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Public schools. Public promise.

SAVE SEATTLESCHOOLS.

Our position

  • Keep great public schools open. Schools anchor communities. Families need stability to plan years ahead. Closure threats weaken trust and push families away.
  • Closures won’t fix the budget. Other districts have lost students and funding to large-scale closures. Promised efficiencies haven’t fixed their budgets.
  • Make public schools work for everyone. Maintain academic excellence and support every learner. Keep families from every socioeconomic background invested.

A school worth knowing

Salmon Bay
K–8.

Growing together, from kindergarten on.

Salmon Bay brings elementary and middle-school children together in Ballard’s historic Monroe building. Created by joining two alternative school communities, it carries forward a tradition of public education shaped by families and educators. [1]

Get to know this school
Salmon Bay’s Monroe building, 2010Ballard, Seattle
Salmon Bay’s Monroe building, 2010. Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped
BallardK–8Seattle Public SchoolsResearch updated October 9, 2026
School community established [1]
1999
Students · September 2026 [2]
618
Capital budget · 2026–27 [24]
$6.5M

01Community consent

Don’t close Salmon Bay without community consent.

SPS included Salmon Bay in September 2024 closure Option A. It was not among the final four schools recommended that October. The board withdrew that proposal in November 2024. [4][5][6]

The leadership has changed since then. The 2025 election brought Kathleen Smith and Jen LaVallee onto the board, alongside returning directors Vivian Song and Joe Mizrahi. [29] Brent Jones resigned in 2025. After Fred Podesta served as interim superintendent, Ben Shuldiner took over in February 2026. [30][31]

Plan for more students, not fewer schools. Rebuild trust, maintain academic excellence and help families discover what their local school offers. Give this community the stability and support to grow enrollment—and a direct say in its future.

The years after the proposals

  1. 600October 2024
  2. 595October 2025
  3. 618September 2026

SPS student headcounts [2]

02Nearby schools

Longer commutes. More crossings.

Closing a neighborhood school can mean longer school runs, time away from work and more busy streets for children to cross. Apparent savings to SPS are paid for in families’ time. Moving costs off the district’s books does not make them disappear.

Compare the 3 nearest SPS elementary or K–8 campuses to Salmon Bay K-8, ranked by driving distance. [3][18]

Four schools. Four neighborhood communities.

Walking routes from Salmon Bay K-8 and available neighborhood attendance areas.

Salmon Bay K-8AdamsLicton Springs K-8Whittier
Salmon Bay K-8Nearby schoolsAttendance areasWalking routesArterial crossings

Option school; no attendance area · © SPS 2025–26 GIS [20] · 2026–27 attendance map [21] · © SDOT / King County [22] · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Route data (ODbL)

Travel time for families.

Campus to campus · Driving: round trip per drop-off or pickup · Walking & distances: one way

SchoolParent driving Round tripChild walking One wayArterial crossings On foot

Adams

8 min0.8 mi
14 min0.7 mi3 mapped crossings: 20TH AVE NW · 24TH AVE NW · NW 65TH ST

Licton Springs K-8

10 min0.8 mi
18 min0.9 mi1 mapped crossings: 24TH AVE NW

Whittier

10 min0.9 mi
19 min0.9 mi1 mapped crossings: 15TH AVE NW

Driving: 2× one-way estimate, without traffic · Walking routes [18][19]

03Enrollment

More kids in Seattle. Fewer in public schools.

Enrollment & the city

2010–2024 · Each line uses its own color-matched scale.

