The Downtown School: A Lakeside School

The Downtown School: A Lakeside School is a small, non-religious independent high school in downtown Seattle, Washington. Enrollment sits between 100 and 200 students. That size is intentional — it keeps classes small and puts teacher-student relationships at the center of daily school life. The school runs as a Lakeside School program, linking it to one of the Pacific Northwest's most established independent school networks.

The mission is direct: develop creative thinkers, ethical leaders, and students who own their learning. That last phrase carries real weight for faculty. Teachers here design responsive lessons rather than deliver fixed content. The school uses the term "effective educators" deliberately — it means faculty must combine subject knowledge with strong instructional judgment and a willingness to adjust.

Because this is a day school, faculty live in Seattle rather than on a residential campus. That means no dorm duty or mandatory on-campus housing. Seattle salaries at independent schools are generally competitive, and day school roles often come with strong benefits packages covering health, retirement, and professional development. The school's finances back that up: net assets exceed $455 million, annual revenue runs roughly $77 million, and fundraising has grown steadily — signs of a well-resourced employer.

The Downtown School offers Spanish language instruction and actively recruits faculty who bring diverse cultural perspectives into their classrooms. Teachers who value community as part of the curriculum fit well here.

Open positions include high school teaching jobs across core academic subjects, along with periodic administrative and student support roles. The school is small enough that each new hire shapes both curriculum and culture in a visible way.