Is The Center School a good school?

Yes. The Center School ranks in the top 5.3% of Washington high schools.

How many students attend The Center School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 184 students attended The Center School.

What is the racial makeup of The Center School?

Students at The Center School are 62% White, 15% Not Specified, 12% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 2% American Indian.

The Center School

Summary:

The Center School is a public high school located in Seattle, Washington, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 245 students. As part of the Seattle School District No. 1, which is ranked 48 out of 247 districts in Washington, The Center School consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The Center School's students demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, with 86.96% proficient or better in SBAC/English Language Arts and 54.35% proficient or better in SBAC/Math, significantly outperforming the district and state averages. The school also excels in science, with 86.67% of students proficient or better in WCAS/Science. Additionally, The Center School maintains a high four-year graduation rate of 94.5%, much higher than the district and state averages, and a low dropout rate of only 1.3%. The school's diverse student population, with a relatively balanced racial makeup, is a positive aspect that sets it apart from some nearby schools, such as Ballard High School and West Seattle High School.

The Center School's consistent high performance, exceptional support for underserved populations, and commitment to racial diversity and equity make it a standout institution within the Seattle School District and the state of Washington. Its academic excellence, high graduation rates, and low dropout rates are particularly noteworthy when compared to nearby high schools, further solidifying The Center School's reputation as a premier public education option in the Seattle area.

Detail:

Public 9-12

305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109-4623

(206) 252-9850

District: Seattle School District No. 1

SchoolDigger Rank:
23^rd of 437 Washington High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,409

Student/teacher ratio: 14.3

Number of students: 184

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.0%

Not Specified:

15.2%

Hispanic:

12.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 17.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details The Center School ranks better than 94.7% of high schools in Washington. It also ranks 3^rd among 15 ranked high schools in the Seattle School District No. 1. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.81. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at The Center School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (62%), Hispanic (12%), two or more races (6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 17.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at The Center School is 14.3, which is the 5^th best among 15 high schools in the Seattle School District No. 1. (See more...)

Compare The Center School employs 12.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at The Center School is $21,409, which is the 10^th highest among 15 high schools in the Seattle School District No. 1.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

The Center School:

SchoolDigger ranks The Center School 23^rd of 437 Washington public high schools. (See The Center School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Seattle School District No. 1:

SchoolDigger ranks Seattle School District No. 1 48^th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for The Center School.

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Rank History for The Center School

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Rank History for all students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	87.83	28^th	390	92.8%
2005	92.07	17^th	394	95.7%
2006	87.93	23^rd	395	94.2%
2007	87.59	22^nd	399	94.5%
2008	77.19	68^th	396	82.8%
2009	77.46	72^nd	402	82.1%
2010	83.66	44^th	423	89.6%
2011	76.03	35^th	440	92.0%
2012	79.92	23^rd	450	94.9%
2013	76.22	45^th	454	90.1%
2016	90.15	13^th	306	95.8%
2018	79.83	51^st	315	83.8%
2019	78.85	70^th	417	83.2%
2021	91.40	25^th	455	94.5%
2022	77.90	77^th	434	82.3%
2023	93.50	21^st	442	95.2%
2024	93.81	23^rd	437	94.7%

See the entire list of Washington High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	97.25	4^th	212	98.1%
2023	98.38	2^nd	110	98.2%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	98.65	3^rd	392	99.2%
2023	96.87	7^th	362	98.1%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	82.05	31^st	243	87.2%
2019	73.34	83^rd	358	76.8%
2021	88.50	34^th	390	91.3%
2022	67.91	106^th	368	71.2%
2023	95.96	10^th	357	97.2%
2024	94.26	15^th	347	95.7%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	64.94	86^th	254	66.1%
2019	82.33	46^th	355	87.0%
2021	90.56	25^th	395	93.7%
2022	73.38	86^th	363	76.3%
2023	76.08	63^rd	358	82.4%
2024	83.21	53^rd	362	85.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at The Center School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	79.57	37^th	222	83.3%
2019	75.52	77^th	382	79.8%
2021	86.63	38^th	413	90.8%
2022	76.59	75^th	390	80.8%
2023	90.05	19^th	379	95.0%
2024	94.89	11^th	374	97.1%

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.

Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, February 13, 2012

Center is a refugee school. Focuse on arts was the original charter but it offers less art study opportunities than most district high schools. Case in point; all musical instruments were removed from the school in 2010 “because they were a nuisance”. Because of its arts status Center is free of district boundary lines. Center is the only alternative for students from the worst Seattle schools. For many attending Center, their designated High School is not an option. As a result ratings of the school become inflated because the alternative for so many involved is so much worse. Parents involved enough to find this alternative are also capable of backing & defending the school vigorously. For this reason many who choose this school find that it is vastly overrated.

The gross lack of parity in Seattle Schools is inexcusable & sets up the conditions for an overrated school such a Center to exist; highest $/student in the state with less than mediocre results. District leadership & vision only prevents every school from being a Roosevelt or Garfield. If Seattle Schools had parity there would be no Center. Close Quote

Enrollment information for The Center School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	174	15	10	22	6	n/a	n/a	0	227
2003	174	15	10	22	6	n/a	n/a	0	227
2004	231	17	18	30	10	n/a	n/a	0	306
2005	238	15	13	21	6	n/a	n/a	0	293
2006	213	19	16	23	9	n/a	n/a	0	280
2007	206	25	20	20	10	n/a	n/a	0	281
2008	196	25	21	26	10	n/a	n/a	0	278
2009	198	29	15	24	9	n/a	n/a	0	275
2010	206	32	17	27	9	n/a	n/a	0	291
2011	221	31	20	19	9	0	0	0	300
2012	204	17	21	20	3	0	15	0	280
2013	198	24	22	15	4	0	22	0	285
2014	204	15	21	9	2	0	21	0	272
2015	202	15	16	23	2	0	17	0	275
2016	191	17	12	27	2	0	21	0	270
2017	167	11	10	27	1	0	18	0	234
2018	175	8	12	27	1	0	19	0	242
2019	169	7	20	31	0	0	17	1	245
2020	179	5	16	22	2	0	23	6	253
2021	166	8	15	24	4	1	21	12	251
2022	182	8	11	23	3	1	20	18	266
2023	152	9	9	30	4	0	17	24	245
2024	114	3	3	22	3	0	11	28	184

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 The Center School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	227	10.4	21.8	n/a
2003	227	10.4	21.8	n/a
2004	306	13.0	23.5	n/a
2005	293	12.9	22.7	0
2006	280	13.6	20.6	0
2007	281	13.3	21.1	16
2008	278	14.3	19.4	10.8
2009	275	14.3	19.2	12.4
2010	291	13.7	21.2	16.5
2011	300	14.2	21.1	17
2012	280	14.7	19.0	14.6
2013	285	13.9	20.5	19.6
2014	272	n/a	n/a	22.8
2015	275	14.0	19.6	17.1
2016	270	14.0	19.2	17.4
2017	234	14.1	16.5	15.8
2018	242	13.2	18.3	12.4
2019	245	14.5	16.8	8.6
2020	253	13.4	18.8	12.3
2021	251	14.4	17.4	14.3
2022	266	13.8	19.2	20.3
2023	245	14.5	16.8	22.4
2024	184	12.8	14.3	17.4

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 The Center School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	227	10.4	21.8	n/a
2003	227	10.4	21.8	n/a
2004	306	13.0	23.5	n/a
2005	293	12.9	22.7	0
2006	280	13.6	20.6	0
2007	281	13.3	21.1	16
2008	278	14.3	19.4	10.8
2009	275	14.3	19.2	12.4
2010	291	13.7	21.2	16.5
2011	300	14.2	21.1	17
2012	280	14.7	19.0	14.6
2013	285	13.9	20.5	19.6
2014	272	n/a	n/a	22.8
2015	275	14.0	19.6	17.1
2016	270	14.0	19.2	17.4
2017	234	14.1	16.5	15.8
2018	242	13.2	18.3	12.4
2019	245	14.5	16.8	8.6
2020	253	13.4	18.8	12.3
2021	251	14.4	17.4	14.3
2022	266	13.8	19.2	20.3
2023	245	14.5	16.8	22.4
2024	184	12.8	14.3	17.4

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