Phone: 206-252-2304
Fax: 206-252-2271

Contact your student’s Counselor

The Seattle Public Schools (SPS) has an 11-Point Grading Scale:

• A: 93-100%
• A-: 90-92%
• B+: 87-89%
• B: 83-86%
• B-: 80-82%
• C+: 77-70%
• C-: 70-72%
• D+: 67-69%
• D: 60-66%
• E: below 60%

Regular courses will be graded on a 4.0 scale.

Garfield High School does not report class rank. If you are asked for your class rank on any college applications or documents you can write “N/A”.

Garfield is an urban four-year high school with a culturally diverse student body and a reputation for rigorous college preparatory classes. About 1,700 students attend the school.

Of the approximately 398 who graduated last year, 69 percent plan to attend four-year colleges and 22 percent plan to attend two-year colleges. School highlights include:

• Numerous Advanced Placement (AP) classes
• Nationally recognized performing arts program
• Award-winning student newspaper and a comprehensive outdoor education program

Garfield consistently has more National Merit finalists than any other public high school in Seattle. Approximately 25% of each grade level at Garfield is made up of students from the Highly Capable program – Seattle Public Schools’ program for academically gifted students.

Advanced Placement

Garfield offers 18 AP courses, as well as 3 College in the High School (CiHS) courses. Students following a selective-college admissions curriculum typically complete three or four AP classes by the end of their junior year.

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Department provides rich opportunities for students interested in musical performance including jazz ensemble, orchestra, choir, vocal jazz and drama. The jazz ensemble and symphonic orchestra have earned national and international recognitions. Both have traveled extensively to competitions and festivals.

Running Start

This program provides eligible junior and senior students the opportunity to attend a community college and earn high school and college credits simultaneously.

Seattle Skills Center

The Seattle Skills Center is a half-day option high school that provides advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses at several locations around the district.  Students can take advanced, preparatory CTE half-day courses during the school year and introductory versions of these courses and internships to earn high school CTE credit in summer.

Students who don’t have access to all the courses needed to complete a CTE graduation pathway at Garfield can complete a course with the Skills Center, such as Careers in Education, Maritime Vessel Operations, or Media Arts. Skills Center courses may also provide dual college credit and credit equivalencies to help fulfill other graduation requirements, like math, science, or PE. School year Skills Center courses are designed for 11th and 12th grade students, summer Skills Center courses are available for incoming 9th-12th grade students.

Distribution of 2019 Graduates SAT Scores

Score: 700-800
ERW: 109
Math: 82

Score: 600-690
ERW: 123
Math: 110

Score: 500-590
ERW: 56
Math: 86

Score: 400-490
ERW: 77
Math: 69

Score: MEAN
ERW: 597
Math: 580

PSAT / National Merit Results

Category: Finalists
# Students 2018-19: 13
# Students 2019-20: N/A

Category: Semi-Finalists
# Students 2018-19: 13
# Students 2019-20: 9

Category: Hispanic Recognition
# Students 2018-19: 1
# Students 2019-20: N/A

Graduation Requirements (Class of 2020)

All students must meet the following requirements to graduate:

• American Government – 1 semester
• Fine Arts – 2 semesters
• Health – 1 semester
• Language Arts – 8 semesters
• Mathematics – 6 semesters
• Occupational Education – 2 semesters
• Physical Education – 3 semesters
• Science – 4 semesters
• US History – 2 semesters
• World History – 3 semesters
• Electives (any courses beyond the minimum requirements) – 14 semesters
• Community Service Learning – 60 hours
• Meet a Graduation Pathway (SBAC, SAT/ACT, or CTE pathway)
• High School and Beyond Plan

The Seattle Public Schools website has extensive information about graduation requirements and is updated frequently: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/graduation-requirements/

Garfield offers the following AP courses:

African American Studies

Art (Drawing)

Biology

Calculus A/B

Calculus B/C

Chemistry

Computer Science

English Language

English Literature

French (bi-annual)

Human Geography

Macro Economics

Physics

Pre-Calculus

Spanish

Statistics

U.S. Government

U.S. History