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Spokane Public Schools, Washington
| Spokane Public Schools |
|---|
 |
| Spokane County, Washington |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Adam Swinyard |
| # of school board members: 5 |
| Website: Link |
Spokane Public Schools is a school district in Washington.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
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This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Adam Swinyard is the superintendent of Spokane Public Schools. Swinyard was appointed superintendent in summer of 2020. His previous career experience includes working in the district as the associate superintendent for teaching and learning services.[1]
School board
The Spokane Public Schools school board consists of five members elected to six-year terms. Board members are elected at large.[2]
Elections
Board members are elected on a staggered basis in odd-numbered years.[2]
Two seats on the board are up for general election and two seats are up for special election on November 4, 2025. A primary was scheduled for August 5, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was May 9, 2025.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Spokane Public Schools school board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[3]
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V. Public Attendence and Comment Any member of the public may attend board meetings, including individuals who do not live within district boundaries. The board will not require people to sign in, complete questionnaires, or establish other conditions for attendance. Any member of the public may comment on any agenda item at the time the topic appears on the board agenda and may comment on items not on the agenda at such time as is provided on the board agenda for doing so. See “How to Attend & Participate” information. In either case, they shall first complete an "Intent to Address the Board" card and give it to the president of the board or administrative staff. Such card shall include the citizen’s first name and the topic they wish to address. Persons commenting will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public wishing to speak should step to the podium and give their name before beginning their comments to the board. Each person's comments shall be limited to three minutes or less as deemed appropriate by the president of the board. A person may not receive another individual’s allotted time to make additional comments. The board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. To permit fair and orderly expression of public comment, except for emergency situations, the board will provide a period at or before every regular meeting at which final action is to take place for public comment. During public comment period, visitors may address the board on any topic within the scope of the board’s responsibility. Public comment may occur orally or through written comments and must adhere to the standards of civility discussed below. Written comment will be accepted by the school board via email schoolboard@spokaneschools.org or by mail to the District Office, 200 N Bernard, Spokane, WA 99201. The board may structure the oral public comment period, including determining the total time allotted for public comment and equally apportioning the minutes for each speaker. The board is not obligated to provide additional public comment time to accommodate everyone in attendance who wishes to speak. Any structure the board imposes will be content neutral. The board may require those who wish to speak (but not all attendees) to sign in so that the board has a tally of individuals who wish to speak and can call them forward. When called forward, individuals will identify themselves and proceed to make comments within the time limits established by the board. The board is not obligated to respond to questions or challenges made during the public comment period and the board’s silence will not signal agreement or endorsement of the speaker’s remarks. The board will refrain from engaging in topics not on the agenda. The board may control the time, place, and manner of public comment. The board president may terminate an individual’s statement when the allotted time has passed and may interrupt a speaker to require the same standard of civility that the board imposes on itself. Examples of uncivil comments include comments that:
The board as a whole has the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings and can maintain order by removing those who are disruptive. However, the board recognizes the distinction between uncivil discourse, which it will not tolerate, and comments about the board, district, and / or staff that are negative yet still civil in nature. The board will exercise its authority to maintain order in a content neutral manner. In addition to the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, the board will identify the agenda items that require or would benefit from opportunity for public comment and provide those opportunities as part of the meeting agenda before taking final action. Individuals or groups who wish to present to the board on an agenda item are encouraged to request and schedule such presentations in advance. Opportunity for public comment - both oral and written - is required before the board adopts or amends a policy that is not expressly or by implication authorized under state or federal law, but which will promote the education of K-12 students, or will promote the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district. Additionally, the board will provide an opportunity for a representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the board to present about their firm. Interruptions. If any meeting is interrupted by a group or groups of persons to render the orderly conduct of such meeting unfeasible, and order cannot be restored by the removal of individuals who are interrupting the meeting, the members of the board may order the meeting room cleared and continue in session or may adjourn the meeting and reconvene at another location selected by majority vote of the board members. In such a session, final disposition may be taken only on matters appearing on the agenda. Representatives of the press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to attend any session held pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from establishing a procedure for readmitting an individual or individuals not responsible for disturbing the orderly conduct of the meeting.[4] |
