of 19 students to one teacher.
Renton
Located southwest of Bellevue, Renton School District covers 32.5 square miles and provides education to kids and young adults in the city of Renton. The district encompasses 15,500 students who attend its 23 schools (15 elementary, four middle, and four high schools). Over 80% of the educational staff in the district have at least five years of higher education experience. Four or its schools have previously been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as Blue Ribbon Schools.
Mercer Island
Mercer Island’s school district, which consists of 4,491 students and 500 teachers and staff, has a consistent and long-standing reputation for excellent schools at all levels. There are six schools in the island community (four elementary schools, one middle, and one high school). These schools have an average classroom size of 14.5 students, who are taught by teachers who have an average experience of 11.5 years.
Homes for sale Bellevue, WA
Living in Bellevue, WA gives families access to top-ranking schools with sound educational support and foundation. But top-rated schools aren’t the only advantages of buying a home in this Eastside city. If you’re looking for homes for sale in Bellevue, WA, learn more about what the city has to offer. Get in touch with Brooksview Northwest today at 425.747.7900, or send an email to kevan(at)brooksviewnorthwest(dotted)com .