2024-2025 District Calendar
First day of school Labor Day
No school for students or staff
Sept 4:
Oct 18:
Nov 11:
Nov 12-13:
Nov 27-29:
First day of school for kindergarten students
Teacher Work Day
No school for students
Veterans Day Observance
No school for students or staff
Elementary conferences
No school for Elementary School students only
Thanksgiving holiday
No school for students or staff
Dec 23-Jan 3: First Winter Break
No school for students or staff
Jan 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No school for students or staff
Jan 27: Teacher Work Day
No school for students
Feb 17: Presidents Day
Feb 18-21: Second Winter Break
No school for students or staff
March 14: **No School (1st Weather Make-up Day)
No school for students or staff OR first WEATHER MAKE-UP Day
Apr 14-18: Spring Break
No school for students or staff
May 26: Memorial Day
No school for students or staff
June 18: Last day of school
June 19: Juneteenth
INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE-UP DAYS
** If school is closed during the school year due to inclement weather, March 14th will be the first make up day. Additional school days will be added to the school calendar in June as needed.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED: 11/10/2022
CITIES
The Issaquah School District includes schools in the cities of Issaquah, Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton, and Sammamish. All of these cities offer wonderful events, free classes, and many services. Check their websites for more information!
Issaquah School District 7
Kindergarten to High School
Family Events 2024-2025
The District's Family Partnership organizes these events in collaboration with Cultural Bridges. All families with students in the District are welcome to attend.
All sessions are in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Interpreters in other languages are available upon request. If you need an interpreter in another language, contact Lorna Gilmour at: gilmourl@issaquah.wednet.edu. If you would like to participate in helping at any of these events, contact Laura Ni at: laura@isfdn.org. All the events dates below are tentative dates and subject to change. Please visit: https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/equity/parentevents-and-workshops for any potential date changes and registration links.
AUGUST
ISD Sports and Club Opportunities –Parent Information Night (Zoom)
August 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Designed to help families understand what clubs and sports opportunities are available in middle and high schools (Grades 6-12), What is ASB? Fees and cost, eligibility requirements, Dates and seasons of sports, transportation, sport physicals, and FinalForms. Register link: https://forms. office.com/r/SLtZ62R7rv
Tips and Resources for Families New to U.S. Public School Education (Zoom)
August 21 Elementary School (K-5) 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
August 22 High School (9-12) 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration link: https://forms.office. com/r/PaahsZfQix.
August 27 Middle School (6-8) 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration link: https://forms.office. com/r/sa73w3qkBL
Topics include a general overview of the ISD, information about lunch, transportation, attendance, communication with schools, year calendar and daily schedule, and other topics. These information sessions are designed for families new to the ISD (new to public school or new to the U.S. school system).
SEPTEMBER
Secondary (Grades 6-12) Canvas Information Night (Zoom)
September 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
This event is designed to help families learn how to use Canvas, the learning platform used by all ISD grade 6-12 students. Staff will demonstrate how families can access student grades, syllabus, expectations, and communicate with teachers. Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/3pACDU1y2k
Secondary (Grades 6-12) Canvas Workshop (In person) Follow-up session for one-on-one or small group support to learn about Canvas September 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location TBD
This event is designed to help families with one-on-one support on how to use Canvas. Staff will also briefly provide an overview of Family Access. Registration will open on September 18, 2024.
OCTOBER
College Financial Aid Information Night on Zoom (For College or Post High School Education)
October 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Zoom Staff will review the forms and procedures for students to apply for financial aid to attend college/technical school after graduation. The presentation will include information about WASFA, FASFA, deadlines, and timelines. Registration link: https://forms. office.com/r/mrQaTNqvYZ
Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elementary School ONLY – Grade K-5) (Zoom)
October 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tips to make the most of the Parent-Teacher conferences (meeting) in November. Ideas and suggestions on how to make the best use of your Parent-Teacher conference time slot. Suggestions of questions to ask and how to prepare for the meeting. Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/ujbEAYYfni
Family Connections Question and Answer Session (In person)
October 23 - Two sessions - 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. No formal presentation provided. Space for parents to ask questions about the school –who to contact, policies, procedures, how to navigate, etc. Registration link: https:// forms.office.com/r/Lu1i7TYMR3
NOVEMBER
Financial Aid Workshop (For High School seniors and parents only) (In person)
November 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Issaquah School District Administration Building, 5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah ISD staff will be available to help the parent and child complete WASFA or FASFA forms or to answer questions on the forms. Please check the registration form for paperwork and items needed at the help session. Registration link will be available in mid-October.
Student Supports available for Students (Zoom)
November 13, time TBD
Information for families on student support
available at schools - school counselors, 504 plan including health plans), mental health supports, etc.
JANUARY
Graduation Pathways (More information to follow) January 15
FEBRUARY
8th Grade Transition Information Night for Families new to U.S. High School (Zoom)
February 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Topics will include high school credits, graduation requirements, high school opportunities, general information about course selection, and programs such as AP, IB, and Running Start. Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/MHAC2dugYQ
5th-Grade Transition to Middle School information night for families new to the U.S. (Zoom)
February 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Course selection information, elective class options such as orchestra and choir, PE/Health classes, sports, clubs, health/ immunization, costs/fees, and supplies. Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/ fvrrvvXLHv
MARCH
Welcome to the ISD for incoming Kindergarten parents (Zoom)
March 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Topics will include What Kindergarten looks like in the ISD, the age of students entering Kindergarten, Kindergarten preparedness, transportation, lunch, costs/fees, hours, health, and immunization. Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/DgAYUzG04t
Family Connections Question and Answer session (In person)
March 19 - Two sessions – 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
No formal presentation provided. Space for parents to ask questions about the school –who to contact, policies, procedures, how to navigate, etc.
Kindergarten to High School
SCHOOL BOUNDARY MAPS
All students who live within the Issaquah School District boundaries are entitled to attend schools in the District. All kids are accepted. If you are unsure of which school boundary your home is located in, please email transportation-enews@issaquah. wednet.edu with your complete address, including city and zip code, and they will look up the schools for you.
