2026 data 27 schools WA

Best Schools in Kirkland, WA

27 public K-12 schools in Kirkland from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

27 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Kirkland, WA using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

27
Schools
12,429
Students
Avg Quality
17.4:1
Avg Class Size

How the Kirkland Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

Kirkland, WA enrolls 12,429 students across 27 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 17.4:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in Kirkland is Lake Washington High School, scoring 45/100 (D) with 2,081 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

Kirkland schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Kirkland housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

Lake Washington High School accounts for 16.7% of all Kirkland public-school enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Kirkland-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A dominant campus often anchors a city's program landscape and absorbs a disproportionate share of district capital and staffing decisions. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Kirkland school enrollment varies 416× across entities

Kirkland school enrollment ranges from 5 students (lowest) to 2,081 students (highest), a spread of 2,076 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Kirkland student-teacher ratio is 17.4:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Kirkland is typically wider than the Kirkland-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. Lake Washington High School 45 D
2. Juanita High School 48 D
3. Kirkland Middle School 37 F
4. Finn Hill Middle School 35 F
5. Lakeview Elementary 48 D
6. Peter Kirk Elementary 45 D
7. Kamiakin Middle School 45 D
8. Rose Hill Elementary 46 D
9. Mark Twain Elementary 44 D
10. Alexander Graham Bell Elementary 40 D
11. Benjamin Franklin Elementary 59 C
12. Robert Frost Elementary 45 D
13. International Community School 59 C
14. Henry David Thoreau Elementary 50 C-
15. Juanita Elementary 48 D
16. Carl Sandburg Elementary 52 C-
17. John Muir Elementary 52 C-
18. Helen Keller Elementary 60 C+
19. Lake Washington Technical Academy 100 A+
20. Environmental & Adventure School 31 F
21. Northstar Middle School 42 D
22. Discovery Community School 54 C-
23. Community School 40 D
24. Emerson High School 58 C
25. Emerson K-12 50 C-
26. Futures School 40 D
27. Open Doors at Lwit

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Kirkland, WA?

The top-rated school in Kirkland is Lake Washington High School with a quality score of 45/100. There are 27 public schools in Kirkland with 12,429 total students.

How many schools are in Kirkland, WA?

Kirkland has 27 public schools with a total enrollment of 12,429 students. Average student-teacher ratio: 17.4:1.

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Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.