  • Salmon Bay students
    5952024

    Left scale

  • Seattle children under 18
    109,5192024

    Right scale

  • Private K–12 share
    25.8%2024

    Right scale

Salmon Bay enrollment, Seattle children and private-school share, 2010–2024Three lines share one timeline. Salmon Bay students use the left scale, 0 to 700. The right-hand axis pairs blue labels for Seattle residents under 18, 0 to 150,000, with red labels for private K–12 share, 0 to 30 percent. All scales start at zero. Dashed segments and hollow points show linear interpolation for the missing 2020 city data. Exact values, survey margins and definitions are in Data & sources.017535052570000%50k10%100k20%150k30%Salmon Bay students, 2010: 590Salmon Bay students, 2011: 616Salmon Bay students, 2012: 694Salmon Bay students, 2013: 674Salmon Bay students, 2014: 673Salmon Bay students, 2015: 672Salmon Bay students, 2016: 658Salmon Bay students, 2017: 647Salmon Bay students, 2018: 652Salmon Bay students, 2019: 675Salmon Bay students, 2020: 660Salmon Bay students, 2021: 664Salmon Bay students, 2022: 657Salmon Bay students, 2023: 632Salmon Bay students, 2024: 595Seattle children under 18, 2010: 95,293; 90% margin ±5,001Seattle children under 18, 2011: 98,585; 90% margin ±3,957Seattle children under 18, 2012: 97,199; 90% margin ±4,372Seattle children under 18, 2013: 100,535; 90% margin ±5,296Seattle children under 18, 2014: 99,837; 90% margin ±4,811Seattle children under 18, 2015: 99,795; 90% margin ±4,654Seattle children under 18, 2016: 105,996; 90% margin ±5,142Seattle children under 18, 2017: 114,411; 90% margin ±5,315Seattle children under 18, 2018: 111,713; 90% margin ±5,986Seattle children under 18, 2019: 110,672; 90% margin ±5,207Seattle children under 18, 2020: 104,893; linearly interpolated between neighboring yearsSeattle children under 18, 2021: 99,114; 90% margin ±5,548Seattle children under 18, 2022: 100,014; 90% margin ±5,563Seattle children under 18, 2023: 109,297; 90% margin ±5,966Seattle children under 18, 2024: 109,519; 90% margin ±6,349Private K–12 share, 2010: 19.4%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2011: 20.7%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2012: 22.1%; 90% margin ±2.8 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2013: 23.2%; 90% margin ±2.6 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2014: 19.9%; 90% margin ±2.3 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2015: 21.1%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2016: 21.2%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2017: 18.3%; 90% margin ±2.5 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2018: 21.7%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2019: 21.8%; 90% margin ±2.4 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2020: 23.3%; linearly interpolated between neighboring yearsPrivate K–12 share, 2021: 24.9%; 90% margin ±3.5 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2022: 17.3%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2023: 25.1%; 90% margin ±2.6 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2024: 25.8%; 90% margin ±3.4 percentage points (approx.)2010201520202024Salmon Bay enrollment, Seattle children and private-school share, 2010–2024Three lines share one timeline. Salmon Bay students use the left scale, 0 to 700. The right-hand axis pairs blue labels for Seattle residents under 18, 0 to 150,000, with red labels for private K–12 share, 0 to 30 percent. All scales start at zero. Dashed segments and hollow points show linear interpolation for the missing 2020 city data. Exact values, survey margins and definitions are in Data & sources.017535052570000%50k10%100k20%150k30%Salmon Bay students, 2010: 590Salmon Bay students, 2011: 616Salmon Bay students, 2012: 694Salmon Bay students, 2013: 674Salmon Bay students, 2014: 673Salmon Bay students, 2015: 672Salmon Bay students, 2016: 658Salmon Bay students, 2017: 647Salmon Bay students, 2018: 652Salmon Bay students, 2019: 675Salmon Bay students, 2020: 660Salmon Bay students, 2021: 664Salmon Bay students, 2022: 657Salmon Bay students, 2023: 632Salmon Bay students, 2024: 595Seattle children under 18, 2010: 95,293; 90% margin ±5,001Seattle children under 18, 2011: 98,585; 90% margin ±3,957Seattle children under 18, 2012: 97,199; 90% margin ±4,372Seattle children under 18, 2013: 100,535; 90% margin ±5,296Seattle children under 18, 2014: 99,837; 90% margin ±4,811Seattle children under 18, 2015: 99,795; 90% margin ±4,654Seattle children under 18, 2016: 105,996; 90% margin ±5,142Seattle children under 18, 2017: 114,411; 90% margin ±5,315Seattle children under 18, 2018: 111,713; 90% margin ±5,986Seattle children under 18, 2019: 110,672; 90% margin ±5,207Seattle children under 18, 2020: 104,893; linearly interpolated between neighboring yearsSeattle children under 18, 2021: 99,114; 90% margin ±5,548Seattle children under 18, 2022: 100,014; 90% margin ±5,563Seattle children under 18, 2023: 109,297; 90% margin ±5,966Seattle children under 18, 2024: 109,519; 90% margin ±6,349Private K–12 share, 2010: 19.4%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2011: 20.7%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2012: 22.1%; 90% margin ±2.8 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2013: 23.2%; 90% margin ±2.6 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2014: 19.9%; 90% margin ±2.3 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2015: 21.1%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2016: 21.2%; 90% margin ±2.7 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2017: 18.3%; 90% margin ±2.5 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2018: 21.7%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2019: 21.8%; 90% margin ±2.4 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2020: 23.3%; linearly interpolated between neighboring yearsPrivate K–12 share, 2021: 24.9%; 90% margin ±3.5 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2022: 17.3%; 90% margin ±2.2 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2023: 25.1%; 90% margin ±2.6 percentage points (approx.)Private K–12 share, 2024: 25.8%; 90% margin ±3.4 percentage points (approx.)20102012201420162018202020222024