COST
Tuition is free, but some activities have fees for additional offerings such as lunch, certain courses, after-school programs, field trips, and sports. Please ask the school office if your family needs financial assistance. All requests are kept completely confidential.
BELL SCHEDULES
For your school’s bell schedule for the 20242025 school year, please visit your student’s school website, hover over “Our School,” and click on “Bell Schedules” on the menu that appears. Please remember that Wednesday’s bell schedule is different from the other school days of the week.
ATTENDANCE
If your child is absent, parents need to call or email the school attendance (page 28) with the student’s full name, the date of absence, and the reason for absence. The contact information can be found at the bottom of each school’s home page.
The school will contact families using a computerized phone call message if your child has missed any period of the day or the full day. You must call or email the school attendance and explain why your child has missed school. Some excused absences are absences due to mental or physical illness/
health, family emergencies, pre-approved family trips, and religious observances. If you know your child will have to miss school, communicate with the school with the following information: name of the child, teacher/periods, date(s), and the reason for their absence.
If a student has 3-5 or more unexcused absences in a single month during the current school year, the District will schedule a conference with the student and their parent(s). If a student has 7 unexcused absences in one month or 15 unexcused absences in a year, the District will refer the student to a community truancy board or file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court. The school will attempt interventions upon the third unexcused absence and continue interventions* until student attendance improves.
A conference may also be scheduled if a student has five or more excused full-day absences within any month. If a student has 15 or more excused absences, the school may request that further absences be excused with a doctor’s note.
* Intervention will include a meeting with parents and tips or resources to ensure the student’s attendance improves.
BUS
To find your student’s bus route, parents need to log in to the e-Link (https:// versatransweb05.tylertech.com/ Issaquah/elinkrp/Login.aspx) to find it. Please note that not all the students have bus route information because the families who live close to the school and meet certain criteria will not have bus service.
If there is inclement weather (e.g., snow, ice, or strong winds), the bus may have a
different schedule and stops, known as a snow route. Please use the snow e-Link ( https://versatransweb05.tylertech.com/ Issaquah/elinkrpsnow/Login.aspx) to find the bus stop for the snow route. Parents will be notified by school/district email or text message if buses are on a snow route.
Students are required to arrive at their bus stop five minutes prior to pick-up time (regular route and snow route). Pickup times may change during the school year; parents will be notified. Parents are responsible for their children prior to pickup and after drop-off. Drivers do not allow parents or any other person to board the bus.
If the school is delayed by one hour, the bus route will be delayed by one hour based on the normal pick-up time. If the school is delayed for two hours, the bus route will be delayed by two hours based on the normal pick-up time. https://www. isd411.org/about-us/safety-and-security/ emergency-weather-closures-delays
Bus stop and route information will be available online in mid-August: https://www. isd411.org/programs-services/buses/findyour-bus-route. E-link and SNOW E-link Information is also available on this website.
Students are expected to behave properly and safely on the bus and at bus stops
Kindergarten to High School 9 Kindergarten to High School
and to comply with the driver’s directions. Disciplinary rules are enforced on buses in the same manner as on school campuses, and video cameras are installed to assist staff in maintaining discipline. A complete list of bus rules can be found here: https://www.isd411. org/about-us/departments/transportation/ school-bus-information-handbook
Students may ride on other buses or get off at a different stop on a space-available basis with a written request from the parent to the school. A bus pass must be obtained from the school office at least 30 minutes before school is dismissed. Students will be dropped off only at authorized bus stops. Kindergarten students must be released to their parent or guardian unless there is a “Release Form” signed by the parent.
Middle school and high school students also have the option of riding the activity bus if they participate in after-school sports or clubs. Please note that the activity bus route drops off at different stops than the regular route.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding a particular bus route, bus stop, or bus driver, or if you wish to speak with someone regarding student bus behavior, you may contact the Transportation Department at 425-837-6330.
SCHOOL DELAY
If there’s an emergency situation and the school needs to open late in the morning or dismiss early in the afternoon, families need to follow the guidelines from the emergency transportation bulletin. It is available on the district website: https://www.isd411.org/ about-us/safety-and-security/emergencyweather-closures-delays. The bus will be at the alternative stops. A hard copy of the
Kindergarten to High SchoolKindergarten to High School emergency transportation bulletin will be mailed to all families at the beginning of the school year. Please keep it at home and make sure it is easily accessible. It is important to provide their accurate address during EVP (Enrollment Verification Process) so mail and documents from the District will be sent to you correctly.
COMMUNICATIONS
It is very important for you to be informed. During the EVP (Enrollment Verification Process), be sure that the school has your accurate home address, phone number, and email. The school can communicate with you as needed.
Contact your teacher if you have questions or concerns about your child, and inform her/him about any important life events that may affect your child at school, such as the birth of a sibling, divorce, death in the family, etc. You can also contact your teacher, school counselor, or principal if you want to discuss academics or behavior. All teachers’ phone numbers and email addresses are listed on the school websites.
• School Messenger
Issaquah School District schools utilize the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages straight to parents’ mobile phones with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts, and more. Parents can participate in this free service by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to the school’s short code number, 67587.
• Weekly Bulletins
For Communications, the Weekly Bulletin is how schools send information to parents. Families do not need to sign up for the Weekly Bulletin – they are automatically signed up with the email provided upon registering their
student(s). But if you would like to sign up with an alternate email (for example, if you provided a home email to the school but want to receive the Weekly Bulletin at work as well), you can sign up here: https://www.isd411.org/about-us/ announcements/sign-up. If the parent thinks they did not receive the weekly bulletin, please check the email address they provided to the school and the email spam folder.
The District will send a bulletin email on Monday after 4 p.m., which contains general information about what’s happening in the District, including the District family night events and workshops. The schools will send their weekly email on Thursday after 4 p.m., which contains information about what’s happening at the school. The community flyers are accessible at the bottom of these emails.
