Education in Seattle

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Education in Seattle is an important part of many Seattleite's lives, particularly due to the high concentration of technology, engineering, and other jobs that require advanced degrees. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 47.2 percent (vs. a national average of 24 percent) hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 93 percent (vs. 80 percent nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent. In fact, United States Census Bureau survey showed that Seattle has the highest percentage of college graduates of any major U.S. city.^[1] In addition to the obvious institutions of education, there are significant adult literacy programs and considerable homeschooling. Seattle is also the most literate city in the United States based on a study done by Central Connecticut State University.^[2]

[edit] Colleges and universities

Inside Suzzallo Library, University of Washington campus

Seattle is home to one of the nation's most respected public universities, the University of Washington. With over 40,000 under-graduates and post-graduates, UW is the largest school in the Pacific Northwest^[3] and many of its departments are ranked in the top 10 for research universities in the United States according to the Chronicle of Higher Learning.^[4] A study by Newsweek International in 2006 cited UW as the twenty-second best university in the world.^[5]

The city's other prominent universities are Seattle University, a Jesuit university, and Seattle Pacific University, founded by the Free Methodists. There are also a handful of smaller schools, such as City University of Seattle, a private university; Antioch University Seattle and Argosy University/Seattle provide graduate and undergraduate degrees for working adults; and others mainly for fine arts, business and psychology. Cornish College of the Arts, The Art Institute of Seattle, Gage Academy of Art and the School of Visual Concepts offer bachelors degrees in such disciplines as dance, music, and theatre. Seattle is also served by North Seattle, Seattle Central, and South Seattle Community Colleges. Time magazine chose Seattle Central Community College for best college of the year in 2001, stating the school "pushes diverse students to work together in small teams".^[6]

[edit] Primary and secondary education

Seattle Public Schools desegregated without a court order^[7] but continue to struggle to achieve racial balance in a somewhat ethnically divided city (the south part of town having more ethnic minorities than the north).^[8] In 2006, a challenge to Seattle's racial tie-breaking system made it to the United States Supreme Court.^[9] Where the Supreme Court decided that race was not a legal criterion for desegregation, but left the door open for desegration formulas based on other indicators (e.g., income or socio-economic class).^[10] And in 2002, West Seattle's West Seattle High School made headlines in the midst of protests of the school's "Indian" mascot. Despite bitter battles between SPS and Alumni Association President and Attorney Robert Zoffel, the school would later change its mascot to the "Wildcats".^[11]

The public school system is supplemented by a moderate number of private schools: five of the high schools are Catholic, one is Lutheran, and six are secular.^[12] Four of the high schools are Catholic, namely Bishop Blanchet High School, Holy Names Academy, O'Dea High School, and Seattle Preparatory School. Also parochial is Seattle Lutheran High School. There are also a number of secular schools. Of these, The Bush School and Lakeside School are long-established, whereas Seattle Waldorf School, Northwest School, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, and University Prep are of more recent foundation.