116 Smith St
Seattle, WA 98109

Our family has had a wonderful experience with this school. One of the things we appreciate most is the diversity of the student body—children from many different backgrounds learn, play, and grow together, creating an inclusive and supportive environment. The teachers and the principal are truly dedicated; you can feel their commitment in the way they communicate, support each student, and work to build a positive school culture.The school is also located in the friendly and safe Queen Anne community, which adds to the overall sense of comfort and trust. We feel confident sending our child here every day, knowing they are surrounded by caring staff and a welcoming neighborhood. Highly recommend this school to any family looking for a strong, well-rounded educational environment.

This school, for better or for worse, has an outrageous amount of drama. Some of the kids here are... interesting (most of the kids) And the language and slurs you hear on a day to day basis is absolutely insaneBut overall this school is really fun and as long as you aren't in the drama I would recommend.

This is a Seattle hidden gem! Most don't know that it is a public school. The size of the school is so small in comparison to standard Seattle public high schools. For all grades combined, the student population is anywhere from 165-226 - depending on the school year. My child entered the school as a sophomore - having attended a much bigger high school in the area where they were not known by teachers, lost in the hectic energy of the environment and overall anonymous. The location is on the third floor of the Armory which is located in The Seattle Center. There are so many advantages of this location - the extra layer of safety from the Armory security guards, the variety of food options, and the access to on-site theater and art events for student field trips. The transportation can be a challenge but many have learned to use the Metro bus - often meeting up at bus stops and traveling together to- and from school. Others are dropped off/picked up by caregivers or do a mix of public transportation and car rides. The teachers are warm and welcoming and I would say are excellent at reaching kids who may be neurodivergent, formerly bullied or simply introverted. The principal and staff are responsive, approachable and accessible. A few things to note - there is no P.E. (credit can be earned for extracurricular sports or simply logging the student's daily walks to the bus); there is no orchestra/band; and there is no after school sports. Send your artsy, fun-loving, introverted/extroverted theatre/art kids to this school - they will thrive here.

This school may be a good fit for students who prefer a slower-paced learning environment, but it lacks adequate support for Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) students, especially in higher elementary grades such as 2nd grade onwards.The purpose of split classes (for example, a 2nd/3rd grade class) is to allow advanced 2nd graders to learn higher-grade material. However, some very senior teachers discourage younger HCC students from accessing the advanced curriculum, limiting their learning opportunities. Parents also had little visibility into what students were learning due to a lack of updates on Seesaw.Ms. Carmen was an excellent teacher who helped 2nd graders excel in math during the 2024–2025 school year, but she was removed because she was considered a junior teacher.Schools should value and retain effective teachers like Ms. Carmen and provide better opportunities for HCC students instead of relying on outdated teaching approaches that limit academic growth.

Lincoln High School is different from the ground up. Intentionally designed to build on decades of research about how students learn best - most of which are at odds with the way us parents were educated and consequently what we expect to see our children have to do. Many of the reviews on here are complaining because their kids are not experiencing what they experienced - i.e. lots of homework, no re-takes on tests, teaching to standardized tests and expecting very little self-directed learning. What works best for student learning has been known for decades. Changing the school system is nearly impossible though for the very reasons these parents are complaining - it's not like they did it so it must be wrong. This is why much of the way they taught at Lincoln was kept quiet till the school was well established and the success was seen in test scores and college performance. They even brought in a change management expert to help get parents to buy into these wild ideas when they were starting the school. Since it was started from the ground up, they worked within school district regulations and really mixed things up. The result? Students emerge being self directed learners not kids who only do what they are told. Yes, they have to find information and learn it on their own in order to do well on the standardized tests. This is great preparation for real life. Yes, they can take tests over again because the point is not the grade it is that you learned the material. Yes, there is a lot of freedom in how they approach a project or even a chemistry lab because it is about being able to think for yourself, not have the teacher tell you what to think. Is it different? YES. Does it frustrate me that my kid doesn't come home with homework? YES. Do I sometimes wish the teachers would "baby" my kid a little more giving them more help? YES. Is falling down and learning to pick yourself up on your own good for your kid? YES. Is equity a big topic in school? YES. Does research back up that kids are more innovative, better listeners and learn material better when they hear different perspectives, work with those not like themselves and have to figure things out on their own? Yup. Did it prepare my kids well for college? YES. Does Lincoln get as many or more kids into the top universities in the country than the $$$ private schools in the area? Yup. Are my / have my kids been happy there? VERY. Don't expect typical.