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District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[5]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $51,705,000 | $1,828 | 10% |
| Local: | $112,665,000 | $3,984 | 21% |
| State: | $372,811,000 | $13,183 | 69% |
| Total: | $537,181,000 | $18,995 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $608,874,000 | $21,530 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $440,565,000 | $15,578 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $274,186,000 | $9,695 | 45% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $64,508,000 | $2,281 | 11% |
| Administration: | $45,210,000 | $1,598 | 7% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $56,661,000 | $2,003 | 9% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $134,620,000 | $4,760 | |
| Construction: | $129,089,000 | $4,564 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $9,402,000 | $332 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $19,842,000 | $701 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[6] | $58,272 | $117,120 |
| 2023-2024[7] | $52,778 | $113,013 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[8]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 47 | 35 | 24 | 34 | 20-24 | 39 | 53 |
| 2017-2018 | 46 | 36 | 22 | 33 | 15-19 | 38 | 52 |
| 2016-2017 | 49 | 36 | 22 | 37 | 20-24 | 42 | 55 |
| 2015-2016 | 49 | 38 | 20 | 38 | 25-29 | 41 | 54 |
| 2014-2015 | 47 | 40 | 19 | 37 | 25-29 | 40 | 52 |
| 2013-2014 | 64 | 50-54 | 40-44 | 52 | 45-49 | 59 | 69 |
| 2012-2013 | 66 | 57 | 44 | 57 | 50-54 | 60 | 70 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 57 | 43 | 54 | 45 | 61 | 70 |
| 2010-2011 | 62 | 51 | 37 | 52 | 42 | 58 | 65 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 58 | 40 | 35 | 46 | 35-39 | 49 | 64 |
| 2017-2018 | 57 | 43 | 33 | 44 | 25-29 | 49 | 63 |
| 2016-2017 | 58 | 43 | 32 | 46 | 30-34 | 49 | 64 |
| 2015-2016 | 58 | 42 | 33 | 48 | 35-39 | 51 | 64 |
| 2014-2015 | 52 | 40 | 28 | 44 | 25-29 | 45 | 57 |
| 2013-2014 | 71 | 45-49 | 45-49 | 64 | 60-64 | 66 | 76 |
| 2012-2013 | 70 | 52 | 53 | 62 | 50-54 | 65 | 74 |
| 2011-2012 | 68 | 51 | 49 | 60 | 53 | 63 | 72 |
| 2010-2011 | 67 | 51 | 46 | 62 | 50 | 66 | 70 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 87 | 85-89 | 75-79 | 85-89 | 60-69 | 85-89 | 88 |
| 2018-2019 | 89 | 80-84 | 80-84 | 85-89 | 60-79 | 90-94 | 90 |
| 2017-2018 | 92 | 90-94 | 85-89 | >=95 | >=80 | 85-89 | 93 |
| 2016-2017 | 86 | 70-74 | 80-89 | 80-84 | 60-79 | 85-89 | 88 |
| 2015-2016 | 86 | 70-74 | 70-79 | 80-84 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 90 |
| 2014-2015 | 84 | 70-74 | 70-79 | 80-84 | 60-69 | 80-84 | 87 |
| 2013-2014 | 83 | 75-79 | 80-89 | 75-79 | 60-69 | 75-79 | 86 |
| 2012-2013 | 81 | 65-69 | 75-79 | 70-74 | 60-69 | 75-79 | 83 |
| 2011-2012 | 77 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 70-74 | 50-59 | 70-74 | 79 |
| 2010-2011 | 75 | 65-69 | 65-69 | 60-64 | 50-54 | 70-74 | 78 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 28,714 | 1.4 |
| 2021-2022 | 28,311 | 0.1 |
| 2020-2021 | 28,280 | -7.7 |
| 2019-2020 | 30,464 | 0.8 |
| 2018-2019 | 30,231 | 0.8 |
| 2017-2018 | 29,982 | -2.6 |
| 2016-2017 | 30,773 | 1.1 |
| 2015-2016 | 30,434 | -0.7 |
| 2014-2015 | 30,641 | 3.9 |
| 2013-2014 | 29,446 | 1.4 |
| 2012-2013 | 29,032 | 0.0 |
| 2011-2012 | 29,038 | -1.4 |
| 2010-2011 | 29,446 | 3.8 |
| 2009-2010 | 28,327 | -4.9 |
| 2008-2009 | 29,701 | 0.8 |
| 2007-2008 | 29,454 | -2.5 |
| 2006-2007 | 30,181 | -2.7 |
| 2005-2006 | 30,999 | 0.2 |
| 2004-2005 | 30,945 | -0.4 |
| 2003-2004 | 31,068 | -0.9 |
| 2002-2003 | 31,362 | -0.5 |
| 2001-2002 | 31,518 | -0.7 |
| 2000-2001 | 31,725 | -2.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 32,384 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Spokane Public Schools (%) | Washington K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.3 | 8.7 |
| Black | 3.3 | 4.8 |
| Hispanic | 11.3 | 25.6 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 2.6 | 1.4 |
| Two or More Races | 13.4 | 8.8 |
| White | 65.8 | 49.1 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Spokane Public Schools had 2,066.84 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 13.89.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 24.79 |
| Kindergarten: | 156.63 |
| Elementary: | 1,101.89 |
| Secondary: | 783.53 |
| Total: | 2,066.84 |
Spokane Public Schools employed 55.30 district administrators and 83.00 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 55.30 |
| District Administrative Support: | 51.40 |
| School Administrators: | 83.00 |
| School Administrative Support: | 157.90 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 244.86 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 147.38 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 101.11 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 34.51 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 66.60 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 1.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 139.28 |
| Other Support Services: | 581.45 |
Schools
Contact information
Spokane Public Schools
200 N. Bernard
Spokane, Washington 99201
Phone: 509-354-5900
About school boards
Education legislation in Washington
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Washington | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Spokane Public Schools
- Washington State School Directors' Association
- Washington State Board of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ Spokane Public Schools, "Superintendent," accessed January 19, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Spokane Public Schools, "Policy No. 1100: Board Members (Number / Terms / Residency / Elections / Orientation / Officers / Expenses / Compensation / Advisors)," accessed January 24, 2022
- ↑ Spokane Public Schools, "Policy No. 1200, Board of Directors: Board Meetings," accessed January 19, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Spokane Public Schools, "Certificated Teacher's Salary Schedule - TE, 2024-25," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ Spokane Public Schools, "Certificated Teacher's Salary Schedule - TE, 2023-24," accessed February 6, 2024
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
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