The Kent School District #415 includes the cities of Kent, Covington, Maple Valley, parts of the cities of Renton and Black Diamond, and neighboring unincorporated areas in King County, Washington. Covering 73 square miles (189,069,132 m²), the Kent School District has 40 schools (28 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 2 academy schools, and 4 high schools). With 26,891 enrolled students, it is the 4th largest school district in Washington. The district employs 3,389 staff members, of whom 1,687 are teachers.
The school district recently completed a transition from junior high schools to middle schools.
On July 23, 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington filed a lawsuit against the Kent School District and five administrators on behalf of a former student, Mark Iversen. The suit alleged that the Kent School District and the administration failed to protect Iversen against anti-gay harassment. Also named in the suit were Superintendent Jim Hager, Assistant Superintendent Gwen Dupree, Principal Doug Boushey (Kent Junior High), Ben Dillard (Kent-Meridian High School) and Tom Watson (Kentwood High). The school district denied the allegations.