Mercer Island High School

Summary:

Mercer Island High School is a public high school serving 1,524 students in grades 9-12 in the highly-ranked Mercer Island School District, which is ranked 1 out of 247 districts in Washington state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Mercer Island High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Washington, ranking 3rd out of 437 high schools in the state for the 2023-2024 school year. This is reflected in its exceptional test scores, with 93.17% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in SBAC/English Language Arts and 86.98% proficient or better in SBAC/Math, significantly higher than the state averages. The school also maintains a consistently high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 92.3% to 94.8% over the past five years, well above the state average. Despite its high academic performance, Mercer Island High School has a relatively diverse student population, with a significant representation of Asian and multi-racial students.

Mercer Island High School's strong performance across various student subgroups suggests that it is able to provide an equitable educational experience and support the success of students from diverse backgrounds. The school's higher spending per student compared to the state average may contribute to its ability to provide a high-quality educational experience. While Mercer Island High School outperforms many of the nearby schools, such as International School and Newport Senior High School, which also demonstrate strong academic performance and high rankings, Mercer Island High School stands out as an exceptional high school that consistently delivers outstanding results.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 9100 SE 42nd
       Mercer Island, WA  98040-4199


(206) 236-3345

District: Mercer Island School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
3rd of 437 Washington High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,878 Help


Feeder schools for Mercer Island High School:

Elementary:    Island Park Elementary
    Lakeridge Elementary School
    Northwood Elementary School
    West Mercer Elementary
Middle:    Islander Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  20.4 Help
Number of students:  1,524

Racial breakdown:

White:
56.7%
Asian:
24.2%
Two or more races:
10.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  6.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Mercer Island High School ranks better than 99.3% of high schools in Washington. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 98.4. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Mercer Island High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (56.7%), Asian (24.2%), two or more races (10.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 6.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mercer Island High School is 20.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Mercer Island High School employs 74.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mercer Island High School is $17,878.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Mercer Island High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Mercer Island High School 3rd of 437 Washington public high schools. (See Mercer Island High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Mercer Island School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mercer Island School District 1st of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Mercer Island High School?

