Background and Budget
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.
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.
By comparison, none of our neighboring school districts (Bellevue, Renton, Lake Washington, Shoreline, and Highline) have an elementary school with less than 300 students.
See how school sizes compare in school districts in the greater Puget Sound region.
Balancing the Budget and Fiscal Considerations
We are using a balanced and equitable budgeting process.
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.
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