Issaquah School District

Issaquah School District
The Issaquah School District's logo
Address
5150 220th Ave SE
Issaquah
, King County, Washington, 98029
United States
Coordinates47°33′16″N 122°02′49″W / 47.55444°N 122.04694°W / 47.55444; -122.04694
District information
GradesPre-K through 12
SuperintendentHeather Tow-Yick
Schools29
NCES District ID5303750[1]
Students and staff
Students19,258 (2024-2025)[1]
Teachers1,228 (2024-2025)
Student–teacher ratio15.9 (2023-2024)[1]
Other information
Websiteisd411.org

Issaquah School District No. 411 is a public school district in King County, Washington. It is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington.

As of the 2024-2025 school year, the district has an enrollment of 19,258[2] students with 29 total schools.[3]

Attendance boundary

The district's attendance boundary includes Issaquah as well as portions of Bellevue, East Renton Highlands, Hobart, Mirrormont, Newcastle, Renton, and Sammamish.[4]

Schools

High schools (9-12th grades)

  • Issaquah High School, is located south of downtown Issaquah, and is expectedly the district's oldest high school. IHS opened in 1905 and moved to its present location in 1962. School colors: purple and gold. Mascot: Eagles.[5]
  • Liberty Senior High School, opened in 1977 at the southwest region of the district. LHS was named the National Blue Ribbon school in 1999 and was recognized in Washington, D.C. School colors: Silver, Green, & Blue. Mascot: Patriots.[6]
  • Skyline High School is the district's newest high school, opening its doors in 1997. Located in Sammamish on the northern boundary of the district, Skyline serves as a community center for the city of Sammamish. School colors: Green & Silver. Mascot: Spartans.[7]
  • Gibson Ek High School, opened in the fall of 2016 at the previous location of Issaquah Middle School. Gibson Ek is a choice high school that places emphasis on real world experience. Students are allowed to explore career options with the help of volunteer mentors and are required to go to internships on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mascot: Griffins.[8]

Middle schools (6-8th grades)

Cougar Mountain Middle School, Graham, WA
  • Cougar Mountain Middle School; district's newest middle school, opened in 2022[12] - feeder school for Issaquah & Liberty. Mascot: Falcon[13]
  • Issaquah Middle School – feeder school for Issaquah High. Mascot: Panthers[14]
  • Maywood Middle School – feeder school for Liberty. Mascot: Chargers[15]
  • Pine Lake Middle School – feeder school for Skyline. Mascot: Wolverines[16]
  • Pacific Cascade Middle School - formerly Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, feeder school for Issaquah High School. Mascot: Lynx[17]

Elementary schools (K-5th grades)

  • Apollo Elementary School – feeder school for Maywood and Liberty. It is also a host site for the district's Mind Education – Right and Left (brain) Integration (MERLIN) program.[18]
  • Briarwood Elementary School – feeder school for Maywood and Liberty[19]
  • Cascade Ridge Elementary School – feeder school for Beaver Lake and Skyline[20]
  • Cedar Trails Elementary School - feeder for Pacific Cascade Middle and Issaquah High School[21]
  • Challenger Elementary School – feeder school for Beaver Lake and Skyline[22]
  • Clark Elementary School – feeder school for Issaquah Middle and Issaquah High School[23]
  • Cougar Ridge Elementary School – feeder school for Cougar Mountain Middle School, and Liberty & Issaquah High Schools[24]
  • Creekside Elementary School - feeder school for Pine Lake and Skyline[25]
  • Discovery Elementary School – feeder school for Pine Lake, Beaver Lake, and Skyline[26]
  • Endeavour Elementary School – feeder school for Beaver Lake and Skyline. It is also a host site for the district's Mind Education – Right and Left (brain) Integration (MERLIN) program.[27]
  • Grand Ridge Elementary School – feeder school for Pacific Cascade Middle and Issaquah High School[28]
  • Issaquah Valley Elementary School – feeder school for Issaquah Middle and Issaquah High School[29]
  • Maple Hills Elementary School – feeder school for Maywood and Liberty[30]
  • Newcastle Elementary School – feeder school for Cougar Mountain Middle School and Liberty[31]
  • Sunny Hills Elementary School – feeder school for Pine Lake Middle, Pacific Cascade Middle, Skyline High and Issaquah High School[32]
  • Sunset Elementary School – feeder school for Pacific Cascade Middle and Issaquah High School[33]