• Website
The school district website and school website provide families with lots of information, including the bell schedules, who to contact, staff directory, and sports and clubs. PTSA/ PTA websites also have information about enrichment programs and school family events. For middle school or high school parents, sign up for a Canvas
Kindergarten to High School 11
Kindergarten to High School
observer account. For elementary school parents, check your child’s Clever account. This can help your child succeed at school. Teachers also post syllabus information (expectations for the class, tests, and homework), the calendar, and contact information on Canvas and Clever.
Curriculum Night/Parent Conference
For all parents, attending Curriculum Night at the beginning of the school year is very important to learn and understand the entire year’s course syllabus and information. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about class expectations, policies, and procedures, including assignments and test information.
At any grade level, you can always request a meeting with your student’s teacher by emailing them to discuss your student’s progress or if you are worried about grades.
In elementary school, there’s a ParentTeacher conference, a meeting with your child’s teacher. Your school will give you the details. Check your student’s backpack every day because teachers will send forms and information to parents with kids.
In middle school and high school, there are no Parent-Teacher conferences, but you can always request a meeting. Contact a teacher to discuss your student’s academic issues. Email or call the school counselor if there are
any social, behavioral, or emotional concerns.
All schools have access to interpreter services if needed. This is a free service for parents. Interpreters are available on the phone, in person, or in a Zoom meeting at no cost to the parents. Please request an interpreter from your school’s staff.
HOMEWORK
Elementary school kids often receive homework packets or an individual page assigned to reinforce classroom instruction. Most teachers require daily reading as a part of homework. Homework will not be graded; it is only for practice. The teacher usually reviews the homework in class. All elementary students will have their own Clever accounts. Clever is the online learning platform for students to access a variety of curriculum tools and technology resources. This includes many apps, such as Zearn and BrainPop, that they use in class. Students only need to remember one username and password to sign into Clever, Office 365, and many learning apps.
For middle school and high school students, homework depends on the classes that they are taking. Most homework is posted on the Canvas Learning Management System. Through Canvas, students will have access to teacher information, course syllabus, assigned homework with due dates, and a single calendar for all classes. When a student is absent or misses the class for any reason, it’s their responsibility to check on Canvas for the school work they missed and/or contact the teacher if they have any questions.
Students can also use Canvas to turn in homework and email their teachers directly. To make sure your student is doing homework, you can create your own Canvas account and have an Observer Role. Parents can control how frequently they want to receive notifications from their Canvas
Kindergarten to High School
Kindergarten to High School
accounts. Official final class grades are posted in the Gradebook in Family Access. The periodic grades will be updated or available on Canvas for parents to check. In some classes, students can turn in late work, make-up assignments, and even retake tests if needed. If students have questions, students can email their teacher or stop by their office before or after school. Schools offer after-school help for many classes. Check your school’s website for additional resources.
STATE & DISTRICT TESTS
Student progress is carefully monitored through state testing of the Common Core Standards and the use of the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessments. However, these assessments are not part of your child’s grade. The Smarter Balanced assessments and the Washington Comprehensive
Assessment of Science (WCAS) are given in spring. I-Ready is given 1-3 times per year, depending on the grade level. More information can be found at: https://www. isd411.org/academics/testing.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Students (grades K-12) in the Issaquah School District are provided a Microsoft 365 account to communicate, complete assignments, and facilitate their schoolwork. The MS365 account is a cloud-based dashboard giving students access to Word, Excel, Sway, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Outlook, and more. Students may access these tools through a web browser or mobile app.
Students in grades 6-12 are provided a laptop by the District during the first week of school. They return it during the last week of school. Student needs to take the laptop fully charged to the school every day since they are expected to use the laptop daily during the school day.
CURRICULUM
All grade levels and content areas use a curriculum that is aligned with the State Standards. For more information, visit: https://www.isd411.org/academics/ academics-overview
Kindergarten Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS)
Kindergarten - 5th grade i-Ready Reading & Math
Grades 3th to 8th, and 10th to 12th Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)
Grades 6th-8th i-Ready Reading
Grades 6th-8th Momentum Math by Savvas
Grades 5th, 8th, 11th Washington Comprehensive Assessment in Science (WCAS)
Grades K-12th, ONLY FOR KIDS WHO ARE identified as potential or maybe are English language learners
English Language Proficieny Assesment the 21st Century (ELPA 21)
TEXTBOOKS
For students in grades 6-12, online textbooks are available for a variety of content and curriculum using Classlink or Canvas as directed by their teacher.
Xello and Xello Family
Xello is a District-provided online program students use to complete the High School and Beyond Plan graduation requirement. Each student has a Xello account beginning in 6th grade. They can explore careers, post-high school opportunities, and a wide variety of college options through their Xello account. Each middle or high school student’s first parent/guardian listed in Family Access will get an email invitation from Xello with a link to access their Xello Family account. To learn more about Xello and Xello Family, please check https://www.isd411.org/academics/ high-school-curriculum-pathways/ graduation-requirements/high-school-andbeyond-plan.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Our District has programs that serve students with disabilities from birth through twenty-one years who reside within district boundaries. For more information, visit https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/ special-education.
SECTION 504 PLAN
A 504 plan is a written plan that describes the educational and related aids and services
Kindergarten to High School 13
Kindergarten to High School
that a district determines a student needs to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education. Students who have a physical or mental impairment that potentially limits major life activities, such as ADD/ADHD, hearing loss, anxiety, diabetes, asthma, severe allergies, etc., should share this information with the school counselor to make sure they receive the support and accommodations that they need.
DRESS CODE
Students wear casual clothes to school; there are no uniforms. In elementary school, students are encouraged to wear appropriate shoes so they can play on the playground or take PE class. Check the school handbook on each school’s website for a detailed dress code for each school.
LUNCH
For the 2024-2025 school year, lunches will be available to purchase for all students in each school’s cafeteria. The meal price is approximately $4.00 at elementary schools and $4.25 at middle and high schools. A standard meal will be available and prepared by District Food Service staff members. A la carte items (such as bottled drinks, pizza from vendors, or bags of chips) will be available at middle schools and high schools for students to purchase at a cost.
