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 prepares a diverse student population for success in a four-year college and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society.
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. We are also unwavering in our commitment to support our peer educators, families, and communities nationwide through the Summit Learning Program.
Our
Schools
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.
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.
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.
A Parent
Summit Denali
“I am continually thankful and so happy that my kid, who used to always dread school now LOVES his school and his teachers. He came home yesterday and said, “I had the best day!” The whole staff is amazing, and we are so thankful to have found Summit!”
Laura Ochoa
Summit Tahoma Teacher
“I love Summit. I love it because it is such a community. It is small. I know my students and they know me.”
A 12th Grader
Summit Tahoma
“I never saw myself applying to more than one school, and I never saw myself being accepted to more than one school. Summit encourages you and gives you the opportunity to grow.”
Payal Patel
Parent of Summit Tamalpais
“I like being able to work collaboratively with my son’s mentor… to know that there’s somebody outside of his family that is there for him makes me confident that [Summit] is the best place for him to be.”
Ernie Batrez
Summit Tahoma Teacher
“[At Summit], they embrace all of our views and I feel part of a team — a whole team. I’m not just assigned an area or a person. I feel valued. As a whole community, we have a school and staff that are very mission oriented and motivated.”
A 11th Grader
Summit Tahoma
“Even though I will be the first in my family to go to college, I am confident that I will succeed because of all that I learned at Summit, and through everything my teachers at Summit did to prepare me for this next step.”
Summit Stories
Meet Orion – Student of Summit Atlas
My name is Orion and a sophomore in my second year at Summit Atlas. I am proud to be one of Atlas’ founding students. My mom learned about the school from our principal, Ms. B., who was handing out flyers in our neighborhood before the school opened in 2017. Ms. B told my mom about … Continued
Meet Abdul – Student of Summit Atlas
My name is Abdul, and I’m in 9th grade at Summit Atlas in West Seattle. I live close by, in High Point, and heard about a new charter public school option from around the neighborhood. At home, I’m the oldest of five. I live with my mom, dad, two little brothers, and two little sisters. … Continued
Meet Esther – Student of Summit Atlas
My name is Esther. I’m in 10th grade and in my second year at Summit Atlas, a charter public school in West Seattle. I’ve lived in Renton with my mom since July 2017. My mom found out about Atlas before I even moved here; she was doing research on schools focused on college opportunities. My … Continued
Meet Abdi – Student of Summit Abdi
My name is Abdi. I’m in 7th grade at Summit Atlas. I come from a big family – I have five older siblings and three younger siblings. Four of us attend Atlas. I have a sister in 6th grade here, and our twin brothers are in 10th grade. I have a lot of responsibilities at … Continued
We Are Hiring!
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.
Apply Now!Summit Learning Program
Through the Summit Learning Program, schools across the United States have access to the curriculum, resources, and professional development needed to implement the Summit Learning approach in a way that meets the individual needs, values and vision of their community — all for free.
