Best Elementary Schools in King County, Washington
Introduction
King County is home to some of the most academically accomplished elementary schools in the entire country — and if you're a parent researching where to plant roots in the Seattle metro area, you already know the competition for top schools here is fierce. From the tech-hub suburbs of Sammamish and Redmond to the leafy enclaves of Bellevue and Medina, the region attracts highly educated families who prioritize strong schools, and that demand shows up in the data.
What makes this list especially impressive is the consistency across subjects. The schools ranked here aren't just strong in one area — they're excelling in English, math, and science simultaneously, often reaching the 99th or 100th percentile nationally. Whether you're relocating for work at one of the region's major tech employers or simply trying to find the best fit for your child within King County, this guide gives you a clear, honest look at where the top elementary schools are — and what makes each one worth knowing about.
1. Cascadia Elementary — Seattle School District No. 1, Seattle
Cascadia Elementary is about as close to a perfect score as a public school gets, ranking at the 100th percentile nationally in English, math, and science. Located in Seattle's vibrant northeast corridor — think walkable neighborhoods, close proximity to the University District, and a community that genuinely values education — Cascadia draws academically motivated families who want an intellectually rigorous environment for their kids. It's worth noting that Cascadia operates as a Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) school, meaning enrollment is selective, but for families whose children qualify, it's one of the most exceptional public school options in the state.
2. Medina Elementary School — Bellevue School District, Medina
Medina is a small, wealthy city tucked along the eastern shore of Lake Washington, and its elementary school reflects the extraordinary community it serves — scoring at the 100th percentile in English, math, and science. With a tight-knit enrollment and the resources of the highly regarded Bellevue School District behind it, Medina Elementary offers a focused, high-expectations academic environment. Families drawn here tend to appreciate the combination of small-town feel and world-class school performance, all within easy reach of Bellevue's booming job market and amenities.
3. Christa McAuliffe Elementary — Lake Washington School District, Sammamish
Named after the trailblazing teacher and astronaut, Christa McAuliffe Elementary carries its namesake's spirit of curiosity and achievement — and backs it up with 100th percentile scores across English, math, and science. Sammamish is one of the fastest-growing cities in Washington State, attracting young families who work in tech and want a safe, suburban environment with outstanding schools. The Lake Washington School District has a strong reputation countywide, and McAuliffe is one of its brightest stars.
4. Cascade Ridge Elementary — Issaquah School District, Sammamish
Cascade Ridge Elementary sits in the rolling hills of Sammamish and is part of the Issaquah School District, which has built a well-earned reputation for academic excellence throughout the eastern suburbs. Scoring at the 99th percentile in English and the 100th in both math and science, Cascade Ridge is a powerhouse that consistently draws comparisons to the very best schools in the region. Families here tend to be deeply involved in school life, and the Sammamish community offers a suburban lifestyle with top-tier parks, trails, and a strong sense of neighborhood identity.
5. Sunrise Elementary — Northshore School District, Redmond
Redmond is best known as the home of Microsoft, and the families who settle here tend to bring that same high-achievement mindset to their school choices — which is part of why Sunrise Elementary thrives. Scoring at the 100th percentile in English, math, and science, Sunrise is one of the Northshore School District's crown jewels, and the district itself is consistently ranked among the best in Washington State. The school has a reputation for a warm, engaged school community alongside its academic rigor, making it appealing to families who want excellence without a high-pressure atmosphere.
Score Trends — Top 5
Cascadia Elementary continues to lead the pack with exceptional performance across both subjects, pushing English scores to 98 while maintaining a perfect 99 in Math. Medina Elementary shows mixed results, with English dipping slightly from 93 to 92, though Math held steady at 94. Christa McAuliffe Elementary is moving in the right direction, with English jumping from 92 to 94 and Math remaining solid at 93. Cascade Ridge Elementary deserves special recognition for its dramatic improvement, particularly in English where scores surged from 87 to 93—a remarkable six-point gain that signals real progress. Meanwhile, Sunrise Elementary is facing headwinds, with both English and Math declining notably (English fell from 94 to 91, Math from 93 to 90), making it the only top-five school with double-digit subject losses.