Menus and nutritional data are posted before the end of each month for the following month: https://www.isd411.org/programsservices/meals/lunch-menu. Students can also bring their lunch from home.
For families who need financial assistance, the Free & Reduced lunch program will be available to apply in early August and throughout the entire school year. Visit https://www2.myschoolapps.com/ Application for online application. Parents
Kindergarten to High School
Kindergarten to High School
can also download a paper application here: https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/ meals. If the family consents to disclose eligibility to the school, other financial aid programs will be available to access such as sports and clubs.
LOST & FOUND
Schools are not responsible for any lost items. However, there are assigned places where all misplaced items are collected. If students are missing something, they can look for it at their school’s Lost & Found location. A few times throughout the year, unclaimed items are donated to local charities.
COUNSELORS
Each school has Counseling Services. All students have access to and the right to participate in the school guidance and counseling program. The counseling program is based on specified goals and developmental competencies for all students to support student achievement. It is planned and coordinated by school counseling teams with consideration of other school, parent or guardian, and community representatives. School counselors help students manage emotions, apply interpersonal skills, and plan for postsecondary options.
Counselors deliver classroom lessons and facilitate small psychoeducational groups at the elementary school level. All the grade-level counselors connect students with outside resources and collaborate with families, teachers, administrators, and community members for student success. To contact your student’s school counselor, visit: https://www.isd411.org/programsservices/counseling-and-mental-health/ school-counselors
HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION & BULLYING
If a student feels that he or she is being harassed, intimidated, or bullied (including) mistreatment due to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, the student should immediately report such incidents to a teacher, counselor, or building administrator and submit online report: https://issaquah.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_035VKztyAacu75Q. A complete copy of Regulation #3207 may be obtained at any school or at https://www.isd411.org/aboutus/safety-and-security/hib.
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Middle schools and high schools provide identification cards to students with their name, grade, and photo. Students are expected to carry their cards at all times during the school day and at school activities.
ASB Associated Student Body
The state does not fund middle and high school sports, clubs, and events. Every middle school and high school has an ASB (Associated Student Body) organization. Being part of ASB allows students to participate in certain sports, clubs, and events. Students need to pay the ASB membership fee, between $35-$55 depending on the grade level, to participate in sports and clubs. Fees are collected at the beginning of the school year but can
Kindergarten to High School 15 Kindergarten to High School be paid throughout the year, too. An ASB stamp/sticker will be put on the student’s identification card. Financial assistance is available for students who qualify.
CLUBS
Schools offer a variety of after-school clubs at no cost. Check the school’s website to see what clubs are available and the dates they meet. Some clubs require ASB cards. Students are encouraged to join afterschool clubs to meet other students. To learn more information about the clubs, students need to pay attention to school announcements during the school day and look on Canvas and the school website. Club information is also sometimes included in the school’s E-news.
SPORTS
Schools offer a variety of sports for students each year. They will be asked to have an ASB (Associated Student Body) card to participate in a sport. Additional fees might apply to participate in sports. Practices are held after school, and students can take the activity bus home afterward. Check activity bus drop-off times and locations on the website https://www.isd411.org/programsservices/buses/eda-routes-extended-dayactivity-routes. Available sports, sports seasons, and further information should be available on the school’s website and in the school’s E-news. Students entering the 6th grade and high school freshmen must have a physical dated on or after January 1st of the year they will start 6th grade or 9th grade. Physicals are valid for two years and may not expire during the season of participation. Sport fees and fines are paid through a SEPARATE Pay Online system found on the school website. To participate in sports, parents and students need to complete all the forms on the FinalForm
https://issaquah-wa.finalforms.com/.
MUSIC
Schools offer students an opportunity to participate in music programs and productions throughout the year, including concert band, jazz band, orchestra, choir, etc. Check your school’s website for details. Students need to purchase or rent their own instruments for orchestra or band. If students need financial assistance, they can contact the school to pay for instrument rentals.
LOCKERS
Middle school will be assigned a locker to store books, school supplies, coats, and sports gear during the day. High School students can request a locker. Some students may have to share lockers.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Each school has a Student Responsible Use Agreement form. Students and parents will be asked to review and sign during EVP (Enrollment Verification Process): https://www.isd411.org/portals/familyaccess/enrollment-verification-process . Please check your school website for the electronic devices use policy, mainly for cellphone devices.
ML - MULTILINGUAL LEARNING
During school registration, if you indicate that your student speaks a language other than English, your student will take the WIDA Screener during the first ten days of school. This is a short assessment given by the Multilingual Learning Specialist that will show your student’s English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
A letter with the results and information about whether your student has been placed into the ML Program will be sent to your home address on file.
Issaquah School District multilingual students will access grade-level instruction in an inclusive, culturally and linguistically responsive learning environment as they develop their language proficiency. The Issaquah School District uses an acceleration model that empowers multilingual students to develop the social and academic English language proficiency that they will need to be successful in content-area instruction throughout their day. Language and skill development is accelerated so that students can meet high standards in ALL academic areas.
ELEMENTARY ML MODEL
The “Supportive Mainstream” model is used in our elementary schools. In this model, students spend their day in the general education classroom. The ML Specialist will support by going into the classroom for coteaching lessons with the general education
teacher, working with small groups of students for language development, and 1:1 time with students as needed. As the basis for service, ML specialists work off the core curriculum that all students receive and provide support for academic language to help students access the content.
MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL ML MODEL
A certified teacher leads the English Language Development (ELD) class for ML students. This class works to build student proficiency in academic language, helping students access the core curriculum throughout the rest of their day. These classes focus on oral language development, explicit instruction in English language structure, and academic language development through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They may also support the student in their core classroom work. This class takes the place of one elective.
ML ASSESSMENT
The WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS is taken once a year for all active ML students between late January and early April. The results will show their language growth and current language proficiency level based on the WIDA ELD Framework. Scores are sent home from the district office after testing results are received from OSPI.