Dashed segments interpolate the 2020 gap. Sources: NCES and Census ACS. [3][16][17]

Seattle’s under-18 population grew from about 100,000 in 2022 to 110,000 in 2024. Private schools’ share of K–12 enrollment rose from 21.8% in 2019 to 25.8% in 2024. [16][17]

Uncertainty weakens public schools.

Continued closure uncertainty gives families who can afford private school another reason to leave. With them go students, funding and advocates. Instead of protecting a safety net, we erode the public support that sustains it. Public schools need families from every socioeconomic background invested in their success.

1999–2024: the longer enrollment record
Salmon Bay annual enrollment, 1999–2024NCES fall student headcounts. Dots mark reported observations; lines connect years.0100200300400500600700199920122024595Salmon Bay annual enrollment, 1999–2024NCES fall student headcounts. Dots mark reported observations; lines connect years.050100150200250300350400450500550600650700199920122024595
NCES fall headcounts; school-year starting year
FallStudentsTeacher FTE
199956618
200056727
200159429
200259929
200360032
200460231
200559730
200660732
200761031
200859631
200960531
201059031
201161634
201269433
2013674—
201467338
201567236
201665837
201764738
201865239
201967539
202066040
202166439
202265738
202363237
202459535

The series follows this school’s NCES identifier. Grade spans and programs have changed over time. [3]

Recent district enrollment counts
SPS P223 monthly headcounts; total includes preschool where present
Count dateAll studentsFunded students
October 2019675675
October 2020662662
October 2021664664
October 2022660660
October 2023635635
October 2024600600
October 2025595595
September 2026618618

September and October counts are different snapshots. [2]

04Public investment

Invest here. Then walk away?

Keep these investments working for students and their neighborhoods.

$6.5M

Capital allocated this year

2026–27 adopted budget [24]

  • Field and track$3,011,616
  • Roof replacement$3,500,000

Annual allocations cover one fiscal year; they are separate from total project costs.

BEX VI · 2026–31

Lighting and technology.

LED lighting and controls. Student and staff devices, digital learning and cybersecurity. [13]

  • Roof replacement and seismic improvements2026–27 project · BEX VI [26]
Projects, amounts & sources

Earlier projects and levy plans

  • Ceiling fans

    2018 levy estimate · BEX V · Original levy estimate [23]

    $440,000

Construction record

  • Ceiling fans

    Completed 2022 · BEX V [25]

  • Roof replacement and seismic improvements

    2026–27 project · BEX VI [26]

Contracts shared with other schools

These amounts cover multiple schools and are excluded from this school’s totals.

