Services, Option Schools, and Programs
Locations of Student Services, Option Schools, and Programs
Seattle Public Schools offers a variety of programs and services to meet a range of student needs, including the following:
- Highly Capable Services
- English Learner Services for Multilingual Learners
- Special Education Services
- Services for Students Experiencing Homelessness (McKinney-Vento)
An attendance area school is a school students are assigned to based on where they live, as long as the school offers the services the student needs. Most services are available at attendance area schools.
Students may apply to attend a school other than their attendance area school through Open Enrollment for School Choice.
Linked Schools
For required services not available at every attendance area school, a linked school is generally designated. This provides predictable assignments for students who need these services. Please refer to the below linked school charts.
- Linked School Charts for Elementary Schools
- Linked School Charts for Middle Schools
- Linked School Charts for High Schools
Option Schools
Option schools provide a variety of programmatic opportunities for families looking for choices in addition to their attendance area schools. Families can apply for assignment to these schools during Open Enrollment for School Choice or can be requested for new students to the district at the time of enrollment, per seat availability. These schools have geo zones.
Elementary
K-8
High School
Geographic Area (Geo Zones)
Students who want to attend an option school need to apply during Open Enrollment for School Choice. No one is assigned automatically to an option school. Each option school has a geographic priority area (geo zone). The geographic zone tiebreaker is for applicants to an option school who live within a defined area in proximity to the school.
Please note that living within the geographic zone does not guarantee assignment to the requested option school, but gives a priority for admission after siblings. Geo zones may change from year to year as a tool for capacity management.
Dual Language Immersion Feeder Patterns
John Stanford and McDonald Elementary Schools > Hamilton Middle School > Lincoln High School
Beacon Hill and Dearborn Park Elementary Schools > Mercer Middle School > Rainier Beach High School
Concord Elementary > Denny Middle School > Chief Sealth High School
Native Speaker applicants set-aside for Dual Language Immersion Option Schools is defined as a student whose first language (or one of their first languages) is the target language.
Option Schools with Continuous Enrollment
Option schools with continuous enrollment offer unique services, opportunities, and learning environments to meet individual student needs. Students may request assignment to these schools or may be referred to one. These schools do not have geo zones. Families are welcome to apply to these schools during Open Enrollment and throughout the school year.
BRIDGES
A program for students currently receiving special education services and is at least the ages 18-21.
BRIDGES is a way to service children with intellectual disabilities that require vocational assistance; it’s main focus is post-education in helping students cope with everyday life such as applying for a job, creating a resume and keeping it once obtained.
Placement to the BRIDGES program is at the discretion of the student’s Special Education team and case manager.
Service Schools
Service schools are those other schools and services that are available to meet individual student needs. Students may request assignment to a service school and/or may be referred there and assigned individually as appropriate. Unlike attendance area schools and option schools, students may transition into or out of service schools during the school year. The annual timeline and deadlines for assignment to attendance area schools and option schools do not apply to service schools.
Students are usually placed in a service school based on individual assessment. Assignments to service schools are choice assignments except for the Seattle World School, which is a designated assignment.
- Head Start
- Education Admission Centers
- Special Education Consortium (Children’s Home Society, McGraw Center, Experimental Education Unit, Private School Services, and other non-SPS services)
Charter Schools in Seattle
Seattle Public Schools recognizes currently operating commission-authorized charter schools including Green Dot, Rainier Prep, Summit Atlas, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy and Sierra. More information about these schools, their curriculum, and enrollment is available through the Washington State Charter School Commission.