For more information about the WIDA Framework, WIDA ACCESS, WIDA Alternate ACCESS, or the WIDA Screener, families can review the information here: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/ access-opportunity-education/migrantand-multilingual-education/multilingualeducation-program.
For more information regarding the Multilingual Learning program in the Issaquah School District, please visit https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/ multilinguallearners or call the ML Office at 425-837-7148.
MULTI-TIER SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT (MTSS)
The Issaquah School District uses the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to identify student needs for both behavior and academics. The goal is to proactively identify and respond to student needs, provide different levels of support, and promote social-emotional well-being. This set of supports is continually changing and improving. The MTSS model includes many areas of our ongoing work in the Issaquah School District.
MTSS employs a team-driven, data-based, problem-solving approach. Team-driven means that a group of staff members work together to identify needs. A single teacher is not responsible for identifying a need and developing a solution. Databased means that sets of measurements are reviewed at specific times throughout the school year. Problem-solving means the team develops solutions to help the student improve in the identified areas. Important parts of this process include early interventions (identifying needs before they become big problems for the student) and comprehensive assessment (regular monitoring of student progress). The staff uses high-leverage practices, the fundamentals of teaching that have been shown to improve student achievement, to ensure that students learn. These practices include student instruction, intervention when a student is behind, and regular assessments to identify both needs and progress.
To learn more about ISD MTSS system, visit: https://www.isd411.org/programsservices/mtss.
NATIONAL (JUNIOR) HONOR SOCIETY
In high school, it is called National Honor Society (NHS). In middle school, it is called National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).
It is an organization that recognizes and encourages academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy. The National (Junior) Honor Society elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. These five pillars have been associated with membership in the organization since its inception in 1929.
Learn more about these five pillars of membership, visit: https://www.njhs.us
To join their school chapter, students are required to have a certain cumulative grade point average (GPA) after the first trimester of 7th grade. To maintain membership, students must complete 40 hours of community service and attend meetings. The required hours might differ by school. Members will have the option of doing this activity until high school when it’s called the National Honor Society.
Volunteers
It is recommended that all elementary school parents complete their volunteer application on the District website (https:// www.isd411.org/get-involved/volunteer ) to ensure they can participate in classroom activities and attend lunch/recess events as they are organized by the school during the school day. Only the parents on the approved volunteer list can participate or volunteer inside a school during the daytime. Parents need to fill out/update their volunteer application every year.
Kindergarten to High School
TERM DEFINITION
504
Accommodation
A 504 plan is a written plan that describes the educational and related aids and services that a district determines a student needs to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education. Students who have health concerns such as hearing loss, anxiety, diabetes, asthma, severe allergies, etc., should share this information with the school counselor to make sure they receive the support and accommodations that they need.
A change made to a student’s academic plan or daily schedule that helps the student learn better.
ASB Associated Student Body
Chaperone
CCSS Common Core State Standards
A person who accompanies or looks after a group of students on a field trip or sporting event.
A common set of national goals for K-12 students in Math and English Language Arts. These goals help prepare students for college and careers.
Extracurricular Activities outside the school day that are sponsored by the school. These activities may cost money.
Fundraiser
GPA
Freshman/Sophomore/ Junior/Senior
Highly Capable Student
IEP Individual Education Programs
LRC Learning Resource Classroom
MTSS Multi-Tier Systems of Support
NGSS Next Generation Science Standards
Paraprofessional
PE Physical Education
PTSA / PTA Parent Teacher (Student) Association
An opportunity for the school to raise money for additional programs, such as sports, art, music, and supplies.
Grade point average, a cumulative numerical score of a letter grade, NO ranking in the ISD based on % average
Students in 9th grade are called freshman; in 10th grade, sophomore; in 11th grade, junior; and in the 12th grade, senior.
A student who typically scores in the top 3 -5% on both cognitive and achievement tests. Scores are typically at the 97th percentile or above.
These are written educational plans that are developed at least annually for students who have a disability.
A classroom where special education students receive instruction from a Special Education Teacher. Students may be in this class for part or all of the day, depending on their IEP.
The model that the Issaquah School District uses to identify student needs for both behavior and academics. The goal is to proactively identify and respond to student needs, provide different levels of support, and promote social-emotional well-being. It uses teams of teachers at each school who review sets of measurements at specific times each year to identify students who would benefit from early intervention.
A common set of national goals for K-12 students in science and engineering. These goals help prepare students for college and careers.
Paraprofessionals are valuable members of the educational team. They provide essential support in a variety of roles throughout the district, like supervision of school grounds, crossing guard, lunchroom, library, and recess. Provides clerical support as needed, etc. They also assist Kindergarten teachers or Special Education teachers with instruction to groups of students or on a one-to-one basis.
A class where students work on physical fitness.
A parent organization that supports students and families to ensure success in education.
Preschool and Kindergarten 19
Kindergarten to High School
TERM DEFINITION
Special Education Specially designed instruction is provided to a student who has a disability.
Standard Based Grading Grading based on common core standards. The students are expected to meet standards, and the teachers focus on teaching grade-level standards and supporting students to meet grade-level standards.
Title 1 Program The federal “Elementary and Secondary Education Act” (ESEA) – enacted in 1965 – is the nation’s national education law. ESEA authorizes several state-run programs for eligible schools and districts. Now known as ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), the law works to address the performance gaps between student groups in our schools by offering services and interventions to support struggling learners.
VOICE Mentors Volunteer that mentor students in academic, social or life skills.
Xello Xello is a District-provided online program that students use to complete the High School and Beyond Plan graduation requirement starting in 6th grade to explore careers, post-high school opportunities, and a wide variety of college options.
Preschool
The Issaquah School District offers a continuum of preschool programs to support students and families. For more information, visit https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/preschool
TRANSITION to KINDERGARTEN (TK)
Transition to Kindergarten is a tuition-free preschool program for children entering kindergarten the following year. This program is available for students who demonstrate a need for additional preparation before entering kindergarten.