  • Salmon Bay and Decatur seismic upgrades

    Shared final contract · 2019 [27]

    $1,648,510
  • Salmon Bay and Franklin field and sprinkler work

    Shared final contract · 2018 [28]

    $1,728,005

Earlier SPS project listings [14]

  • 2017: Make earthquake safety improvements.
  • 2016: Made earthquake safety upgrades.
  • 2015: Replaced playfield, refurbished running track and installed new fire sprinkler system.
  • 2012: Replaced roof.
  • 2010: Installed energy-efficient windows. Replaced boiler. Improved science rooms.
  • 2007: Waterline upgrade
  • 2005: Library upgrade, play field, fencing, waterline
  • 2003: 2001 – Seismic, Fire Alarm System and Technology Upgrades
  • 2001: Wide Area Network Phase II
  • 2001: Wide Area Network
  • 2000: WAN Phase I
  • 1998: Seismic and ADA Upgrade

School spending.
District allocations.

School-coded spending is the annual operating expense recorded under the school’s own accounting code, including any shared costs assigned to it. The reported total includes a broader share of districtwide spending allocated to the school in the state’s expenditure report.

These figures show what SPS spent to serve students that year. A closure proposal must show which expenses would actually end, after accounting for transition costs, transportation and funding lost when families leave.

2024-25 actual expenditure

Spending coded to Salmon Bay [8]

$7.97M

$7,973,070 · $13,394 per student FTE

Reported total, including district allocations [7]

$13.02M

$13,016,532 · $21,867 per student FTE

Per-student costs divide each total by 595.27 full-time-equivalent students, the school year’s average enrollment. [7][8]

6 years of reported actual spending
OSPI actual expenditure in nominal dollars
School yearSchool-coded spendingTotal with allocationsStudent FTEReported per pupil
2019-20—$11,299,996675.35$16,732
2020-21—$10,845,338657.03$16,507
2021-22—$12,631,579659.41$19,156
2022-23—$13,224,437660.45$20,023
2023-24$7,982,587$13,007,288630.33$20,636
2024-25$7,973,070$13,016,532595.27$21,867
15 years of budgets and funded staffing
School budget allocations and planned staffing; nominal dollars
School yearBudgetBudgeted studentsStaff FTEBudget per student
2010-11$3,531,73558542.3$6,037
2011-12$3,883,76257446.1$6,766
2012-13$4,083,53364747.9$6,311
2013-14$4,362,15168350.3$6,387
2014-15$4,440,26469250.0$6,417
2016-17$5,075,35066053.6$7,690
2017-18$5,355,46867753.3$7,911
2018-19$5,898,91867955.8$8,688
2019-20$6,672,98866456.8$10,050
2020-21$6,969,08967955.9$10,264
2021-22$6,965,64867655.9$10,304
2022-23$6,998,49767853.1$10,322
2023-24$7,311,97167253.9$10,881
2024-25$7,418,20062853.2$11,812
2025-26$7,291,84259251.1$12,317

Budget allocations are distinct from actual expenditure. 2025-26 budget: [9]

2010-11 source ↗2011-12 source ↗2012-13 source ↗2013-14 source ↗2014-15 source ↗2016-17 source ↗2017-18 source ↗2018-19 source ↗2019-20 source ↗2020-21 source ↗2021-22 source ↗2022-23 source ↗2023-24 source ↗2024-25 source ↗2025-26 source ↗

Teacher headcounts
OSPI teacher headcounts, distinct from funded staff FTE
School yearTeachersStudents in this report
2017-1840656
2018-1941654
2019-2044675
2020-2145661
2021-2246664
2022-2345657
2023-2442634
2024-2540598

[15]

05Learning

Student outcomes.

Academic excellence for every student builds families’ trust. Keep expectations high, give each learner the support to succeed and measure progress honestly. SPS should improve outcomes, not dilute the metrics used to judge them. That is how Seattle can become the nation’s No. 1 urban school district.