Closed schools

  • Tiger Mountain Community High School was a high school serving students throughout the district who seek an alternative to the traditional high school environment. Each student was given personalized lessons and support by the staff which adds to the alternative style of education. Tiger Mountain was also the site for a regional high tech learning center serving students throughout the region. This school closed after the 2015–2016 school year.[34][35]

In the news

2002 District strike

The Issaquah School District teachers' union voted to strike which in turn left Issaquah schools to be closed from the opening day of school, September 4, until September 26 – closing the school for a total of three weeks; fifteen total school days. An agreement was made on September 25 ratified by a 740-45 majority vote cast by the teachers at Issaquah High School, relieving the teachers of the threats of fines that would be put in place because the teachers voted to defy a King County Superior Court injunction calling for the teachers to return to work.[36] Resulting from the strike was a 3.8 percent pay increase over two years; ninety-five percent being covered by state aid. An additional $250 "return to work incentive" was offered to all teachers as well as a $500 bonus the following year. Because of the increased incentive to return to work, more staff was gained in that year than during any previous year.[36]

2006 Bus driver termination

An Issaquah School District bus driver now identified as Staci LaManna was fired in September 2006 when she allegedly "flipped off" former United States President George W. Bush in June 2006 while she was transporting a group of students back from a field trip to the Woodland Park Zoo.[37] The 43-year-old driver has filed a union grievance for wrongful termination.[38] The Issaquah School District stated that the termination was a result of a "pattern of behavior" and not for any political reasons.[39]

2014 Rape and subsequent victim harassment campaign

In 2014 a 16-year-old girl was raped by two members of the Skyline football team. She reported it, they were convicted and a protective order forced the rapists off the team and out of the school. The community and coaches responded by starting a targeted harassment campaign of the victim and her younger sister that included online bullying, personal confrontations, firebombing the victims house, planting drugs on her, and prominently featuring the rapists during her graduation ceremony attempting to force her to move to another school so the rapists could come back and play for Skyline. After her graduation the harassment continued against her younger sister.[40][41]

2015 district walkout

All schools in the Issaquah School District were closed on May 19, 2015, when the Issaquah School District Teachers' Union voted to go on strike to earn more funding from the state for Washington's schools. Thousands of teachers of the Issaquah School District, Mercer Island School District, and Seattle School District filled the streets of Downtown Seattle and traveled from the Seattle Center to Westlake Park. The commotion caused by this walkout caused some senators in Olympia to propose a bill to decrease teachers' pay while on strike, but this proposal was not accepted by many senators.[42]

2021 sexual abuse settlement

In 2021 Issaquah School District settled with a former student for 4.25 million dollars, the biggest sexual abuse settlement in state history.[43]

Demographics

Enrollment by Ethnicity[2]
Ethnicity 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
White 9,538 (46.9%) 8,620 (43.7%) 8,276 (42.0%) 7,963 (40.7%) 7,570 (39.3%)
Asian 6,697 (32.9%) 6,704 (34.0%) 6,842 (34.8%) 6,986 (35.7%) 7,042 (36.6%)
Hispanic/Latino 1,861 (9.2%) 2,003 (10.1%) 2,061 (10.5%) 2,115 (10.8%) 2,114 (11.0%)
Two or More Races 1,731 (8.5%) 1,868 (9.5%) 1,924 (9.8%) 1,940 (9.9%) 1,926 (10.0%)
Black/African American 423 (2.1%) 456 (2.3%) 493 (2.5%) 512 (2.6%) 537 (2.8%)
American Indian/Alaskan Native 37 (0.2%) 38 (0.2%) 52 (0.3%) 40 (0.2%) 39 (0.2%)
Total Enrollment 20,325 19,737 19,685 19,585 19,258
Enrollment by Gender[2]
Gender 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Male 10,358 (51.0%) 10,178 (51.6%) 10,225 (51.9%) 10,155 (51.9%) 10,002 (51.9%)
Female 9,967 (49.0%) 9,559 (48.4%) 9,459 (48.1%) 9,428 (48.1%) 9,254 (48.1%)
Gender X 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%) 1 (0.0%) 2 (0.0%) 2 (0.0%)
Total Enrollment 20,325 19,737 19,685 19,585 19,258

