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A complete admissions guide for families considering Washington’s top-ranked college preparatory day school, grades 5 through 12.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Lakeside School is an independent, coeducational day school in north Seattle serving grades 5 through 12 across two campuses. It enrolls 891 students, admits roughly 14% of applicants by outside estimate, and sends 99% of graduates to college. For 2027-2028 entry, applications open in September 2026 and close January 28, 2027, with entry points at grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Every applicant submits either the SSAT or the ISEE, two teacher evaluations, a personal reference, and PSIS common forms. Middle School applicants attend a group admissions activity; Upper School applicants interview with faculty. Lakeside accepts no supplementary materials and no mid-year transfers.
Why Do Families Choose Lakeside?
Frank G. Moran founded Lakeside in 1919 as a preparatory school for boys. The school abolished its uniform by student vote in 1969, closed its boarding program, and became coeducational in 1971 through a merger with St. Nicholas School, a girls’ school on Capitol Hill. In 1965 it launched the Lakeside Educational Enrichment Program, among the earliest continuously operating free summer programs run by an American independent school. That history matters because it explains a school that treats its own conventions as revisable.
The academic case is straightforward. Niche’s 2026 rankings place Lakeside first among 72 college preparatory private high schools in Washington and fifteenth of 4,143 nationally. It is second in Washington for STEM and third overall among the state’s private high schools. Classes average 17 students at a 9:1 ratio, and between 83% and 85% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Lakeside offers no Advanced Placement courses at all, running its own advanced and honors curriculum alongside Global Online Academy and School Year Abroad, and 99% of its graduates still enroll in college.
Lakeside School by the Numbers
| Measure | Figure |
| Founded | 1919, by Frank G. Moran |
| School type | Private, independent, coeducational, nonsectarian day school |
| Grades served | 5 through 12 |
| Middle School campus | 13510 1st Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98125 (grades 5-8) |
| Upper School campus | 14050 1st Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98125 (grades 9-12) |
| Total enrollment | 891 students, 296 Middle School and 595 Upper School |
| Average class size | 17 students |
| Student-teacher ratio | 9:1 |
| Faculty with advanced degrees | 83% to 85% |
| Advanced and honors courses | 3 advanced, 8 honors |
| Advanced Placement | Not offered |
| College counseling | A team of seven, including dedicated essay specialists |
| Graduates enrolling in college | 99% |
| Accreditation | Northwest Association of Independent Schools |
| Memberships | NAIS, Global Online Academy, School Year Abroad, WIAA |
| Transportation | Bus service and carpooling |
Student Demographics
Lakeside publishes how its students self-identify their primary race or ethnicity. Asian American students are the largest single group at the school.
| Group | Share of students |
| Asian American | 32% |
| European American / White | 28% |
| Multiracial | 19% |
| African American, African, or Black | 11% |
| Declined to answer | 5% |
| Latino / Hispanic American | 4% |
| Middle Eastern American | 1% |
Entry Points for 2027-2028
| Grade | Approximate openings |
| Grade 6 | A primary Middle School entry point |
| Grade 7 | Limited, roughly 12 to 15 places |
| Grade 8 | Limited, dependent on attrition |
| Grade 9 | Approximately 80 to 85 places, the largest entry point at Lakeside |
| Grades 10 and 11 | Attrition-dependent, very limited |
Lakeside does not accept mid-year transfers or one-year exchange students, and expects applicants to intend to graduate from the school.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Lakeside?
Lakeside does not publish an acceptance rate, and it explains why: the school takes the view that a published rate raises family anxiety without revealing anything useful about who gets in. Outside sources put the figure near 14%, which should be read as an estimate rather than a confirmed number. The more useful thing Lakeside says is that its priorities shift year to year according to what each grade needs, which is genuinely invisible from outside. Our guide to acceptance rates at top private schools covers how to weigh this.
What gets weighed is a full file: academic record, one set of test scores, two teacher evaluations, a personal reference, the student’s own writing, and either a group activity or a faculty interview. What does not get weighed is anything extra, because Lakeside refuses supplementary materials outright. Families building a realistic list usually consider The Overlake School and University Prep alongside it.
Top Tips for Applying
- Apply at grade 6 or grade 9 if timing allows. These are the widest doors by a considerable margin.
- Choose one entrance exam and sit it once. Lakeside reads only a single score set per applicant.
- Register for testing by December 2026 so results arrive before the January 28 deadline.