Share of tested students meeting the state standard, across tested grades. [10]

76.4%

English language arts · 2025–26

69.3%

Mathematics · 2025–26

81.5%

Science · 2025–26

  • English language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
0%25%50%75%100%2021-222022-232023-242024-252025-262021-22 · English language arts: 74.4%2022-23 · English language arts: 73.7%2023-24 · English language arts: 77.2%2024-25 · English language arts: 75.8%2025-26 · English language arts: 76.4%2021-22 · Mathematics: 61.3%2022-23 · Mathematics: 59.3%2023-24 · Mathematics: 68.6%2024-25 · Mathematics: 67.0%2025-26 · Mathematics: 69.3%2021-22 · Science: 69.5%2022-23 · Science: 60.7%2023-24 · Science: 75.8%2024-25 · Science: 81.0%2025-26 · Science: 81.5%0%25%50%75%100%2021-222022-232023-242024-252025-262021-22 · English language arts: 74.4%2022-23 · English language arts: 73.7%2023-24 · English language arts: 77.2%2024-25 · English language arts: 75.8%2025-26 · English language arts: 76.4%2021-22 · Mathematics: 61.3%2022-23 · Mathematics: 59.3%2023-24 · Mathematics: 68.6%2024-25 · Mathematics: 67.0%2025-26 · Mathematics: 69.3%2021-22 · Science: 69.5%2022-23 · Science: 60.7%2023-24 · Science: 75.8%2024-25 · Science: 81.0%2025-26 · Science: 81.5%
Assessment results by school year
General state assessments; percentage of tested students meeting standard
School yearELAMathScience
2014-1577.2%61.7%83.6%
2015-1675.8%60.6%92.7%
2016-1776.6%65.7%84.7%
2017-1877.8%67.6%76.1%
2018-1977.4%71.0%76.5%
2021-2274.4%61.3%69.5%
2022-2373.7%59.3%60.7%
2023-2477.2%68.6%75.8%
2024-2575.8%67.0%81.0%
2025-2676.4%69.3%81.5%

Suppressed results stay blank in the chart. Science assessments changed during this period; the trend above covers the current testing era. [10][11][12]

06History & community

Rooted in Ballard.

Coho Elementary and New Options Middle School joined at the Monroe building in 1999. The combined school adopted the Salmon Bay name in 2002. Its brick campus opened in 1931 and had served as a junior high, community space and temporary home for other schools. [1]

  1. 1931

    Monroe Intermediate School opened.

  2. 1974

    Remodel added a library, lunchroom and auditorium.

  3. 1999–2002

    Coho and NOMS joined; the combined school became Salmon Bay.

  4. 2012

    PTA fundraising and grants supported an inclusive playground.

  5. 2017

    Seismic upgrades.

The school’s whole-child model combines academic, physical, social and emotional learning. [1]

07Research

Sources & citations.

  1. 01

    SPS / HistoryLink

    Building for Learning: school and building history, 2022

    Origins, building chronology and community history.

  2. 02

    Seattle Public Schools

    Monthly P223 enrollment reports

    October 2019–2025 and September 2026. Total headcount includes preschool where offered.

  3. 03

    NCES / Urban Institute

    Common Core of Data: annual school enrollment

    A consistent school identifier; grade spans and program locations can change.

  4. 04

    KUOW

    September 11, 2024: the two closure alternatives

    Option A named 21 schools; Option B named 17. Their union contains 22 distinct schools.

  5. 05

    Seattle Public Schools

    October 24, 2024: preliminary recommendations

    North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo and Stevens, with named receiving schools.

  6. 06

    Seattle School Board

    November 26, 2024: withdrawal record

    Board action on withdrawal of the preliminary school-closure recommendation.

  7. 07

    Washington OSPI

    Actual school-level expenditures, 2019–2025

    Report-card spending includes district allocations; denominator is annual-average student FTE.

