Public schools in Burien, WA
10 open public schools with an address in Burien, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,781
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.4:1
Washington median 16.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Burien public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Burien, WA: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,781 students, an average of 478 per school. The largest campus is Highline High School (1,423 students), and the largest elementary school is Gregory Heights Elementary (488).
Every listed school belongs to Highline School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.4:1, similar to the statewide school median of 16.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 62% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Burien
Elementary schools in Burien
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarhurst Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 399 | 18.9:1 | |
| Gregory Heights Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 488 | 16.4:1 | |
| Hazel Valley Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 469 | 15.8:1 | |
| Seahurst Elementary School Highline School District | PK–05 | 405 | 18.4:1 | |
| Shorewood Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 400 | 16:1 |
Middle schools in Burien
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvester Middle School Highline School District | 06–08 | 582 | 19.3:1 |
High schools in Burien
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Picture School Highline School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 233 | 14:1 | |
| Highline High School Highline School District | 09–12 | 1,423 | 21.5:1 | |
| Highline Open Doors 1418 Highline School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 240 | 34.1:1 | |
| Innovation Heights Academy Highline School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 142 | 15.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White20.3%
- Hispanic46.8%
- Black8.9%
- Asian11.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.8%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander2.4%
- Multiracial8.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Burien schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,781 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Burien
How many public schools are in Burien, WA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Burien: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 4,781 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Burien?
All listed public schools with an address in Burien belong to Highline School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Burien?
Highline High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Burien, with 1,423 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Burien?
No school with an address in Burien is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Washington.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Burien schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Burien public schools is 17.4:1, similar to the Washington school median of 16.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Burien guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Washington cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Washington cities