The Downtown School: A Lakeside School
- Grades
-
9–12
- College Prep
- Day
Who we are
Applications for the 2026-2027 School Year are Open!
We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for the 2026-2027 school year.
Decisions will be released within seven days of application completion.
The Downtown School is an independent, co-educational high school located near Seattle Center. We offer an applied, college preparatory program in which every student has agency to create their own path within the community through clubs, activities, and the Associated Student Body. Fostering a real-world, practical approach to content, we allow creative minds to thrive at the intersection of academic rigor and learning with purpose. With a building at the heart of Seattle, The Downtown School uses the city as an extension of our campus, welcoming local experts into the classroom and venturing into the city to connect with Seattle businesses and nonprofits in applied learning experiences. As a school, we are distinctive; our students are, too. A diverse student body enriches the school environment with their curiosity, passions, kindness, and inclusivity. Many of our students take advantage of our earlier end time of 2:15 p.m. to participate after school in club sports (some at the national level), public-school sports, internships, and volunteering. The Downtown School’s central location, cost-effective tuition, and educational rigor make it an accessible investment for the future.
The Downtown School serves 160 students in grades 9-12. The academic program focuses upon developing critical and creative thinkers who communicate and interact effectively with others. Courses emphasize active learning and prompt students to take intellectual risks, engage in self-reflection, identify goals and strategies for personal development, use feedback effectively, and transfer skills across contexts. At The Downtown School, students seek to understand why they know what they know, and they learn how to learn–two skills that prepare them for a future in which rapid change and navigating ambiguity are the norm.