Vashon High School has been named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten high schools in Washington State and the Seattle metropolitan area — a prestigious annual national ranking by the magazine that considers such factors as graduation rates, standardized test scores, and student participation and performance in advanced placement (AP) coursework.
VHS ranked #9 on U.S. News’s list of top schools in the Seattle Metro area, and 10th on the list of best schools in the state.
Both lists were topped by Telsa STEM High School, in Redmond — a school that also ranked #3 on the U.S. News national list of best schools.
Four Bellevue schools made both the state lists—the International School, ranked 2nd in Washington (and 65th on the national list); Interlake High School, ranked 3rd in the state; Newport Senior High School, ranked 4th statewide; and Bellevue High School, ranked 9th on the Washington list.
Other top-ranked schools in the state included Raisbeck Aviation High School, in Tukwila, which was rated as #5, followed by Bainbridge High School at #6; Mercer Island High School at #7; and Issaquah High School at #8.
U.S. News ranked charter, magnet, and public high schools using a complex methodology, detailed here, that included 2021-2022 school year graduation and state assessment data.
Vashon High School’s inclusion on the list counts as great news and a remarkable achievement, said school district superintendent, Slade McSheehy, and John Erickson, the principal of VHS.
“I’m incredibly proud of everyone and how they all show up every day to support our students,” said McSheehy, who added that the district will be using the news to showcase its current students and sharing broadly with island and off-island families.
Erickson also expressed joy at the news.
“Being named by US News and World Report as a Washington State top ten high school only confirms what I already knew to be true: Vashon Island High School is an incredible place for students to learn, grow, and achieve,” Erickson said. “I am so proud of our entire learning community and want to thank everybody for their unwavering support of our students, including families, our entire VISD staff, and our many dedicated community partners.”
