This decline is coinciding with a continuing trend of families opting for private education as the new year unfolds.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington recently released the 2023-2024 K-12 Report Card. The report revealed that only 50.3 percent of students were deemed on track in English, 39.7 percent in Math, and 43.5 percent in Science, according to standardized testing. These figures show a negligible improvement from the previous school year, where the respective percentages were 50.7, 39.1, and 42.9.
In light of these concerning statistics, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, who is seeking re-election, has requested a $3 billion fund from Democratic Governor Jay Inslee to bolster K-12 schools across the state. However, the effectiveness of this proposal is questionable given that Washington already spends over $18,000 per student, one of the highest rates in the country. For comparison, New York City's average expenditure per public school student stands at $21,112 annually.
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The Seattle Times recently criticized Reykdal, stating, "Anyone with even a passing interest in education understands there is widespread dissatisfaction with Washington’s public school system." The publication highlighted the system's "status quo of lackluster student outcomes and spiraling fiscal problems." Amid a severe budget crisis and decreasing enrollment, Seattle Public Schools is formulating a plan to shut down between 17 and 21 schools within the district.
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In stark contrast, private school enrollment in Seattle is experiencing a surge. As per the latest census data, private school enrollment for Seattle's K-12 students reached a record high in 2023, accounting for a quarter of the city's total K-12 student population. Seattle now ranks second among the 50 largest cities in the U.S. in terms of K-12 private school enrollment, trailing only San Francisco. The city's private school enrollment rate is nearly double the national average of 12.8 percent.
Governor Inslee, Superintendent Reykdal, and teachers' unions kept public schools closed for in-person learning for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while private schools resumed operations much earlier. Instead of addressing the evident learning loss, Inslee signed a bill in May 2021 to introduce Critical Race Theory (CRT) and hyper-sexualized gender theory into classrooms and universities, which detracted from time dedicated to core subjects.
Moreover, many public schools have been phasing out advanced learning programs, including advanced placement courses, in an attempt to address "equity" concerns. The latest hurdle for Washington's public schools is a surge in violence, prompting many parents to withdraw their children. Following the George Floyd protests in 2020, districts like Seattle and Bellevue banned police officers from campuses, which has coincided with a significant increase in violence.