6. Somerset Elementary School — Bellevue School District, Bellevue
Perched in the Somerset neighborhood on Bellevue's southern edge, Somerset Elementary is one of the Bellevue School District's consistently top-performing schools, ranking at the 99th percentile in English, math, and science. The Somerset neighborhood is known for its stunning views, well-maintained homes, and a strong community feel — and the school reflects that pride. Bellevue as a city offers a compelling mix of urban energy and suburban comfort, and families who choose Somerset are getting one of the district's most reliable academic performers in a genuinely beautiful setting.
7. Explorer Community School — Lake Washington School District, Redmond
Explorer Community School lives up to its name — it's a project-based learning environment within the Lake Washington School District that encourages students to go deep on topics rather than just covering the curriculum. Scoring at the 100th percentile in English and the 99th in math, Explorer attracts families who want rigorous academics delivered through a more hands-on, inquiry-driven approach. Redmond is a wonderfully livable city with excellent parks and trails, and Explorer draws families from across the area who are specifically looking for a school that does things a little differently — and does them very well.
8. Endeavour Elementary School — Issaquah School District, Issaquah
Endeavour Elementary brings the Issaquah School District's high standards to the city of Issaquah itself — a charming, trail-lined community at the foot of the Cascade foothills that's grown significantly in recent years. Ranking at the 99th percentile in English, math, and science, Endeavour is a school that serious academic families consistently seek out. Issaquah has a character all its own — less corporate-suburb than some of its neighbors, with a genuine small-town downtown and an outdoor recreation culture — and Endeavour fits that community well: high-achieving but grounded.
9. Samantha Smith Elementary — Lake Washington School District, Sammamish
Named after the young American peace activist who became a Cold War symbol of hope, Samantha Smith Elementary is a fitting tribute — a school doing quietly exceptional work in one of the region's most sought-after communities. With 99th percentile scores in English, math, and science, it holds its own among the very best schools in King County. Sammamish families tend to be highly engaged in their children's education, and Samantha Smith benefits from that energy, with a strong sense of community complementing its academic results.
10. Cherry Crest Elementary School — Bellevue School District, Bellevue
Cherry Crest Elementary rounds out this list with a well-deserved spot, scoring at the 99th percentile in English and math and the 98th in science as part of the Bellevue School District's impressive elementary lineup. Located in a residential pocket of Bellevue, Cherry Crest is known for a welcoming community culture and a staff that families consistently praise for going above and beyond. Bellevue continues to grow as one of the most desirable cities in the Pacific Northwest, and Cherry Crest is one of the reasons families specifically seek out its eastern neighborhoods when choosing where to buy a home.
Score Trends — #6-10
Somerset Elementary is making steady gains with English improving from 90 to 92, though Math remained unchanged at 92. Explorer Community School shows a split picture: English dipped one point to 92, but Math experienced an impressive six-point jump from 83 to 89, suggesting strong intervention efforts in numeracy. Endeavour Elementary is demonstrating solid across-the-board improvement, with English rising from 84 to 88 and Math climbing from 87 to 89. Samantha Smith Elementary is also trending positively, gaining three points in English (86 to 89) and one point in Math (86 to 87), showing growth at a school that started lower. Finally, Cherry Crest Elementary is essentially holding the line with English unchanged at 88, though Math dipped slightly from 90 to 89, suggesting a need for renewed focus on mathematics instruction.
How We Rank Schools
Our rankings are based on student proficiency data in three subjects: English (weighted at 40%), Math (weighted at 40%), and Science (weighted at 20%). We convert raw proficiency rates into percentile scores so you can compare schools on a level playing field — regardless of district size or geography.
When multiple years of data are available, we weight more recent years more heavily, so the rankings reflect where a school is trending today rather than where it was several years ago. Our goal is to give you an honest, up-to-date snapshot of academic performance across every public elementary school in King County.
Compare Schools Yourself
Numbers tell part of the story, but every family's priorities are different. If you want to put any of these schools head-to-head — or compare them against schools in your specific neighborhood — use our school comparison tool at theschooladvocate.com/compare. You can select multiple schools, view subject-by-subject breakdowns, and get a clearer picture of which school might be the right fit for your child. It's free, and it's built for exactly this kind of decision.
