Seattle Public Schools

Well-Resourced Schools at Seattle Public Schools

Background and Budget

How did we get here? What is informing this proposal?  

We have reached a crossroads for our district. 

Our aim is for all our schools to reflect community values and provide a complete education that prepares students for success throughout their lives.

The alternative being presented to the Seattle School Board is that our district takes on the challenging but rewarding work to develop a system of Well-Resourced Schools.  

Enrollment and Number of School Buildings in Operation 

Student enrollment has declined while student support needs have increased – especially in these years following the pandemic. Enrollment is expected to continue to decline over the next few years. 

In 2024, SPS enrollment is approximately 48,000 students with 104 school buildings in operation.

In 1964, district enrollment peaked with 94,042 students and the district had 117 school buildings

Despite these population changes in our city, it has been many years since we have closed school buildings in SPS. 

SPS operates more than 70 schools serving students in preschool through 5th grade.

This new model would mean, SPS would have fewer school buildings that serve students in preschool through 5th grade, but the building capacity would be better aligned with student enrollment.  

Our Neighbor Districts Around the Puget Sound

By comparison, none of our neighboring school districts (Bellevue, Renton, Lake Washington, Shoreline, and Highline) have an elementary school with less than 300 students.

A young student stacks blocks in a classroom
A representation of the data dashboard that shows a bar chart with school district names including Northshore, Highline, Bellevue, and Seattle
Data Dashboard
School Size Comparison

See how school sizes compare in school districts in the greater Puget Sound region.

Open the dashboard

Our goal is to provide more stability. The well-resourced schools initiative provides: 

  • Stable Funding:  
    • fiscal stabilization by eliminating the district’s structural deficit 
    • multi-year budgeting process so we can look ahead confidently 
  • Stable Staffing:  
    • predictable school allocations;  
    • new Weighted Staffing Standards (WSS)  
  • Stable Programs and Services in our schools, including special education services; English language services; expansion of Highly Capable access  
  • Stable Operations with increased transportation efficiency 

In the long run, everyone — students, staff, and families — will benefit from having enough resources in our school buildings. Teachers will collaborate better, and families will feel confident that their children are safe and learning effectively. 

While this plan will mean some large-scale system changes, it is crucial to focus on the end goal: creating a school system where every student has access to the academic, social, and emotional support they need.

Graphic that includes 8 components with icons and text. - Multiple teachers per grade level - Stable support staff - Inclusive learning for EVERY student - Social and emotional learning support -Art, music, and PE teachers - Stable operational budgets - Safe, healthy, and beautiful schools and grounds - Connections to the community
(click to enlarge graphic)

What is a well-resourced school?

A Well-Resourced School:  

  • includes access to high-quality educators and modern classroom resources, textbooks, and technology 
  • offers curriculum that is inclusive and representative of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities  
  • prioritizes safety through proactive security measures 
  • fosters a supportive environment where students feel valued and supported socially and emotionally

Guiding the SPS Well-resourced Schools Vision 

SPS well-resourced school conversations will be guided by Board Policy 0010, Instructional Philosophy, Board Policy 0030, Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity, and Board Policy 2200: Equitable Access to Programs and Services. 

These policies demonstrate the Seattle Public Schools commitment that students will be supported and affirmed in their learning, with multiple pathways to success, in school environments where they feel seen, heard, and welcomed in all spaces.

Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity

Seattle Public Schools has made eight commitments to the success of every student in each of our schools.

Read SPS Policy 0030

Balancing the Budget and Fiscal Considerations   

We are using a balanced and equitable budgeting process.  

Moving to a system of well-resourced schools provides many benefits for students, families, and staff. These include more staffing resources and fewer staffing adjustments due to budget. 

Tutor and student working on reading.

Like many school districts across the state, SPS is facing a significant budget deficit. The district has been working hard to respond to this challenge. 

We are working to stabilize our financial future to be sure our schools can provide resources our community consistently priorities

We aim to stabilize the SPS budget over time while creating better, stronger well-resourced schools. This new model would mean SPS would have fewer school buildings that serve students in preschool through 5th grade, but the building capacity would be better aligned with student enrollment. 

District Structural Deficit and School Impacts

Update to Community on Seattle Public Schools Budget: Supporting Students Together

Every spring, school principals develop their building’s budget for the next school year. Budgets guide us as we work to prioritize inclusive and high-quality education for our students.

To achieve a balanced budget, we know we must make changes. We are approaching these decisions in a thoughtful way to ensure we minimize negative impacts on student learning.

Read the full March budget update

Well-Resourced Schools Community Engagement

The community vision will provide a foundation to frame challenges and opportunities for SPS in the coming years and help guide future strategic planning and resource allocation decisions, including funding for Well-Resourced Schools, SPS Funding Our Future planning, renewal of the Seattle Excellence Strategic Plan, and the BEX VI Levy. Read more about community engagement.

Share your questions or feedback

Share your feedback or ask us a question about transitioning to a system of well-resourced schools, please fill out our contact form.

We will be updating our well-resourced schools FAQ as answers are available.