Eligibility is determined through an application and a screening process to identify financial, academic, and social-emotional needs. Transition to Kindergarten focuses on essential academics, social-emotional skills, and learning habits to empower children as they launch into their academic journeys.
For more information, contact TransitiontoKindergarten@issaquah.wednet.edu or check https://www. isd411.org/programs-services/elementary-programs/tk
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ECEAP)
This is a state-funded preschool program designed to support families impacted by a variety of risk factors identified by federal and state guidelines. Your child must be age 3 or 4 by August 31 of the applying school year. Risk factors may include, but are not limited to, family income, kinship or foster care placement, homelessness, etc. Applications are available in March, and enrollments begin in May for the following school year. Applications and new students are accepted year-round to maintain full enrollment.
ECEAP is located at the Holly Street Early Learning Center and Briarwood Elementary School. Holly Street ELC has a 3-hour a.m. class, a 3-hour p.m. class for 3-4-year-olds, and one 6.5-hour class available for 4-year-olds. Briarwood Elementary School has one 6.5-hour class available for 3-4-year-olds. Classroom placement and transportation are determined by your home address. Family Support Specialists (FSS) will work with your family to help determine eligibility. Check https://www.isd411.org/programs-services/ preschool/eceap for more information.
Preschool
ISD PRESCHOOL ACADEMY
This Pre-K program will be in two locations: Holly Street Early Learning Center (2 classes) and Skyline High School (1 class). Each class has 14 students with two teachers. Students must be 4 years old before August 31st. The tuition for this program is $1,350 per month - September through June. The Holly Street location offers 2 hours of extended care for an additional $200 per month. To set up a virtual or in-person tour (after school hours), complete the interest form on the website. For more information: https:// www.isd411.org/programs-services/preschool/ isd-preschool-academy
The 3-year-old program will be at Holly Street Early Learning Center. Each class will have 12 students with two teachers. Students must be 3 years old before August 31st. The tuition for this program is $1,350 per month: SeptemberJune. For more information: https://www. isd411.org/programs-services/preschool/isdpreschool-academy
SPECIAL
EDUCATION PRE-SCHOOL
OPTIONS:
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – ECE
This program offers classrooms for 3- and 4-year students, with a maximum of 12 students with special needs and up to three community peers per classroom. Each ECE session runs 4 days per week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday for 2-1/2 hours per day. Each child’s home address determines the site location and placement in a morning or afternoon session. This program is located at Briarwood Elementary, Discovery Elementary, and Holly Street Early Learning Center. Transportation is provided for students who meet the eligibility criteria for the ECE Program. If you are interested in setting up an appointment to have your student screened, please call 425-837-7197 or email Childfind@ Issaquah.wednet.edu.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION –Community Preschool Program
The Issaquah School District has community preschooler openings in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Preschool Program (see above). A community preschooler is defined as
a child who is following a typical pattern of early development. The child must be at least 3 years old (not yet 5) to be considered for enrollment. Community preschoolers are selected at each ECE school site on a first come, first served basis. Each ECE site offers a morning or an afternoon preschool session for children with special needs. Enrollment is ongoing throughout the school year based on availability. Transportation is not provided. https://www.isd411.org/programsservices/preschool/preschool-programs/ community-preschool-program
Kindergarten
The Issaquah School District offers full-day kindergarten at no cost to all students. A half-day morning kindergarten option is also available for families. Half-day kindergarten students may still ride the bus in the morning. However, if parents or guardians choose the half-day morning session, they are responsible for picking their child up at the end of the threehour half-day. The kindergarten registration window begins in early February.
If you don’t know which school your child will attend next year, the Transportation Department can help. Email the Transportation department at transportation-enews@issaquah.wednet. edu with your complete address, including city and zip code, and they will look up the schools for you. You can also view the detailed district boundary maps for each school by visiting: https://www.isd411.org/fs/pages/4108.
If you have concerns about your child’s readiness for kindergarten, talk to your preschool teacher or pediatrician, or contact Child Find at 425837-7197.
DUAL LANGUAGE INMERSION PROGRAM
This program is housed at Issaquah Valley Elementary (IVE) School. Each year, during the Kindergarten Registration window, students who will be entering kindergarten the following fall are eligible to apply. All District students can apply. If they live outside the school’s boundaries, families need to provide transportation. Kindergarten students who enter the Dual Language Program will form a cohort that will potentially continue through high school. For more information, contact DualLanguage@issaquah.wednet.edu
Kindergarten to High School
Dual language education integrates Englishspeaking students with native Spanish-speaking students. Academic instruction is presented in both languages. Social and academic learning occurs in an environment that values the language and culture of all students and sets high standards to ultimately achieve academic success in both Spanish and English.
Elementary
Grades 1st to 5th are considered elementary education, and the Issaquah School District has 16 elementary schools.
SCHEDULE
There is one teacher per classroom who teaches the majority of the subjects to the whole class, in small groups, or one-on-one. Other adults, such as paraprofessionals or parent volunteers, may also work with students. Students will spend the majority of their day in their classrooms. For music, physical education, and library, students go to other classrooms and have other teachers. Teachers post their weekly schedules on their websites. Regularly, students have 20 minutes for lunch and two recesses of 20 minutes each day, except for Wednesdays. Classmates change each grade level, and students have different teachers each year.
BEHAVIOR
Kids are asked to walk inside the school, use appropriate voice levels, and respect the personal space of each student, or “space bubble.” At recess, they will be asked to respect personal space and not to play roughly. In class, students learn to engage in whole group, small group, and partner discussions. Students participate actively in classrooms; this is recorded on their report cards under “behaviors that promote learning.”
CLEVER
Clever is the online single sign-on portal (SSO) for student access to a variety of curriculum tools and technology resources. Clever eliminates the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords. For more information, visit: https://www.isd411.org/ portals/elementary
SEESAW
Seesaw is an online tool that teachers may use to provide lessons, learning activities, and links to recorded lessons for students. Students will log in to Seesaw through Clever. There is a Parent and Family App that can be used to view what students are working on. For more information, visit: https://www.isd411.org/portals/elementary
GRADES
Report cards are not mailed or sent home. Parents need to go to Family Access to view and download them. There is not a ranking system in the US, and grades in elementary school don’t count toward college.