Top 50 Rankings
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascadia Elementary | Seattle School District No. 1 | Seattle | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | Medina Elementary School | Bellevue School District | MEDINA | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 3 | Christa Mcauliffe Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Sammamish | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 4 | Cascade Ridge Elementary | Issaquah School District | SAMMAMISH | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 5 | Sunrise Elementary | Northshore School District | Redmond | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 6 | Somerset Elementary School | Bellevue School District | Bellevue | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 7 | Explorer Community School | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 100 | 99 | 99 |
| 8 | Endeavour Elementary School | Issaquah School District | ISSAQUAH | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 9 | Samantha Smith Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Sammamish | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 10 | Cherry Crest Elementary School | Bellevue School District | Bellevue | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 11 | Island Park Elementary | Mercer Island School District | Mercer Island | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 12 | Frantz Coe Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 13 | Louisa May Alcott Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 14 | John Stanford International School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 15 | McDonald International School | Seattle School District No. 1 | Seattle | 97 | 99 | 99 |
| 16 | Discovery Elementary | Issaquah School District | ISSAQUAH | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| 17 | Horace Mann Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 99 | 98 | 98 |
| 18 | Fernwood Elementary | Northshore School District | Bothell | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| 19 | West Mercer Elementary | Mercer Island School District | Mercer Island | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 20 | Snoqualmie Elementary | Snoqualmie Valley School District | SNOQUALMIE | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| 21 | Lakeridge Elementary School | Mercer Island School District | Mercer Island | 99 | 98 | 98 |
| 22 | Rosa Parks Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 98 | 97 | 98 |
| 23 | Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Woodinville | 97 | 97 | 98 |
| 24 | Cascade View Elementary School | Snoqualmie Valley School District | Snoqualmie | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 25 | Jing Mei Elementary School | Bellevue School District | Bellevue | 95 | 99 | 98 |
| 26 | Rachel Carson Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Sammamish | 97 | 98 | 97 |
| 27 | Wedgwood Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 98 | 96 | 97 |
| 28 | Greenwood Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 98 | 96 | 97 |
| 29 | West Woodland Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 98 | 96 | 97 |
| 30 | Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Sammamish | 97 | 96 | 97 |
| 31 | Cougar Ridge Elementary | Issaquah School District | BELLEVUE | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| 32 | View Ridge Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 33 | John J. Audubon Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| 34 | Grand Ridge Elementary | Issaquah School District | Issaquah | 95 | 98 | 97 |
| 35 | Bryant Elementary School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 99 | 96 | 97 |
| 36 | Sunny Hills Elementary | Issaquah School District | SAMMAMISH | 96 | 98 | 96 |
| 37 | Benjamin Franklin Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Kirkland | 96 | 97 | 96 |
| 38 | Ella Baker Elementary School | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 96 | 95 | 96 |
| 39 | Lakeview Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Kirkland | 97 | 97 | 96 |
| 40 | Creekside Elementary | Issaquah School District | Sammamish | 95 | 96 | 96 |
| 41 | Meridian Park Elementary School | Shoreline School District | Shoreline | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| 42 | Catharine Blaine K-8 School | Seattle School District No. 1 | SEATTLE | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| 43 | Canyon Creek Elementary | Northshore School District | Bothell | 95 | 96 | 96 |
| 44 | East Ridge Elementary | Northshore School District | Woodinville | 95 | 94 | 96 |
| 45 | Kokanee Elementary | Northshore School District | Woodinville | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| 46 | Clara Barton Elementary School | Lake Washington School District | Redmond | 96 | 94 | 95 |
| 47 | Queen Anne Elementary | Seattle School District No. 1 | Seattle | 96 | 93 | 95 |
| 48 | Fall City Elementary | Snoqualmie Valley School District | FALL CITY | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| 49 | Margaret Mead Elementary | Lake Washington School District | Sammamish | 97 | 96 | 95 |
| 50 | Woodridge Elementary | Bellevue School District | Bellevue | 94 | 94 | 95 |