A holiday message from Seattle Public Schools made the usual gestures: thanks to staff and families amid gentle reference to “challenges” and aspirations for the coming year. But read between the lines.
The note from interim Superintendent Fred Podesta betrays a notably modest tone, acknowledging in the gentlest way that SPS is not where it should be. “It is a time for renewed hope as we work together to make Seattle Public Schools one of the top districts in the nation,” he said.
Humility is fine. And years of crushing budget deficits, a feckless school board and churn at the top have undoubtedly taken their toll. But Seattle should already be a top-flight district nationally, especially in this city built upon brainpower and innovation.
Right now, it isn’t even one of the best in the state.
The criterion for such designations is squishy. Sometimes it’s based on graduation rates. Other times, it’s climate surveys that show how students feel about their schools. But a few categories should be nonnegotiable — such as performance on skills tests, rates of post-high school enrollment and the share of kids passing high-rigor courses, particularly those from low-income families.
In that last category, there is real reason for optimism. Eighty percent of students in Seattle’s Class of 2024 took at least one Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate class, and more than 95% passed. Better still, the number of low-income students participating in these demanding courses has risen markedly in the last 10 years. That is an important accomplishment.
College-going has improved, too. More than 80% of the Class of 2023 enrolled in a degree or career-training program after graduation, the highest rate ever.
But test scores, still down compared to pre-pandemic rates, remain a problem. While academic performance is tightly correlated with family income, poverty should never be an excuse. Consider Issaquah — often cited as Washington’s top school district — where low-income students are scoring about 12 points higher than low-income kids in Seattle.
Education is not a contest. Things like community support and a sense of belonging matter, and they will never show up on test results. By that measure, many of Seattle’s schools are doing OK. But OK is not national-level standout. And that’s what Seattle should be.
So aim higher, SPS! With an ambitious new superintendent about to take the helm, the time has come to supercharge this district.