Teachers use a variety of assessments to monitor student growth and collect data to inform classroom instruction.
Teachers use daily assignments and tests to provide grades for report cards. Students are graded based on Washington State standards, and report cards each trimester reflect student’s progress towards the end-of-year standards for Behavior that Promote Learning and Academic Performance:
Level 4: Exceeds Standard
Level 3: Meets Standard
Level 2: Approaches Standard
Level 1: Well-bellow Standard
Levels 2 and 3 are the most common grades. Celebrate the 3’s! For more information (in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean), visit https://www.isd411.org/academics/academicsoverview/grading/elem-rep-card
TITLE 1 PROGRAM
The Issaquah School District offers the Title I, Part A program in 7 ISD elementary schools (Apollo, Briarwood, Challenger, Clark, Issaquah Valley, Newcastle, and Sunset). Its mission is to provide intensive intervention for students not meeting standards in literacy and, in some
schools, math. The goal is to accelerate learning for these students and bring them quickly to standard. To learn more about the Title I program, please visit: https://www.isd411.org/ programs-services/title1lap
HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM
The Issaquah School District’s Highly Capable Program provides a continuum of services to eligible students in grades K-12. Testing is required for eligibility. PEP is the program for kindergarten to 2nd grade. MERLIN and SAGE for 3rd to 5th grades. Secondary students in 6th to 12th grades receive a variety of options to provide academic acceleration and rigor. To see the descriptions of these programs and to get more information, visit: https://www.isd411.org/ programs-services/gifted-highly-capable.
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY MAGNET PROGRAM
These are choice programs with extra emphasis on science and technology for 4th and 5th graders. These programs are located at Briarwood, Cascade Ridge, and Clark, but all students in the District can apply. When students are in 3rd grade, they will be selected by a lottery in April. There are parent information sessions online (Zoom webinar), which will be held at the end of March and the beginning of February. Attendance at the information sessions is required to apply. Parents will need to provide transportation for their child if the school is not their assigned home school. For more information, go to: https://www.isd411. org/programs-services/elementary-programs/ science-technology-magnet-program.
FIELD TRIPS
Permission slips are sent home with students before a field trip and must be returned before a student can be transported off school
grounds. If parents do not wish for their child to participate in a particular field trip, alternative activities will be arranged. Field trips are decided by each individual school. Please check with your school or teacher for field trip plans or detailed information.
CELEBRATIONS
Schools organize a lot of special days for students, such as pajama day, themed dress-up days, etc. These are called Spirit Days. Teachers will let you know about these events. If you have questions about the holidays your family celebrates, talk to your teacher. Schools encourage children to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. Parents are asked not to send birthday or other party invitations to school, especially when all children in a classroom are not included. In some schools, birthdays are celebrated once a month. Ask your child’s teacher about the procedure regarding classroom celebrations.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers make a big difference at schools. Kids love to see parents, grandparents, and caretakers volunteering in their classrooms, recess, and events! If you are interested in volunteering, please check the Issaquah School District website for the most updated volunteer requirements: https://www.isd411. org/get-involved/volunteer, or check with your child’s school for specific school-related volunteer requirements.
HEALTH
Parents will be asked to pick up their child if a health problem occurs. A student with an oral temperature of 100° or over should remain at home until free of fever for 24 hours. A school nurse is available for consultation and may be contacted through the school office.
LASER PENS/POINTERS
Because of the potential for serious injury to the eyes, students are not allowed to bring or use laser pens/pointers on school grounds or buses. Every school has its own rules, but other things not commonly welcome at schools are cellphones, hoverboards, heelys, hats, and gum.
PETS/ANIMALS
The District has implemented a no-pet regulation. Pets should not be brought to school unless all District regulations and procedures have been followed. Please check with your
Kindergarten to High School building administrator for approval and the necessary forms.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Professional photographers visit each school to take individual and class pictures. Students, however, are not required to purchase photographs. Information, including cost/ package options, is sent home prior to the photographer’s visit.
SAFETY
Safety drills are held monthly. Safety drills such as fire, earthquake, shelter-in-place, and lockdown drills are practiced to help familiarize students and staff with the procedures to follow should a real emergency occur.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Some elementary schools might have a student council. Usually, 5th graders and sometimes 4th graders can participate. Student council works with a teacher lead or school administrator to plan activities and projects for the school. Please contact your classroom teacher to get more details if your child is interested in participating in student council.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
Parents are requested to bring students to school no earlier than 10 minutes before classes begin. If your student walks to school or if you drive your child, please be sure you are supervising them until 10 minutes before classes begin.
At the end of the day, students who have not been picked up 15 minutes after the school day ends will be brought to the school office, and parents will be contacted. Because supervision is not provided before or after school, students are not allowed on the playground and must wait in a supervised area. Parents must come to the office to pick up their child.
LEAVING EARLY
If a child must leave school before dismissal, parents are required to stop in the office and sign out their student. Students will then be called from the classroom by the office. Please do not go to the classroom. If your child leaves school with less than 2 hours left in the school day, the dismissal is recorded as a tardy.
COMMUNITY FLYERS
The District allows outside organizations to distribute information to students and families through the Peachjar e-flyer distribution system. Upon approval by the District, flyers are emailed directly to parents via Peachjar. They are also posted on each school’s community flyers web page. These are for community events, extracurricular classes, PTA/PTSA events, etc.
5TH GRADE
In the last year of elementary education, schools have special activities for the students. The last month of the school year is very special for 5th graders since they get to celebrate the completion of elementary school before transitioning to middle school. Each school decides how they would like to recognize their fifth graders and that information will be shared by your child’s teacher.
Middle School
Grades 6th to 8th are considered middle school education, and the Issaquah School District has six middle schools. All the middle schools are closed campus; students cannot leave the campus during the school day without parent/caretaker’s permission.
