Pollster Stuart Elway asked 500 Washingtonians questions about the economy, measuring attitudes toward tariffs and taxes, as well as their overall outlook. One takeaway: partisanship is alive and well in Washington state.

Students of color in Seattle don't see themselves reflected in the demographics of their teachers, a problem that is mirrored across school districts nationwide. In Seattle, some small steps are being made to improve hiring practices for teachers of color.

In Seattle, as well as nationwide, there is a large racial disparity in student achievement. Much of this can be attributed to factors affecting students before they even begin kindergarten, but systemic issues within schools can reinforce these inequities. An emphasis on early childhood education, with initiatives such as Seattle's preschool program, may help close the gap.

Inequity in student discipline is a nationwide problem. In Seattle, the issue was so severe that in 2013 a federal investigation into Seattle Public Schools disciplinary practices began. Since then, legislative efforts have aimed to reduce disciplinary rates and make them more equitable. The latest round of student discipline data shows that these measures have had mixed results.

Seattle public schools are becoming more divided when it comes to race. For years, the city made an effort to integrate schools with a busing program, to mixed success. But while residential segregation continues to improve in Seattle, schools have been resegregating over the past few decades. Because of this, a school’s student body can look very different depending on what neighborhood it is in.