Tesla STEM High School Ranking for College Admissions

I’ve read dozens of applications from Tesla STEM—here’s what I actually looked for

As a former admissions officer who covered Washington, Tesla STEM High School was always one of the most contextually demanding schools in my region. When an application from Tesla came across my desk, I didn’t need to ask, “Is this student college-ready?” The real question was, “Is this one of the strongest students at Tesla?”

That’s a subtle but crucial shift in thinking for families. Because what college admissions officers care about isn’t how good your school is, but how you performed in the context of that school’s academic environment. Tesla’s reputation, rigor, and cohort make it one of the most competitive public high schools in the country. And that has serious implications for how students from Tesla are evaluated in selective admissions.

Let’s walk through what that means.

Tesla STEM High School Ranking

If you’re a parent in Redmond or greater Seattle, you already know the highlights:

• #1 Best Public High School in Washington — Niche
  
  
• #1 in Washington — U.S. News
  
  
• #3 in National Rankings — U.S. News
  
  

Tesla earns an A+ rating across academics, college prep, and teaching on Niche, so it’s no surprise that it’s nationally recognized.

But here’s what parents often miss: none of these rankings change the way your student’s application is read. College admissions offices don’t use Niche or U.S. News to evaluate high schools. They use your school profile.

Inside the Tesla STEM High School Profile

You can view Tesla STEM’s full 2024–25 school profile here, but here are some of the key points:

• Class of 2025 Size: 139 seniors
  
  
• Unweighted GPA Average: 3.63 (does not rank)
  
  
• GPA Distribution:
  
  
  • 39% of students have a 3.9–4.0
    
    
  • 29% fall between 3.5–3.89
    
    
  • Only 9% below a 3.0
    
    
• Rigor Expectations:
  
  
  • Students average 7 science courses and 4 math courses across high school
    
    
  • All students complete multiple AP or dual-enrollment science courses
    
    
  • Senior-year STEM labs require independent research aligned to global challenges
    
    

Tesla is unapologetically rigorous with theeir lab structure, PBL curriculum, and engineering/CS pathways. 

Curious how school profiles are used? Check out our free PDF on how admissions officers read school profiles.

How Admissions Officers Read Tesla STEM Applicants

The School Group Matters

At selective colleges, AOs typically read all applications from a given high school in a “school group.” They’ll start by sorting students by weighted GPA, rigor, and trends. Because Tesla doesn’t rank, GPA and course load matter even more—and because nearly every Tesla student has a high GPA and multiple APs, you need to be near the top of that group to be competitive at the most selective schools.

Year-Over-Year Benchmarking

Officers will also compare this year’s applicants to past cohorts from Tesla. That means if a Tesla student got into MIT, Dartmouth, or Northwestern last year with a 4.0 UW GPA and AP Chem, Calc BC, and research lab participation, this year’s applicants will be measured against that bar.

What Stands Out

From Tesla, what moves an applicant up the pile?

• Being in the top GPA band (3.9–4.0)
  
  
• Taking advanced STEM coursework beyond the core (e.g. Calc BC and AP Stats, Physics C and Engr 3)
  
  
• A cohesive application narrative grounded in STEM impact
  
  
• Standout ECs: internships, competitions (Intel ISEF, TSA, etc.), or self-driven passion projects
  
  

At Tesla, you need to be one of the strongest students relative to your peers to stand out at the most selective colleges and universities.

Strategic Takeaways for Tesla STEM Families

For Prospective Families: Is Tesla Right for Your Student?

Students thrive here when they’re self-motivated, comfortable with intense academic schedules, and excited about hands-on STEM work. If your student is still developing confidence or needs more flexibility in academic pacing, other high schools in the area might offer a better fit.

For Current Students: Focus on GPA, Rigor, and Narrative

At a school where most students are already taking APs and doing STEM projects, you need to have a solid strategy.

Here’s what we recommend to our Tesla clients:

• Max out rigor early, especially in math/science.
  
  
• Aim for a GPA in the top quartile of the class
  
  
• Build a cohesive STEM narrative across your activities, research, and essays
  
  
• Don’t neglect humanities—selective colleges want well-rounded engineers and scientists
  
  

Final Thoughts: It’s About Strategy, Not Just School

We hear this all the time: “But my kid goes to Tesla. Shouldn’t that be enough?”

It’s not. Admissions officers know Tesla is strong. But they also know that the bar is higher there. If your student isn’t building an application that reflects the top of their school group, the Tesla name alone won’t carry them.

That’s where we come in.

Want to talk about how your Tesla STEM student’s application might come across to selective admissions offices? Book a free 30-minute consult here. We’ll walk through your school context, academic standing, and strategy.