Our Educational Service Districts

Nine ESDs – One Goal

Each of Washington’s nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) provides essential local services, responsive to their region’s communities.

Click on each region to see more information

Washington ESDs serve

  • 1 million+ ​students
  • 295 School Districts
  • 700+ Private Schools
  • 18 Public Charter Schools
  • 8 State Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs)
  • 2 State Schools
Washington Map of ESD Regions
ESD 189: Northwest ESD 114: Olympic Region ESD 113: Capital Region ESD 112: Southwest Washington ESD 121: Puget Sound ESD 171: North Central ESD 105: South Central Washington ESD 112: Southwest Washington ESD 101: Northeast Washington ESD 123: Southeast Washington

ESD 189: Northwest

  • 35 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • 1 public charter school
  • Superintendent:
    Ismael Vivanco

Counties: Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom

1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, 98221
tel: 360.299.4000 | www.nwesd.org

Northwest ESD 189

ESD 114: Olympic Region

  • 15 School Districts
  • 2 tribal compact schools
  • 1 public charter school
  • Superintendent:
    Aaron Leavell

Counties: Kitsap (except Bainbridge Island), Jefferson, and Clallam

105 National Ave. N., Bremerton, 98312
tel: 360.405.5801 | www.oesd114.org

ESD 114 - Olympic

ESD 113: Capital Region

  • 44 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Flip Herndon

Counties: Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, and Grays Harbor

6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater, 98512
tel: 360.464.6700 | www.esd113.org

ESD 113

ESD 112: Southwest Washington

  • 30 School Districts
  • 2 State Schools
  • Superintendent:
    Tim Merlino

Counties: Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, and Pacific

2500 N.E. 65th Ave., Vancouver, 98661-6812
tel: 360.750.7503 | www.esd112.org

ESD 112

ESD 121: Puget Sound

  • 35 School Districts
  • 2 tribal compact school
  • 10 public charter schools
  • Superintendent:
    John Welch

Counties: King and Pierce

800 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton, 98057
tel: 800.664.4549| www.psesd.org

Puget Sound ESD

ESD 171: North Central

  • 29 School Districts
  • 1 public charter school
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Dr. Michelle Price

Counties: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan

430 Old Station Road, Wenatchee, 98801
tel: 509.665.2610| www.ncesd.org

North Central ESD 171

ESD 105: South Central Washington

  • 25 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Shane Backlund

Counties: Kittitas and Yakima counties, and portions of Klickitat and Grant

33 S. 2nd Ave., Yakima, 98902-3486
tel: 509.575.2885 | www.esd105.org

ESD 105

ESD 112: Southwest Washington

  • 30 School Districts
  • 2 State Schools
  • Superintendent:
    Tim Merlino

Counties: Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, and Pacific

2500 N.E. 65th Ave., Vancouver, 98661-6812
tel: 360.750.7503 | www.esd112.org

ESD 112

ESD 101: Northeast Washington

  • 59 School Districts
  • 4 public charter schools
  • Superintendent:
    Rob Roettger

Counties: Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman

4202 S. Regal, Spokane, 99223-7738
tel: 509.789.3800 | www.esd101.net

New ESD 101

ESD 123: Southeast Washington

  • 23 School Districts
  • Superintendent:
    Steve McCullough

Counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, and Walla Walla

3918 W. Court St., Pasco, 99301
tel: 509.547.8441 | www.esd123.org

ESD 123

About Educational Service Districts

In 1969, Educational Service Districts (ESDs) were formed when individual County Superintendent of School offices were consolidated and reorganized to reduce duplication, equalize educational opportunities, and provide a more effective reporting and accountability system to the state legislature.

ESDs link local public and private schools with one another and with state and national resources. ESD Cooperatives and programs enhance educational opportunities because they realize significant savings, allowing districts to send more dollars directly to the classroom and provide special services that might otherwise be unavailable to their regions.

As you can see, ESDs play a crucial role in addressing the challenges in our public schools. Geographically closer to local schools and their district offices, the ESDs serve as regional liaisons between the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), State Board of Education, and the Legislature.

AESD: Have You Heard of Educational Service Districts?

The ESD Return on Investment

As ESDs reach their fifth decade of service, the scope and nature of linking and service responsibilities reflect the change facing our public schools today. In a time of increased public accountability, of both student performance and management of public resources, ESDs in Washington are “the” model of efficiency and leverage. The nine ESDs leveraged $5.1 million of state allocated core funding into $251 million of needed services for students and schools in Washington. Stated another way, for every $1 in core funding, ESDs returned $49 in educational programs and services – $230 for every student in the state.

AESD Core Funding

As our state’s citizens demand higher standards and ever increasing demands on educational programs, the ESDs of Washington state will continue to provide critical services such as teacher and staff training, networking and technology integration, and direct services for students with special needs and early childhood education. We will continue to create new opportunities, leverage more resources, and facilitate broad support for the benefit of all students and their families in Washington State.

Find your ESD

Filter by ESD, county or search by district name.





Washington State’s ESD History

1967

Legislature passed Interlocal Cooperative Act permitting local government units to cooperate.

1967

Legislature passed Interlocal Cooperative Act permitting local government units to cooperate.

1969

Legislature passed Intermediate School District Act of 1969. State Board created 141SDS.

1970

Major cooperatives for firms and teaching materials operated in the regional offices.

1971

Legislature amended ISD Act (EHB 86) to study funding and emphasized ISDs cooperative programming role to meet local needs.

1972

The State Board of Education reduced the number of ISDs from 14 to 12 and continued funding study.

1974

Legislature changed ISDs’ primary focus from regulatory to support service County funding reduced.

1975

Name was changed from Intermediate School Districts to Educational Service Districts (ESDs).

1977

The State Board of Education reduced the number of ESDs from 12 to the present nine. Board members could be elected by school board members.

1979

ESD cooperative purchasing programs authorized.

1981

Legislature authorized ESDs to provide direct student service programs (i.e. special education) to local districts.

1982

First LBC study of ESDs found they met statutory intent and school support roles, with strengths in providing cooperative and fiscal assistance.

1984

Legislature changed ESD funding formula in light of Doran Decision (Basic Education) with state mandated formula.

1985

Regional Committees on School District Organizations reorganized under ESDs.

1988

Legislature allowed ESDs to provide district services and receive direct state apportionments for pupil transportation and special education.

1990

ESD “Core Services” defined for biennial budget purposes.

1991

ESD self-insurance pooling authority expanded to liability/risk insurance cooperatives.

1993

The “Powers Bill” passed the legislature allowing ESDs similar authority as local school districts to provide services not in conflict with state law.

1995

Second LBC study of ESDs endorsed their value and support to local districts in providing needed services and saving money.

2004

ESDs signed an Interlocal Agreement to enable the nine ESDs in the State of Washington to work together.

2006

Washington State Educational Service District Self Study by Marcua Fromhold completed; Audit of Washington State ESDs.

2007

ESD Performance Audit

2008

Regional Delivery Program Proposal

2014

AESD & OSPI Network 2.0; AESD & OSPI ED Network Integration

2015

Washington State ESDs sign an Interlocal Agreement to clarify the manner in which the nine ESDs in the State of Washington will work together as an ESD Network.

Download Timeline PDF