Summit Grads Enroll in College at Highest Rates in Seattle

SEATTLE, WA. — Graduates from Summit Public Schools enroll in college at a higher rate than students from seven other school districts in Seattle, according to the recently released College Enrollment and Community & Technical College Outcomes Dashboard. The dashboard revealed that 80 percent of Summit’s graduates enrolled into college—outpacing nearby school districts.

The dashboard also showed that Summit is sending Black students to college at rates surpassing all other subgroups in nearby districts. Eighty-two percent of Summit’s Black students directly enrolled in college after graduation, well beyond the rates of all students at area public school districts.

“The college enrollment figures show that Summit’s Washington students are not only overwhelmingly choosing to attend college, but they are ready with the academics and skills they need to be accepted to colleges and universities,” said Aubree Guyton, Executive Director of Summit Public Schools: Sierra. “At Summit, we’re focused on what matters: listening to what our young people want to accomplish, giving them the opportunity to explore, and helping them build a plan that will get them there. For some, that includes college. For others, it may be culinary school or job apprenticeships. Whatever the goal, we help them prepare for it, because all we want for our students is for them to have a happy and fulfilled life.”

Summit’s leaders attribute the results to their focus on their mentoring program that supports young people to define a clear plan for after high school, something Summit calls the Concrete Next Step. This supported planning gives deep meaning and purpose to the academic work of developing the skills, habits, and knowledge they will need to attain economic empowerment and success in that chosen next step.

Students in Summit’s 2019 graduating classes went on to enroll at in-state public schools (53%), in-state private schools (7%), community and technical colleges (22%) and out-of-state schools (18%). The dashboard compared the following school districts: Auburn School District, Federal Way Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, Kent School District, Renton School District, South Seattle Public Schools, Summit Charter Schools and Tukwila School District.

All students at Summit Public Schools’ three Washington high schools—Summit Atlas, Summit Olympus and Summit Sierra—graduate college ready and 95% of the 2020-21 graduates were accepted to colleges and universities.

About Summit Public Schools

Summit Public Schools is a leading public school system that prepares a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a concrete next step toward a fulfilled life. It operates 14 public college-prep schools that serve diverse communities throughout California and Washington. Summit schools are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. All Summit graduates are prepared for college and complete college at double the national average. To learn more, please visit www.summitps.org.