Rank History for Mercer Island High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 97.26 4th 390 99.0%
2005 95.80 4th 394 99.0%
2006 93.36 7th 395 98.2%
2007 91.21 9th 399 97.7%
2008 90.74 12th 396 97.0%
2009 89.48 13th 402 96.8%
2010 92.87 12th 423 97.2%
2011 86.33 9th 440 98.0%
2012 83.53 10th 450 97.8%
2013 79.68 25th 454 94.5%
2015 47.55 164th 341 51.9%
2016 91.91 7th 306 97.7%
2017 79.49 48th 301 84.1%
2018 87.61 20th 315 93.7%
2019 97.49 6th 417 98.6%
2021 97.68 6th 455 98.7%
2022 96.94 6th 434 98.6%
2023 98.17 5th 442 98.9%
2024 98.40 3rd 437 99.3%
See the entire list of Washington High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.10 13th 91 85.7%
2019 92.51 8th 163 95.1%
2021 97.69 1st 195 99.5%
2022 95.39 3rd 179 98.3%
2023 98.12 1st 166 99.4%
2024 96.00 2nd 161 98.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.72 1st 139 99.3%
2019 99.98 1st 128 99.2%
2021 81.07 14th 212 93.4%
2022 99.63 1st 130 99.2%
2023 93.10 10th 110 90.9%
2024 97.71 3rd 110 97.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 93.81 9th 392 97.7%
2022 97.16 4th 370 98.9%
2023 97.93 6th 362 98.3%
2024 99.14 3rd 356 99.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.88 20th 243 91.8%
2019 96.92 5th 358 98.6%
2021 97.86 5th 390 98.7%
2022 95.41 10th 368 97.3%
2023 97.53 5th 357 98.6%
2024 98.09 4th 347 98.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.52 13th 254 94.9%
2019 97.84 4th 355 98.9%
2021 97.28 5th 395 98.7%
2022 97.77 3rd 363 99.2%
2023 98.69 3rd 358 99.2%
2024 98.60 3rd 362 99.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.00 16th 87 81.6%
2019 95.44 2nd 121 98.3%
2021 90.14 8th 136 94.1%
2022 90.18 11th 124 91.1%
2023 89.47 14th 118 88.1%
2024 91.30 7th 113 93.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 99.85 1st 278 99.6%
2022 94.54 11th 261 95.8%
2023 99.83 1st 249 99.6%
2024 100.00 1st 248 99.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Mercer Island High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.92 30th 222 86.5%
2019 95.22 6th 382 98.4%
2021 95.65 8th 413 98.1%
2022 94.73 7th 390 98.2%
2023 97.05 3rd 379 99.2%
2024 97.85 2nd 374 99.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Mercer Island High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Mercer Island High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1104 19 109 6 2 n/a n/a 0 1240
1989 1024 15 118 6 2 n/a n/a 0 1165
1990 954 18 135 5 2 n/a n/a 0 1114
1991 854 21 140 7 2 n/a n/a 0 1024
1992 819 21 146 10 1 n/a n/a 0 997
1993 869 29 139 15 0 n/a n/a 0 1052
1994 943 26 139 21 3 n/a n/a 0 1132
1995 891 28 149 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1075
1996 891 28 149 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1075
1997 972 23 178 18 0 n/a n/a 0 1191
1998 1028 28 201 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1272
1999 1055 27 206 14 2 n/a n/a 0 1304
2000 1100 26 223 19 2 n/a n/a 0 1370
2001 1127 30 235 19 2 n/a n/a 0 1413
2002 1081 23 256 25 3 n/a n/a 0 1388
2003 1081 23 256 25 3 n/a n/a 0 1388
2004 1086 25 250 32 2 n/a n/a 0 1395
2005 1144 23 261 35 3 n/a n/a 0 1466
2006 1137 18 271 32 2 n/a n/a 0 1460
2007 1128 15 251 28 2 n/a n/a 0 1424
2008 1091 17 255 30 1 n/a n/a 0 1394
2009 1051 18 270 32 2 n/a n/a 17 1390
2010 1084 21 278 30 4 n/a n/a 16 1433
2011 1063 22 293 36 6 4 8 0 1432
2012 1056 16 303 45 9 4 20 0 1453
2013 1073 21 289 42 6 2 23 0 1456
2014 993 23 279 46 7 2 34 0 1384
2015 1003 24 292 54 6 2 35 0 1416
2016 1023 20 302 54 7 3 55 0 1464
2017 1030 15 304 60 8 2 81 0 1500
2018 1059 13 298 59 5 1 86 0 1521
2019 1055 19 303 58 2 4 108 3 1552
2020 1048 16 296 50 1 6 124 3 1544
2021 1028 14 313 54 0 4 136 2 1551
2022 901 28 346 92 0 6 166 5 1544
2023 864 18 369 98 0 3 162 10 1524

