Lakeside High School Ranking for College Admissions

I’ve read hundreds of Lakeside School applications. Here’s what admissions officers actually see.

During my time reading files from the Pacific Northwest, I knew exactly what to expect when a Lakeside School application hit my desk: high test scores, strong extracurriculars, and rigorous transcripts. But here’s something that surprises many families: the fact that you go to Lakeside isn’t what makes you competitive. What matters more is where you stand within Lakeside’s highly competitive school group — and how well your application is positioned in that context.

Let’s unpack what that means and how it should shape your student’s admissions strategy.

Lakeside School Rankings (and Why They Only Tell Part of the Story)

Lakeside is ranked #1 Best High School for STEM in Washington and earns an overall grade of A+ on Niche. It also ranks:

• #3 Best Private High School in Washington
  
  
• #3 Best College Prep Private High School in Washington
  
  

With an average SAT of 1480 and ACT of 33, plus a 100% college matriculation rate, it’s no wonder families see Lakeside as one of the best pathways to selective college admission.

But that’s not what admissions officers are looking at. 

When an admissions officer reads your file, they don’t open up Niche.com in another tab. They look at your school profile, which is a document your counselor sends along with your transcript.

Lakeside School Profile

You can view the full 2024–25 school profile here. Here’s what stands out and how AOs might interpret it:

Key Academic Context:

• No GPA, No Rank: Lakeside doesn’t provide GPA or rank, but AOs still sort students by transcript strength and course rigor.
  
  
• No AP/IB Offered: But Lakeside explicitly states its courses exceed AP/IB rigor. Advanced coursework is labeled “Advanced” or “Honors” in arts, math, and science.
  
  
• Most Rigorous Math Track: Honors Calc BC → Multivariable Calc → Linear Algebra. Very few students reach this level.
  
  
• Global Online Academy (GOA): Adds more advanced elective options, like Organic Chem or Data Visualization.
  
  

Size & Selectivity:

• 800+ students total across grades 5–12; roughly 150 seniors.
  
  
• 13% acceptance rate — one of the most selective private schools in the country.
  
  

Global Programs:

• Global Service Learning (GSL): A month-long immersion abroad with significant community engagement.
  
  

College Matriculation Patterns:

• Lakeside students routinely attend Ivy+, Stanford, MIT, and top liberal arts colleges, but not every student. The list includes a range of outcomes.

How Admissions Officers Read Lakeside Applicants

Admissions offices sort applicants from each high school into what’s called a school group, a cohort of peers from the same school applying in the same cycle.

At Lakeside, here’s what typically happens:

1. GPA or Transcript Sort

Even without GPA, AOs can quickly benchmark students based on transcript patterns. If a student has a full course load of Advanced classes across math and science (especially if they reach Multivariable Calc or Advanced CS) they’ll stand out in the initial sort.

2. Rigor Check

Lakeside doesn’t offer APs, but there are still ways students can take on extra rigor. AOs expect top students to take the most challenging courses available, including Advanced math, science, and humanities electives.

3. Year-over-Year Benchmarking

In addition to looking at your application compared to peers from your same graduation year, AOs also ask: How does this student compare to top Lakeside students from past years? This can especially be the case if you’re applying ED or EA as admissions officers weigh whether to wait for more applicants in the RD round before admitting you.

4. Holistic Review Still Matters

Because there’s so much talent from Lakeside, the deciding factors often come down to standout essays, deep EC impact, and clear intellectual direction.

Strategic Takeaways for Lakeside Families

For Prospective Families:

• This school is not for coasting. The average Lakeside student is already strong. To stand out, your student needs to excel within a high-achieving peer group.
  
  
• Great fit for self-starters. Students with intellectual independence and curiosity will thrive, especially those ready to explore GOA, GSL, or Advanced electives.
  
  

For Current Students:

• Aim for depth in rigor. You’ll want to take on as much rigor as you can reasonably handle without sacrificing your well-being or grades.
  
  
• Position your extracurriculars wisely. At a school where everyone has leadership roles and national awards, your ECs need clarity and impact.
  
  
• Tell a cohesive story. Your essays, activities, and coursework should align to show AOs who you are — and why it matters.
  
  

Want help figuring out how your Lakeside application would be read by an AO? Book a consult with our team. We’ll help you reverse-engineer your strategy based on real admissions practices.

Final Word

Lakeside is an exceptional school. But that cuts both ways: you have a lot of opportunities, but the bar is also high among your school group.

Selective colleges don’t admit students because they attend Lakeside. They admit the Lakeside students who stand out among their already impressive peers.