CORONAVIRUS: Seattle Public Schools dashboard update shows fewer new cases this week

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools‘ weekly COVID-19 dashboard update shows only about two-thirds as many new cases this past week as a week earlier. The new cumulative total is 276, up from 213 (the weekly total was adjusted downward by 1 at midweek last week, so while it was 214 last Monday as reported here, it fell later in the week to 213). That’s 63 new cases reported districtwide over the course of the week, compared to 96 new cases the previous week. Here are the school-by-school breakouts for our area, and changes from a week earlier – again, the numbers are cumulative for the entire school year this far:

Denny International Middle School – 10, up 4
Highland Park Elementary – 8, up 3
Chief Sealth International High School – 8, unchanged
Lafayette Elementary – 6, down 1
Roxhill Elementary – 6, unchanged
Gatewood Elementary – 4, up 1
Pathfinder K-8 – 3, unchanged
West Seattle High School – 2, unchanged
Madison Middle School – 2, unchanged
West Seattle Elementary – 2, up 1
Fairmount Park Elementary – 2, newly reported this week
Genesee Hill Elementary – 1, unchanged
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 1, unchanged
Sanislo Elementary – 1, unchanged

Still no cases reported at Alki, Arbor Heights, or Concord International elementaries, according to the dashboard. The downward adjustment for Lafayette is unexplained, but one parent forwarded us a letter sent by the principal two weeks ago that said the district’s first report of cases at the school “showed cases that occurred during the summer.”

Jim September 27, 2021 (2:53 pm)

I honestly believe that Covid cases are being under- reported in all schools districts in our state for both children and adults who work in public schools. In the past many students and people who have worked in public schools have gone to school sick when they should have stayed home, this is because most people are only given so many days of paid sick leave and for some people calling in sick too often could jeopardize their ability to continue to stay employed.

Elle September 28, 2021 (10:10 pm)

The schools are sending kids back home at the slightest symptoms and kids are not allowed back until they show proof of a negative Covid test (or 14 days at home). How do I know? Because it happened to my kid (he sneezed too many times!). At least in our school, I would say they are over doing it rather than the opposite. This data shows that it is safe to open schools in communities with high vaccination rates #science

Concerned September 27, 2021 (4:17 pm)

I would be interested to know how many kids per school and in district are close contacts and/or home on quarantine. Other districts share some of this, wish SPS did also. Is there any info on WS private schools cases?

MattW September 27, 2021 (5:30 pm)

Wouldnt underreported cases result in a huge jump days later?

teach September 27, 2021 (6:50 pm)

Not if the dashboard only reflects only self-reported cases, which is what I believe it does. I know of cases that aren’t represented here. I guess as long as the system is consistently bad we’ll get a snapshot of what’s going on, but I don’t believe the numbers are accurate.
- WSB September 27, 2021 (9:17 pm)
  
  We reported earlier that the district says not all are self-reported – for example, some are from Public Health of Seattle-King County
Jon Wright September 27, 2021 (7:32 pm)

“Honest beliefs” usually aren’t supported by the actual data.
High Point September 27, 2021 (8:19 pm)

Only if there’s spread within the schools, right?

In the know September 28, 2021 (8:01 am)

This data is flawed and should be taken with a grain of salt. I work in an elementary school in a district near Seattle. We have had one positive case but I know of two additional positive cases that are not reflected in the data available on our districts website. We have had a ton of kids out sick. Some of whom get tested and are back after feeling better. Others stay out the required ten days. The problem with the data available to the public is that it only accounts for kids who get tested and positive cases reported to the school. Neither of those are required in our district. Batch testing at school is coming soon but will also not be mandatory.

Seattleite October 1, 2021 (7:25 pm)

I echo what In The Know says. I have had 3 high schools students testing positive in my classes alone this week, yet the reader board says none this week. I am not sure how they are getting their data, but it isn’t a very thorough system.
- WSB October 1, 2021 (8:51 pm)
  
  If it was this week and it’s SPS, it won’t show until the update on Monday. If it doesn’t show then, I’d be interested in hearing more and asking the district what’s up.

Mel September 28, 2021 (10:17 am)

The data looks promising and a sign of why kids should be in schools in person.

CelineinWS September 29, 2021 (1:36 pm)

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