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Mercer Island High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1240 59.0 21.0 0
1989 1165 55.0 21.1 n/a
1990 1114 55.7 20.0 0
1991 1024 46.8 21.8 n/a
1992 997 53.3 18.7 n/a
1993 1052 48.6 21.6 n/a
1994 1132 51.3 22.1 n/a
1995 1075 52.2 20.6 n/a
1996 1075 52.2 20.6 n/a
1997 1191 53.9 22.1 n/a
1998 1272 58.8 21.6 n/a
1999 1304 62.0 21.0 n/a
2000 1370 64.7 21.2 n/a
2001 1413 66.2 21.3 n/a
2002 1388 62.5 22.2 n/a
2003 1388 62.5 22.2 n/a
2004 1395 65.0 21.5 n/a
2005 1466 64.6 22.7 0
2006 1460 67.2 21.7 0
2007 1424 67.6 21.1 0
2008 1394 67.9 20.5 0
2009 1390 67.9 20.5 n/a
2010 1433 63.4 22.5 n/a
2011 1432 63.5 22.5 2.7
2012 1453 63.9 22.7 4.1
2013 1456 69.4 20.9 3.7
2014 1384 n/a n/a 4
2015 1416 70.0 20.2 4.5
2016 1464 72.0 20.3 4
2017 1500 71.6 20.9 3.4
2018 1521 75.6 20.1 3.2
2019 1552 77.4 20.0 3.7
2020 1544 74.0 20.8 3.4
2021 1551 74.5 20.8 3.5
2022 1544 76.9 20.0 3.8
2023 1524 74.5 20.4 6.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Mercer Island High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1240 59.0 21.0 0
1989 1165 55.0 21.1 n/a
1990 1114 55.7 20.0 0
1991 1024 46.8 21.8 n/a
1992 997 53.3 18.7 n/a
1993 1052 48.6 21.6 n/a
1994 1132 51.3 22.1 n/a
1995 1075 52.2 20.6 n/a
1996 1075 52.2 20.6 n/a
1997 1191 53.9 22.1 n/a
1998 1272 58.8 21.6 n/a
1999 1304 62.0 21.0 n/a
2000 1370 64.7 21.2 n/a
2001 1413 66.2 21.3 n/a
2002 1388 62.5 22.2 n/a
2003 1388 62.5 22.2 n/a
2004 1395 65.0 21.5 n/a
2005 1466 64.6 22.7 0
2006 1460 67.2 21.7 0
2007 1424 67.6 21.1 0
2008 1394 67.9 20.5 0
2009 1390 67.9 20.5 n/a
2010 1433 63.4 22.5 n/a
2011 1432 63.5 22.5 2.7
2012 1453 63.9 22.7 4.1
2013 1456 69.4 20.9 3.7
2014 1384 n/a n/a 4
2015 1416 70.0 20.2 4.5
2016 1464 72.0 20.3 4
2017 1500 71.6 20.9 3.4
2018 1521 75.6 20.1 3.2
2019 1552 77.4 20.0 3.7
2020 1544 74.0 20.8 3.4
2021 1551 74.5 20.8 3.5
2022 1544 76.9 20.0 3.8
2023 1524 74.5 20.4 6.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates

Mercer Island High School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201996.7%0.1%0.9%2.0%98.7%98.5%98.3%98.3%98.2%98.7%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Mercer Island High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $692 (4.8%) $13,700 (95.2%) $14,392
2020 $113 (0.9%) $11,825 (99.1%) $11,938
2021 $318 (1.9%) $16,325 (98.1%) $16,643
2022 $1,059 (5.9%) $16,820 (94.1%) $17,878

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mercer Island High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 6th of 417 High schoolsRanks 5th of 442 High schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Mercer Island High School)98.591.9
 6.7%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Mercer Island School District)98.591.9
 6.7%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)72.865.9
 6.9%
10th Grade Math (Mercer Island High School)89.680.6
 9%
   10th Grade Math (Mercer Island School District)89.680.6
 9%
   10th Grade Math (Washington)42.433.3
 9.1%
11th Grade Science (Mercer Island High School)84.989.4
 4.5%
   11th Grade Science (Mercer Island School District)84.989.4
 4.5%
   11th Grade Science (Washington)5050.5
 0.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Mercer Island High School)98.591.9
 6.7%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Mercer Island School District)87.284.3
 2.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Mercer Island High School)89.680.6
 9%
   All Grades Math (Mercer Island School District)82.978.9
 4%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Mercer Island High School)84.989.4
 4.5%
   All Grades Science (Mercer Island School District)82.582.8
 0.3%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students15521524
 1.8%
African American1918
 5.3%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian303369
 21.8%
Hispanic5898
 69%
Pacific Islander43
 25%
White1055864
 18.1%
Two or More Races108162
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients3.7%6.5%
 2.8%


Schools Near Mercer Island High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Mercer Island High School

Students at Mercer Island High School are 57% White, 24% Asian, 11% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 1% African American.

Mercer Island High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Island Park Elementary
Elementary : Lakeridge Elementary School
Elementary : Northwood Elementary School
Elementary : West Mercer Elementary
Middle : Islander Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,524 students attended Mercer Island High School.

Yes! Mercer Island High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 3rd of 437 Washington high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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