Educational Attainment
Degrees held by adults.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502WA).
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher (%) | 39.5 | 35.0 |
- •More than 60% of adults in Seattle hold a bachelor's degree, one of the highest shares of any large U.S. city.
Schools
K-12 school system.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Per-pupil spending (USD) | 14300 | 15600 |
- •Washington's 421 school districts are funded through a revenue-limit system in place since 1993.
Universities
Higher education.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Public four-year institutions | 6 | ~10 |
- •The University of Washington is one of the largest recipients of federal research funding in the world.
Graduation Rates
Completion of high school.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| High school graduation rate (%) | 90.0 | 87.0 |
- •Washington's high-school graduation rate is among the ten highest in the country.
Student Enrollment
Students in the system.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 enrollment (M) | 1.08 | 49.6 |
- •Washington's largest district, Seattle Public Schools, serves about 49,000 students.
Student-Teacher Ratios
Class staffing.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-teacher ratio | 14.9 | 15.4 |
- •Washington's student-teacher ratio beats the national average, though teacher turnover rose sharply after Act 10 in 2011.