- Diarize January 14 and January 28 separately. They carry different materials.
- Ask teachers for evaluations in early autumn rather than during the December crush.
- Send nothing beyond the required list. Extra material is discarded, not credited.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend the October open house and book a division tour separately; they cover different ground.
- Let your child write their own essays. Lakeside asks for this explicitly and adult prose is obvious.
- Name a real growth area in the parent statement rather than presenting a finished child.
- Prepare your child to talk about difficulty, which is what both the activity and the interview surface.
- Keep genuine alternatives on the list so Lakeside is a choice rather than a single point of failure.
Frequently Asked: Testing and Eligibility
Which entrance exam does Lakeside require?
Applicants to grades 6 through 9 submit either the SSAT or the ISEE. Applicants to grades 10 and 11 may submit the SSAT, ISEE, ACT, PSAT, or SAT. In all cases Lakeside accepts one set of scores per applicant, from a test taken between September 1, 2026 and January 28, 2027. Use SSAT code 4462 or ISEE code 481120. There is no minimum score.
Can Lakeside sponsor an international student visa?
No. Lakeside does not issue I-20 forms and cannot support F-1 visa applications. An international applicant must be relocating to the Seattle area with a parent or legal guardian and must be eligible to live in the United States through that adult’s status, such as an H-2 or L-2 visa. Where the current school does not teach in English, the TOEFL iBT is required under school code B621, with section minimums of 24 reading, 22 listening, 25 speaking, and 24 writing.
The Lakeside Admissions Process, Step by Step
- Create an account in Aryval, the application management system Lakeside now uses, and start the application when it opens in September 2026.
- Submit the preliminary application form by January 14, 2027.
- Complete the PSIS student essays and the interests and activities form, both written by the student.
- Have a parent or guardian complete the PSIS parent and guardian statement.
- Register for and attend the Middle School admissions activity, or schedule the Upper School interview.
- Delegate two teacher evaluations, one humanities and one math or science.
- Delegate the personal reference form to a teacher, administrator, or coach.
- Request school records and the PSIS school administrator form through Aryval.
- Send one set of test scores directly from the testing organization.
- Submit all remaining materials by midnight on January 28, 2027.
Lakeside Admissions Calendar and Events
- September 2026: application opens in Aryval for 2027-2028 entry
- October 25, 2026: All-School Open House for families interested in grades 6 through 11
- October 2026 to January 2027: division tours, virtual tours, and monthly parent webinars
- January 14, 2027: preliminary application and all family-completed PSIS forms due
- January 28, 2027: all remaining materials due by midnight
- February 19, 2027: Upper School decisions released at 4:00 p.m.
- February 26, 2027: Upper School enrollment response due by 12:00 p.m.
- March 19, 2027: Middle School decisions released at 4:00 p.m.
- March 26, 2027: Middle School enrollment response due by 12:00 p.m.
| Event | Timing | Who it is for |
| All-School Open House | October 25, 2026 | Families considering grades 6 through 11 |
| Middle School tour | October to January | Grades 6, 7, and 8 applicants, 60-90 minutes, photo ID required |
| Upper School tour | October to January | Grades 9 to 11 applicants, student-led, 50-60 minutes |
| Middle School Virtual Tour | Scheduled in Aryval | Families unable to visit campus in person |
| Admission at Lakeside webinar | Monthly, October to February | Parents and guardians only |
| Affinity-based outreach events | Posted by October | Prospective families from specific communities |
Lakeside Application Requirements
Standardized Testing by Grade
| Applying to | Accepted exams | Notes |
| Grades 6-8 | SSAT or ISEE | One score set only, from a test taken September 1, 2026 to January 28, 2027 |
| Grade 9 | SSAT or ISEE | Same window and single-sitting rule |
| Grades 10-11 | SSAT, ISEE, ACT, PSAT, or SAT | Wider choice, still one score set only |
Because families now choose between formats rather than defaulting to one, it is worth comparing the SSAT and the ISEE before registering. Our private school test preparation runs dedicated tracks for both exams.
Student Essays and Interests and Activities Form
Both are PSIS common forms completed in Aryval and due January 14. Students choose from several prompts and write within a set word limit, then account for how they spend their time outside class. Lakeside asks that students complete these without help from parents, guardians, or teachers. Because PSIS forms are shared with every PSIS school a family applies to, the writing cannot be tailored to Lakeside specifically and has to work for any reader.
