International schools in Seattle
6 international schools in Seattle. Every number comes from what schools publish and from official sources.
Talk to SamThis city at a glance
Living
Each item shows its source and the date we checked it. Check the source again before you move.
Safety
Seattle is under level 1 (exercise caution)
Korea's foreign ministry page for the US (checked 2026-10-30) shows level 1 everywhere except Hawaii. It advises against walking alone or after dark around Seattle's Chinatown, Pioneer Square and T-Mobile Park, and notes that although cannabis is legal in Washington State, Korean law still punishes Korean nationals who use it abroad.
- Level 1 outside Hawaii
- Avoid some downtown areas after dark
- Cannabis use is punishable under Korean law
Source:외교부 해외안전여행Official sourceChecked 2026-10-30
Schooling
Education: US grades 1-12, rules vary by state and district
The US State Department's overview says schooling runs from grade 1 to 12, usually starting around age 6; grade bands and the compulsory-schooling age are set by state and district rules. As of 2026-10-30 our directory lists 6 schools in this city (still growing).
- Grades 1-12
- Rules vary by state and district
Source:U.S. Department of State (USINFO)Official sourceChecked 2026-10-30
Family life and climate
Climate: warmest-month high 24.6°C, coolest-month low 2.0°C
Normals from the US National Weather Service on the WMO World Weather Information Service (1981-2010): the warmest month (Aug) averages a high of 24.6°C, the coolest (Dec) a low of 2.0°C, and yearly rainfall is about 952 mm. Months with more than 150 mm of rain: Nov. These are older normals and may differ from today's climate.
- Aug average high 24.6°C
- Dec average low 2.0°C
- About 952 mm of rain a year
Source:World Meteorological Organization (World Weather Information Service)Official sourceChecked 2026-10-30
Airport and travel
Airport transport: Link light rail to downtown Seattle in 38 min
Sound Transit says Link light rail takes 38 minutes between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and downtown Seattle, with trains every 8-10 minutes for most of the day; follow signs from baggage carousel 16. A night bus runs about every 30 minutes after the last train.
- 38 min downtown
- Every 8-10 min
- Night bus after the last train
Source:Sound TransitOfficial sourceChecked 2026-10-30
Prices and living conditions in United States
Price examples
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hamburger (McDonald's Big Mac) · Single item | US$6.22 |
| Bulgogi bibimbap (Washington DC) · 1 serving | US$13.99 |
| Cereal (Supermarket, Lowest Price) · 1 Box | US$2.99 |
| Shin Ramyun (Korean grocery delivery platform) · 1 pack (4 bags) | US$6.49 |
| Coffee (Starbucks Americano) · 1 cup | US$4.25 |
| Bottled water (supermarket, lowest price) · 3L | US$1.34 |
| Soft drink (US BLS CPI data) · 2L | US$2.23 |
| City bus fare (Washington, DC) · Base Fare | US$2.25 |
| Subway fare (Washington, DC) · Base Fare | US$2.25 |
| Taxi fare (Washington, DC) · Base Fare | US$4 |
Local prices surveyed by KOTRA trade offices, in US dollars. They vary by city and shop. Source: KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), data.go.kr · 2026-11-01
Living conditions
- People using safe drinking water
- 100%
- 2022
- Tuberculosis cases
- 3.2
- per 100,000 people · 2024
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea, data.go.kr
In numbers
Yearly tuition range
USD 5,700 – USD 37.5K
Based on 3 schools that publish fees · latest fee year 2026-27
Lowest to highest amount in the school currency. Fees vary by grade and programme, so check the grade-by-grade fees on each school page.
Curriculum mix
A school that runs several curricula is counted for each.
| schools | % | |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 3 | 38% |
| French | 3 | 38% |
| American (AP) | 1 | 13% |
| Montessori / alternative | 1 | 13% |
Source: our data · checked 2026-11-03
| schools | % | |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 3 | 38% |
| French | 3 | 38% |
| American (AP) | 1 | 13% |
| Montessori / alternative | 1 | 13% |
Source: our data · checked 2026-11-03
Schools with the most complete information
Annie Wright SchoolsIBFrom USD 23.7K a year
École d'immersion de l'État de Washington - The French Immersion School of WashingtonAmerican (AP) · FrenchFrom USD 5,700 a year
École franco-américaine du Puget SoundIB- French American School of Puget SoundIB
Les Lilas French Bilingual Community SchoolFrench · Montessori / alternativeFrom USD 15.5K a year- North Seattle French SchoolFrench
Map
Pins with a dashed ring show an approximate location.
Guides and sources for United States
- F-1 Students and US Public Schools: The Limits, Grade by GradeAccording to the US State Department and Homeland Security, F-1 students cannot attend public schools in grades K-8 and may attend public high school for at most 12 months. This guide separates that rule from the one for dependants and lists enrolment steps and questions for schools.
- When parents move home and the child stays: visas and guardiansWhen a parent's visa ends, a dependant child's status usually ends too, so staying on means a student visa and guardian arrangements. Here are the official rules by country.
- US public schools: districts, attendance zones and state ratingsIn the US, your address decides your public school. Check the assigned school on the district site before renting, and read state ratings such as Texas A-F or the California Dashboard.
- US L-1/L-2 assignments: what about the children's school?The US State Department says public-school limits apply to F-1 students, not to children of foreign workers. Here are the basics from official sources.
New Jersey public schools: proof of residency and the F-1 exception
Official sourceNew Jersey Department of EducationChecked 2026-10-31
Virginia first-time school entry: certified birth record, a physical within 12 months, immunisations
Official sourceVirginia Department of EducationChecked 2026-10-31
California school entry: immunisation records and the first-grade health check
Official sourceCalifornia Department of EducationChecked 2026-10-31
New York: enrol by the next school day, residency papers within three business days
Official sourceNew York State Education DepartmentChecked 2026-10-31
Georgia school enrolment: Form 3231 (immunisation) and Form 3300 (vision, hearing, dental, nutrition)
Official sourceGeorgia.govChecked 2026-10-31
Washington State: the Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) before the first day
Official sourceWashington State Department of HealthChecked 2026-10-31
Texas public school enrolment: 2026-27 vaccine requirements
Official sourceTexas Department of State Health ServicesChecked 2026-10-31
US work and transfer visas (L, H-1B) and accompanying family
Official sourceU.S. Department of StateChecked 2026-10-29
Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional
AI panel discussions
The AI panel is a fictional panel built from parents' public experiences and official sources · not a review of any school
- AI panelUS public school by district, or a private international school?Once a US move is set, home and school have to be decided together. Public schools are assigned by address; private schools take applications. Please share how you decided.
- AI panelThe first year for a child with little EnglishMany children start international school with almost no English. The first year can shake both child and parent. Let's hear how families handled English and kept their home language.
- AI panelShould our child stay on when we return home? Boarding and guardiansMany families facing the end of a posting wonder whether their high-schooler should stay at the current school. It is a decision that involves visas, guardians and daily life, not only study. Let's hear from families who have faced it.
Local partners
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Apply as a partnerPublic school districts
Public schools in English-speaking countries are mostly assigned by home address. Check the district's official rating and school list.
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