What share of students in Washington are proficient in math?

In 2024, 30% of eighth graders in Washington public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 40% and 38% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Washington, United States: official figures

83.6% of public high school students in Washington graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 15th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

83.6%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

274

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$18,564

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,093,745

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

41.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Washington rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Washington was 83.6% in 2021-22, compared with 77% in 2011-12 and 81.1% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Washington?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Washington was 76.5% for economically disadvantaged students, 66.4% for students with disabilities and 70.5% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Washington?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Washington was 82.1% for Black, 79.0% for Hispanic and 84.7% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Washington score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Washington averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 220 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Washington score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Washington averaged 259 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 17th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 266 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 31% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Washington score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Washington averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 240 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Washington score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Washington averaged 274 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 286 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 30% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Washington spend per student?

Public school systems in Washington spent $18,564 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 18th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Washington going up?

Current spending per pupil in Washington rose from $14,223 in fiscal 2019 to $18,564 in fiscal 2024, up 30.5% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 2.1%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Washington spend school money on?

Of the $18,564 spent per pupil in Washington in fiscal 2024, $10,740 went on instruction and $7,197 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,525 per pupil and employee benefits $3,954.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Washington come from?

Public school systems in Washington received $23.8 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.3% from the federal government, 65.6% from the state and 26.1% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Washington spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Washington was $23.5 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $20.3 billion was current spending and $2.4 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $15.4 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Washington?

1,093,745 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Washington in fall 2023, down 4.2% on fall 2019 (1,142,073) and up 3.3% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Washington?

Public schools in Washington had 63,272 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 17.2 pupils per teacher, 11th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Washington in fall 2019: 18.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Washington have a college degree?

41.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Washington, about 2,310,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.0 percentage points on 2021 (39.0%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Washington have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 16.6% of adults 25 and over in Washington had a graduate or professional degree and 10.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Washington did not finish high school?

92.3% of adults 25 and over in Washington had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 7.7% without one; that share is joint 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Washington compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Washington ranks 35 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
32	North Dakota	85.1%
33	Georgia	84.1%
34	South Carolina	83.8%
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Washington ranks 33 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
30	Utah	77.5%
31	Ohio	76.8%
32	Maine	76.6%
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Washington ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
12	Montana	217
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Washington ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
16	Wyoming	260
17	Pennsylvania	259
18	Georgia	259
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Washington ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
19	Hawaii	239
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238
24	Kentucky	238
25	Idaho	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Washington ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
21	Vermont	276
22	Virginia	275
23	Iowa	275
24	Washington	274
25	Kansas	274
26	Maine	273
27	New York	271

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Washington ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
17	Indiana	30.8%
18	Tennessee	30.5%
19	Wyoming	30.0%
20	Washington	29.5%
21	North Dakota	29.5%
22	Virginia	28.5%
23	Vermont	28.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Washington ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
26	Kansas	40.1%
27	South Dakota	39.9%
28	Louisiana	39.6%
29	Washington	39.5%
30	Iowa	39.5%
31	Rhode Island	39.3%
32	Minnesota	39.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Washington ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
15	Wyoming	$20,521
16	Maryland	$20,208
17	Maine	$19,962
18	Washington	$18,564
19	Michigan	$18,314
20	Oregon	$18,083
21	New Mexico	$17,664

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Washington ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
29	New Hampshire	+31.6%
30	Texas	+31.2%
31	Indiana	+31.0%
32	Washington	+30.5%
33	Tennessee	+30.5%
34	Oklahoma	+30.5%
35	Kansas	+30.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Washington ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
40	Alabama	31.3%
41	Minnesota	30.2%
42	Kansas	26.5%
43	Washington	26.1%
44	North Carolina	25.5%
45	Alaska	23.8%
46	Idaho	20.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Washington ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
8	Alabama	17.9
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5
11	Washington	17.2
12	Michigan	16.7
13	Oklahoma	16.6
14	Ohio	16.4

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Washington ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
31	Arizona	-3.0%
32	Nevada	-3.5%
33	Wyoming	-3.8%
34	Washington	-4.2%
35	Maine	-4.3%
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Washington ranks 11 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
8	Connecticut	42.6%
9	New Hampshire	41.5%
10	New York	41.2%
11	Washington	41.0%
12	Minnesota	40.0%
13	Illinois	39.2%
14	Utah	39.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Washington ranks 33 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
30	District of Columbia	8.0%
31	Ohio	7.8%
32	Michigan	7.8%
33	Washington	7.7%
34	Oregon	7.7%
35	Pennsylvania	7.6%
36	Idaho	7.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Washington: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.