  8. 08

    Washington OSPI

    F-196 expenditures by school location

    2023–24 and 2024–25 school-coded actuals. These may already include costs allocated by the district.

  9. 09

    Seattle Public Schools

    School budgets and funded staffing

    School allocations and planned staff FTE; separate from actual expenditures and employee headcounts.

  10. 10

    Washington OSPI

    State assessment results, 2021–2026

    All Students, All Grades, general assessments; percent meeting standard among tested students.

  11. 11

    Washington OSPI

    Historical state assessments, 2014–2017

    Different subjects/test regimes retained separately; suppressed results remain unpublished.

  12. 12

    Washington OSPI

    Historical state assessments, 2017–2019

    General assessments; results for tested students.

  13. 13

    Seattle Public Schools

    BEX VI: approved 2025 capital levy

    $1.8 billion districtwide, collected 2026–2031. School project lists are not school-specific expenditure totals.

  14. 14

    Seattle Public Schools

    School directory and levy projects

    School address, programs and dated building projects.

  15. 15

    Washington OSPI

    Teacher counts and student–teacher ratios

    Classroom teacher headcounts, 2017–18 through 2024–25; distinct from staff FTE.

  16. 16

    U.S. Census Bureau

    Seattle children: ACS B09001

    Seattle residents under 18, including preschool-age children; annual estimates through 2024.

  17. 17

    U.S. Census Bureau

    Seattle public and private enrollment: ACS B14002

    Private share of city residents enrolled in K–12. The 2020 chart gap is interpolated.

  18. 18

    Valhalla / FOSSGIS / OpenStreetMap

    Campus-to-campus route estimates

    Cached pedestrian and shortest-distance driving routes, October 2026. No live traffic in these source records.

  19. 19

    Seattle Department of Transportation

    Official arterial street classifications

    Principal, minor and collector arterial street geometry.

  20. 20

    Seattle Public Schools GIS

    Elementary attendance areas, 2025–26

    Published geographic boundaries; option schools do not have ordinary attendance areas.

  21. 21

    Seattle Public Schools

    Current district attendance-area reference

    2026–27 district PDF map; a separate vintage from the available GIS.

  22. 22

    King County GIS

    Major waterbodies

    Geographic context for the campus maps.

  23. 23

    Seattle Public Schools

    BEX V levy resolution and original project estimates

    Oct. 30, 2018 board action packet. Budget attachment is labeled preliminary; estimates precede escalation and later project changes. PDF pp. 18–19.

  24. 24

    Seattle Public Schools

    2026–27 adopted capital budget

    Annual project allocations, not lifetime costs or remaining balances. PDF pp. 185–187; printed pp. 178–180.

  25. 25

    Seattle Public Schools

    SPS recent completed construction projects

    Completed work and funding sources, including 2019–25 summer projects. Accessed Oct. 9, 2026.

  26. 26

    Seattle Public Schools

    SPS current construction projects

    2026–28 work, funding sources and explicit completion markers. Accessed Oct. 9, 2026.

  27. 27

    Seattle Public Schools

    Salmon Bay and Decatur seismic work: final acceptance

    2019 closeout. Shared $1,648,510 paid contract; no school-level allocation.

  28. 28

    Seattle Public Schools

    Salmon Bay and Franklin upgrades: final acceptance

    2018 closeout. Shared $1,728,005 contract; no school-level allocation.

  29. 29

    Seattle Public Schools

    New Directors Sworn in to Seattle School Board

    Dec. 8, 2025. Kathleen Smith and Jen LaVallee joined; Joe Mizrahi and Vivian Song continued after the November election.

  30. 30

    Seattle Public Schools Archives

    SPS directors and superintendents

    2025 revision, page 9. Brent Jones resigned in 2025; Fred Podesta served as interim superintendent.

  31. 31

    Seattle Public Schools

    New Superintendent Begins Tenure Leading Seattle Public Schools

    Feb. 2, 2026. Ben Shuldiner began leading the district.