The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 75% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Genesee Hill Elementary
Genesee Hill Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Seattle’s West Seattle neighborhood, part of the Seattle School District No. 1. The school is a regular public elementary school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws from a residential area of the city that sits on a hillside above Puget Sound. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, with roughly balanced class sizes across the grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races, a smaller Hispanic population, and very small shares of Asian, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a low rate relative to many public schools in the region.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that Genesee Hill students performed well above the midpoint among districts in King County. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in the county. In English language arts, proficiency rates were solid across third, fourth, and fifth grades, with the fifth-grade cohort posting a particularly strong result. Math proficiency was also solid in third and fourth grades, while fifth-grade math was somewhat lower, though still above the county median. In science, tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was strong. Because the data covers only a single school year, there is no multi-year trend to assess whether these results are stable or shifting.
The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was not available in the provided records, and information on special education and English learner populations was also missing. A parent may want to ask the school directly about those figures and about how the school supports students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
Genesee Hill is part of Seattle Public Schools, the largest district in Washington. The district has been under financial pressure in recent years, with a projected budget deficit tied to declining enrollment and the expiration of federal relief funds. This led to proposals for school closures and staff reductions, though the district scaled back closure plans after community pushback. In 2022, voters approved a capital levy for school construction and technology upgrades, which continues to fund facility improvements across the district. These district-level dynamics are worth noting for any family considering a Seattle public school, as they affect class sizes, program availability, and long-term stability.
The school itself sits in a neighborhood with a high cost of housing. Home values in the area are well above the national median, and rents are also elevated. The local housing market has seen a slight softening in prices recently, but the area remains expensive relative to most of the country. This context matters for families deciding where to live, as the school’s attendance zone is tied to a high-cost real estate market.
Genesee Hill is a regular public elementary school with no special designation such as magnet or charter status. It does not receive Title I funding, which is consistent with the low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s academic results are strong, particularly in English language arts and science, and its overall proficiency index places it among the higher-performing schools in the county. For a family looking for a neighborhood elementary school in a high-cost urban area with solid test scores and a student body that is predominantly white and economically well-off, Genesee Hill fits that profile. The district’s budget challenges and the lack of available data on special populations are the main open questions a parent would want to explore further.
See more original research from School Decision →