Parent and Guardian Statement
Due January 14 and word-limited, this asks parents to describe the applicant’s strengths and where they still have room to grow. The second half carries most of the information. A portrait of a flawless child reads as guarded and tells an admissions officer very little. Our parent statement guidance covers how to be candid without undercutting your child.
Teacher Evaluations and Personal Reference
Two teacher evaluations are due January 28, one from a humanities teacher in English, history, or social studies, and one from a math or science teacher, with at least one from a current teacher. Where a single teacher covers all three subjects, submit a current-year math evaluation and a prior-year humanities evaluation. The separate personal reference form goes to a teacher, administrator, or coach who has observed your child in a group setting within the past two years. Lakeside will not read additional letters.
Transcripts and School Administrator Form
Records must be requested through Aryval and sent directly by your child’s school by January 28. Lakeside asks for the first complete report card of 2026-2027 plus the full-year transcript from 2025-2026. A registrar, principal, or division head completes the PSIS school administrator form, which reports attendance. Where a school issues current-year grades after the deadline, the application is not treated as late for that reason.
Admissions Activity or Interview
The two divisions differ here. Middle School applicants attend a small-group admissions activity at the Middle School campus, working alongside peers on a hands-on task while faculty observe how they collaborate. There is no individual student interview and no parent interview. Upper School applicants instead interview with a Lakeside faculty member, virtually or in person, in a conversation about how they navigate the challenges of school life. Lakeside says no preparation is needed for either, and rehearsed answers tend to show. Our interview preparation focuses on reflection rather than scripting.
Not sure whether Lakeside is the right target?
A Cardinal Education consultant will give you a straight assessment of where your child stands and what the next twelve months should look like.
Frequently Asked: Curriculum and Outcomes
Why does Lakeside not offer AP courses?
Lakeside builds its own advanced and honors sequence rather than teaching to an external syllabus, supplementing it with Global Online Academy courses and School Year Abroad. Selective colleges have long understood this model at independent schools, and 99% of Lakeside graduates enroll in college. Our overview of top college prep schools explains how admissions offices read curricula without AP labels.
What does Lakeside require to graduate?
Beyond coursework in English, mathematics, science, history, languages, physical education, health and human development, and the arts, every Lakeside student completes a one-week Outdoor Program trip and at least 80 hours of service learning. Neither is optional, and both shape how students plan their four years.
Student Life at Lakeside
Academics
Middle School students work across English, mathematics, science, social studies and history, languages, visual and performing arts, physical education, human development and health, digital and information literacy, and experiential learning. The Upper School adds mathematics and computer science, history and social sciences, and access to Global Online Academy and School Year Abroad. Homework in the Middle School runs roughly one to one and a half hours a night, rising through the grades.
Activities
Lakeside publishes the Tatler, a monthly student-run newspaper that carries academic credit, alongside the Imago literary magazine and the Numidian yearbook. Competitive teams include Chess Team, Model United Nations, Quiz Bowl, Ethics Bowl, Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, and VEX Robotics. Student Government is elected by peers, and the Judicial Committee seats student representatives alongside faculty to resolve conduct matters. Affinity and alliance groups include the Black Student Union, GLOW, Lakeside Asian-Pacific Students, the South Asian Affinity Group, LATISPA, MIxED, the Indigenous Student Alliance, the Jewish Student Union, and the Muslim Student Association.
Athletics
The Middle School fields roughly 30 teams across 7 sports: soccer, cross country, crew, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, and track and field. The Upper School runs 26 varsity teams across 15 sports, adding baseball, flag football, football, golf, swim and dive, tennis, ultimate, and wrestling, and competes in the WIAA 3A Metro League as the Lions.
Arts
Drama, music, and visual arts run as both coursework and co-curricular programs, with student-led productions, exhibitions, and independent projects. The Bellas, an all-female a cappella group, perform regularly for school events and families.
Summer Programs
Summer at Lakeside is open to students from any school. Investigative Learning Camp serves grades 5 through 8 with project-based science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and writing, with two-week intensives for rising 7th and 8th graders in AI Innovators, Leadership Lab, and Mock Trial. High school academic courses for grades 9 through 12 carry credit, and the Lakeside Summer Institute runs courses in artificial intelligence, molecular biology, and planetary science. Bridges is a one-week transition program for incoming Lakeside 9th graders. LEEP, running since 1965, is a four-week enrichment program for Seattle Public Schools students entering grades 6 or 9.