As of October 31st, 2024, 12.8% of students are on free or reduced-price meal programs.[44]*

Staff

In the district, as of the 2023-24 school year, there are 1,228 classroom teachers. Of these, 936 (76.2%) have at least a master's degree. Teachers have an average of 12.8 years of experience in the district.[2]

Footnotes

*Data can be found under "Area Eligibility Data/Eligibility for Free and Reduced-Price Meals". You can download the "2024-25 Report" Excel file (.xlsx) to view the data for all school districts. Scroll down to the 891st row to view data specific for Issaquah School District, and under the X column, you can find the percentage stated.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Issaquah School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Report Card - Washington State Report Card". reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  3. ^ "Home - Issaquah School District 411". www.isd411.org. September 12, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  4. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: King County, WA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 1 (PDF p. 2/5). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Home - Issaquah High School". issaquahhigh.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "Liberty High School". Liberty.issaquah.wednet.edu. August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 1998. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  7. ^ "Home - Skyline High School". skyline.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  8. ^ "Home - Gibson Ek High School". gibsonek.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Beloved mascot of Sammamish school to live on in bronze statue after retirement | Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter". Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter. January 31, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "Beaver Lake Middle School honors beloved bulldog's legacy | Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter". Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter. January 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Home - Beaver Lake Middle School". beaverlake.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  12. ^ "Our School - Cougar Mountain Middle School". cougarmountain.isd411.org. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Home - Cougar Mountain Middle School". cougarmountain.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Home - Issaquah Middle School". issaquahmiddle.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Home - Maywood Middle School". maywood.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Home - Pine Lake Middle School". pinelake.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Home - Pacific Cascade Middle School". pacificcascade.isd411.org. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Home - Apollo". apollo.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Home - Briarwood Elementary School". briarwood.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  20. ^ "Home - Cascade Ridge Elementary School". cascaderidge.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  21. ^ "Home - Cedar Trails Elementary School". cedartrails.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Home - Challenger Elementary School". challenger.isd411.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  23. ^ "Home - Clark Elementary School". clark.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  24. ^ "Home - Cougar Ridge Elementary School". cougarridge.isd411.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  25. ^ "Home - Creekside Elementary School". creekside.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  26. ^ "Home - Discovery Elementary School". discovery.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  27. ^ "Home - Endeavour Elementary School". endeavour.isd411.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  28. ^ "Home - Grand Ridge Elementary School". grandridge.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  29. ^ "Home - Issaquah Valley Elementary School". issaquahvalley.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  30. ^ "Home - Maple Hills Elementary School". maplehills.isd411.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  31. ^ "Home - Newcastle Elementary School". newcastle.isd411.org. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  32. ^ "Home - Sunny Hills Elementary School". sunnyhills.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  33. ^ "Home - Sunset Elementary School". sunset.isd411.org. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  34. ^ "School board votes to close Tiger Mountain Community High School | UPDATED". Issaquah Reporter. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  35. ^ Merchant, Safiya (March 9, 2014). "Issaquah district may close alternative high school". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  36. ^ a b Roberts, Gregory (September 26, 2002). "All sides -- including kids -- voice relief at Issaquah strike's resolution". The Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  37. ^ School Fires Driver For Giving Bush The Finger - Education News Story - WKMG Orlando Archived March 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ Tuinstra, Rachel (December 29, 2006). "She flipped off president, wants old job". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
  39. ^ Postman, David (November 1, 2006). "District says driver did more than flip the bird to Bush". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
  40. ^ "2 women suing Issaquah School District for bullying, retaliation". Bonneville International. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  41. ^ "Rape victim's suit against Issaquah School District claims they didn't investigate abuse". Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  42. ^ Thousands of teachers hit streets in Seattle — and Dems walk out, too
  43. ^ "Issaquah School District agrees to $4.25 million sexual assault settlement". The Seattle Times. March 26, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  44. ^ "Child Nutrition Program Reports". ospi.k12.wa.us. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Elementary_School