College. Career. Life.

Equipping every student to lead a fulfilled life.

We Believe

that every child is capable of college and career success. Summit Public Schools is a leading network of public schools that collectively prepares a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a chosen concrete next step towards a fulfilled life.

We founded our inaugural school, Summit Prep, in 2003. Today, we are proud to operate some of the best public schools in the country, serving diverse communities throughout California and Washington states.

Our Schools

Our Results

96%

of all graduates are 4-year college ready

96%

of graduates are accepted to 4-year college

2X

Summit alumni complete college at nearly twice the national average

A Summit teacher working with a student one-on-one

1:1
Mentoring

Mentoring helps students develop the trust and confidence that allows them to take risks, ask for help, and persevere. Students meet one-on-one with a dedicated mentor who knows them deeply and supports them in setting — and achieving — their goals, all the way through college acceptance. Students also join a mentor group, which provides a safe and close-knit setting for building community and developing Habits of Success.

Summit students working in a science lab growing plant

Real-World Projects

Students apply their acquired knowledge, skills, and habits to exercises that broaden and deepen their passions and prepare them for what they’ll encounter after graduation. Students participate in hands-on projects in class and eight weeks of expeditionary learning each year. Experiential learning exposes students to new career and volunteer pathways, while nurturing their sense of purpose.

Two Summit students working on a poster board together

Self-direction

With teacher support, students are guided through a Self-Directed Learning Cycle to develop a skill set that will help them well beyond their years in school. Students learn how to set goals, make plans, demonstrate their skills and knowledge, and reflect on their progress.

Summit Blog

Brad + Kristen = A Passion for Math…and Each Other

Brad Earl and Kristen Smith have a lot in common. As the 9th- and 10th-grade math teachers at Atlas, they both share a commitment to the craft of teaching and a passion for working with young people, as well as a deep appreciation of the outdoors and competitive sports.   They also share a house. Because…

Here is why I stayed

I’m a Founding Teacher at Summit Atlas. Here’s Why I’ve Stayed. By Rachel Henty When I joined the Summit Atlas team in 2016, it was my third time helping found a charter school. I moved to Seattle to be closer to the mountains and the great outdoors. When I got here, I didn’t know what…

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Summit Atlas teacher, Mandy Vu, shares his story

Mandy Vu, a high school social studies teacher at Summit Atlas, teaches his students that discovering one’s purpose in life can take unexpected turns.  Mandy understands this from his own lived experience.   He grew up in the Rainier Vista neighborhood, one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the country. After graduating from high school,…

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Student Voices: Social capital can go a long way. Here’s why we need equitable access.

Written by Papani Ellison When I started my senior year of high school, I didn’t have the expansive network of relationships as many of my fellow classmates. I didn’t know too many professionals to ask for help or serve as mentors after I graduated. Here is what we do know: Building those relationships through networking…

Teach with Us

Teach With Us

We put students in the driver’s seat, empowering students with the skills and habits they need to be successful in college and life. In order to achieve our mission, we need a diverse, driven, and dynamic group of teachers and leaders.

Learn More About Teaching at Summit

Summit Learning Program

We are pleased to share that the Summit Learning Program has moved to a new home. A new nonprofit organization, called Gradient Learning, now independently leads and operates the Summit Learning Program.

Visit SummitLearning.org