Notable Lakeside Alumni
- Bill Gates: co-founder of Microsoft, who first used a computer in the Lakeside computer room as a seventh grader in 1967
- Paul Allen: co-founder of Microsoft, owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, and founder of the Allen Institute
- Adam West: the actor best known for playing Batman in the 1960s television series
- Booth Gardner: Governor of Washington from 1985 to 1993
- Annie Leonard: executive director of Greenpeace USA
- Corbin Carroll: Major League Baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Craig McCaw: telecommunications entrepreneur and founder of McCaw Cellular Communications
- E. Lockhart: author of young adult fiction including “We Were Liars”
- Seth Gordon: film director and producer
- Po Bronson: author and journalist
A Final Word on Lakeside Admissions
Lakeside has built a process that is unusually hard to game. No extra materials, one test sitting, no private meetings, and an evaluation that turns on how a child collaborates or how honestly they can describe a setback. For families willing to prepare in that direction, it is a fair process and a remarkable school. For families whose strategy depends on volume, it can be a frustrating one. We have spent twenty years on private school admissions, and our Seattle consultants will tell you honestly which of those two you are.
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Related Articles
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- Lakeside School Famous Alumni: How a Seattle Prep School Computer Room Produced Microsoft
Lakeside Admissions FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Lakeside School worth it?
Lakeside School is a valuable investment if you’re looking for a top-tier education for your child. Renowned for its rigorous academics, exceptional faculty, and a curriculum that emphasizes innovation, Lakeside provides a nurturijng but challenging environment where students become successful. With small class sizes, teachers provide individualized attention ensuring every student’s potential is developed. Beyond academics, Lakeside offers various extracurricular activities, from arts and athletics to robotics and community service, contributing to students’ personal growth. Lakeside also provides a supportive community where students from different backgrounds feel valued.
If you are seeking a balanced education that will prepare your child for success in college and beyond, Lakeside is definitely worth it. However, with numerous families aspiring to get in, admission can be challenging and selective. If you are unsure how to navigate the admissions process, call us. As unaffiliated educational consultants, we can help create a strong application profile that will showcase your child’s uniqueness and individuality.
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Why Lakeside School?
Lakeside School is a top-tier educational institution that combines academic excellence with holistic development. Known for its rigorous curriculum, Lakeside’s curriculum fosters intellectual curiosity adn critical thinking, preparing students for successful admission into top universities. The small class sizes and highly skilled faculty provide personalized attention and hands-on mentorship for every student.
Lakeside also offers a rich array of extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and community service, giving students opportunities to explore their passions and develop their skills. As students engage in these activities, they interact with other students from different backgrounds, enriching their cultural experiences and allowing them to thrive in a diverse community.
Another reason to consider Lakeside School is its emphasis on innovation and leadership, encouraging students to think critically and solve real-world problems. Its strong alumni network and global perspective ensure lifelong connections and opportunities. For families seeking a transformative education that nurtures both intellect and character, Lakeside is an exceptional choice.
If you need help with your application, contact us to know more about our private school admissions consulting services.
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What is Lakeside School’s ranking?
Lakeside School consistently ranks as one of the top private schools in the United States. According to Niche’s 2025 rankings, it is the #1 private high school in Washington State and ranks 52nd nationally. It is also recognized as the best high school for STEM in Washington, placing 28th nationally for STEM education. These rankings highlight Lakeside’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and preparing students for college admissions. With its rigorous curriculum, highly qualified faculty, and exceptional extracurricular opportunities, Lakeside School remains a top choice for families seeking atransformative and well-rounded education for their children.
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What is Lakeside School’s acceptance rate?
Lakeside does not officially disclose its acceptance rate to reduce anxiety among applicants and their families. However, with many students applying each year, the competition is tough and the admissions process is rigorous. Lakeside School focuses on a holistic review of each applicant and consider various factors beyond grades and test scores. Applicants are encouraged to present a comprehensive and authentic application that highlights their unique strengths and experiences.
With 20 years of experience in private school admissions consulting, we understand what it takes to get into the best private schools. Our independent admissions consultants can guide you through the process and help you build an application profile that will showcase your child’s individuality and uniqueness. We develop tailored admissions strategies that will help you reach your dreams and achieve your goals.
The admissions consultant who worked with my child was very efficient. He helped us with every detail of our application to Lakeside.
— Lakeside parent, Cardinal Education client