MISD Ranked Number 2 School District in Washington by Niche.com

Mercer Island, WA, January 27, 2026 – School Ranking website Niche released their 2026 school rankings of the best public school districts and schools in Washington recently and Mercer Island School District is extremely pleased to see our district and schools were very highly ranked.

Mercer Island School District was ranked the No. 2 best school district in Washington.

Our four elementary schools were all ranked very high with three schools in the top five  and all four schools in the top 15. West Mercer was ranked No. 1, Lakeridge ranked No. 2, Island Park ranked No. 4, and Northwood at No. 14 on the list of best public elementary schools in Washington.

All four elementary schools are hosting Kindergarten Information Nights on Tuesday, January 27 from 6-7pm. New kindergarten families will be able to learn about kindergarten from the school principal and kindergarten teachers at each school. Each elementary school will host a guided Spring Open House Tour on Wednesday, April 8 at 10:00 am - 10:20 am and 10:30 am - 10:50 am. The purpose of the tours is to give prospective families, either on Mercer Island or off, a chance to visit the school on a typical school day and learn more about the school. Community members interested in visiting one of the schools will need to wait outside the main school entrance to be let into the school by a school staff member.  Learn more about kindergarten in MISD on our website.

Islander Middle School was ranked the No. 3 public middle school in Washington while Mercer Island High School was ranked No. 6 in the state for public  high schools.

These outstanding rankings underscores the district’s dedication to building a caring community grounded in academic excellence, innovative learning, and educators who inspire, support, and uplift students every day.

Kindergarten and new student enrollment for the 2026-27 school year opens on Thursday, January 29. New families can enroll on the District website.

“We are fortunate to have exceptional educators who not only teach, but also affirm, support, and inspire our students every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle. “In today’s global society, our families and community want our children to have every opportunity to create, innovate, and lead — and we work hard to make those dreams possible. Most importantly, Mercer Island is a community where we care for one another and work together to raise a generation that is capable, compassionate, and committed to making the world a better place.”

About Niche Rankings
Niche’s Best School Districts ranking is based on a rigorous analysis of academic performance, extracurricular activity opportunities, student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as test scores, college readiness indicators, and millions of reviews and ratings from students and families. The 2026 statewide rankings, along with full methodology and data sources, are also available on the Niche website.