COURSE SELECTION
In the spring, students are asked to choose the classes for the following year. Information is available on the District’s website, and caregivers will help select the courses in Skyward.
Students are required to take a full year of Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science at each grade level. Advanced options are available to students in Language Arts, Math, and Science; placement in these courses is done using an informed self-select model. Information can be found on the District website. There are some additional required classes like Health and PE (Physical Education) and elective courses such as Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Spanish, etc.
SCHEDULE
Students move to different classrooms for each subject and they have different teachers. Classes are between 50 to 55 minutes long and are called “a period.” There are 6 to 7 periods daily. They have a 30-minute lunch and no recess.
CANVAS
Canvas is Issaquah School District's Learning Management System for students in grades 612. Students can access all coursework, turn in assignments, and connect with their teacher and classmates in Canvas.
Caregivers have an Observer Role in Canvas, which allows access to view their student(s) courses. For video tutorials and Canvas user guides: https://www.isd411.org/portals/ grades-6-12
GRADES
Teachers use the letter grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F (A-D is passing, and F is failing). Middle school students receive three official trimester report cards each year. Caregivers can check their student’s grades through Family Access and contact the student’s teacher directly if there are any academic concerns. There is not a ranking system in the U.S.
HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT
All middle school 7th and 8th-grade students who complete high school courses are eligible for those grades and credits placed on their high school transcript.
A request can be made to add the credit and grade to the high school transcript at any time until the student’s junior year. Please note that once the grades are added to the high school transcript, the grade and credit cannot be removed and will permanently be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average.
TESTS
There are class, District, and State tests. For class tests, teachers write the tests based on curriculum. Students have these tests several times during the trimester. For State tests, see page 12.
PROMOTION
8th Grade students will be promoted to the next grade level – High School. Each middle school has a promotion ceremony to celebrate the completion of 8th grade. Please check your school office or PTSA for detailed information.
High School
Grades 9th to 12th are considered high school education, and the Issaquah School District has four high schools. Students in 9th grade are called freshman; in 10th grade, sophomore; in 11th grade, junior; and in the 12th grade, senior.
*All the high schools are closed campus, 8th and 9th graders cannot leave the campus during the school day without parent permission.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To graduate from high school, students must meet four requirements: (1) earn the required number of credits; (2) develop a High School and Beyond Plan; (3) meet the requirements of a District-approved graduation pathway; and successfully complete Washington State History.
The state requires students to earn a minimum of 24 credits in specified subject areas to graduate from high school. School districts are permitted to establish credit requirements that exceed the minimum number established by the state or to obtain a waiver of credit-based requirements for one or more high schools implementing alternative requirements.
1) The state requires students to earn a minimum of 24 credits in specified subject areas to graduate from high school. Credits show that students have met academic requirements by passing a course. The credits required for High School are 24 credits for Liberty HS, Skyline HS, and Issaquah HS (*Credit requirement for graduation may differ for different graduating classes) Check https://www.isd411.org/academics/highschool-curriculum-pathways/graduationrequirements/credit-requirements for the detailed requirements.
High School 25 Kindergarten to High School
2) Every student must develop a High School and Beyond Plan to guide the student’s high school experience, including plans for post-secondary education or training and career. Students shall create their High School and Beyond Plans in cooperation with parents and school staff.
3) Students must meet the requirements of a District-approved graduation pathway in order to graduate. All students should consult with their counselor for more information on satisfying the Pathway requirement.
4)All students must successfully complete Washington State History, which is usually completed in Middle School.
GRADES
Teachers use letter grading: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, F (D is passing and F is failing). It is important to read the syllabus from each teacher to understand grading expectations and contact the student’s teacher directly if there are any academic concerns. High school students get their grades after each semester. Parents (and students) can check their grades through Family Access. There is not a ranking system in the U.S.. Colleges and employers look at high school transcripts listing all high school grades, courses, and the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA).
AP Advanced Placement
At Liberty and Issaquah High Schools, students can take these college-level classes. Students may receive college credit depending on their test scores and the college they attend.
IB International Baccalaureate
This is a Diploma Program that students at Skyline High School can obtain. It’s a preuniversity course of study for students in grades 11 and 12 based on international standards. During their sophomore year,
students will be asked to sign a contract outlining their classes for 11th and 12th grade. This Diploma is recognized by many universities worldwide.
ONLINE AND RUNNING START
All high school students can choose to take certain classes online. Students in grades 11th and 12th can attend a community
Subject
college and earn college and high school credits at the same time.
WASHINGTON NETWORK FOR INNOVATIVE CAREERS (WANIC)
WANIC is a high school skill center that offers advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in which junior and senior high school students earn three
Requirements to earn High School Diploma - State and District
College Entrance Required for WA public 4-year universities (CADRs)
English Language Arts 4 4
Social Studies
Math
Science
World Language
Art
PE/Health credit
A Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Elective credit (any course)
3 (1.5 World History, 1.0 US History and 0.5 credit Civics) 3-4
3 (Minimum – Algebra 1, Geometry, 3rd year Math*)
If Algebra 1 and/or Geometry are successfully completed before 9th, higher level HS Math can be included.
3 (2 lab sciences and 1 additional science, lab or non-lab*)
2 (Both credits may be replaced with a Personalized Pathway Requirements**)
3-4 credits (minimum through Algebra 2 and quantitative class in senior year)
3 (Biology, Chemistry or Physics, 1 other)
2 (must be two consecutive years in the same language)
NOTE: biliterate students can take a competency test to earn up to 4.0 World Language credits
1 (Fine or Applied Art)
1 credit may be replaced with a Personalized Pathway Requirement**
1.5 of PE and 0.5 Health
1 (many options in high school)
4 credits, or enough to reach the total credit requirement for graduation.
1 (must be Fine Art)
Not required for college entrance but provide opportunities for students to demonstrate and explore their learning.
Students are encouraged to reach out directly to colleges they are interested in applying to, as admissions processes and requirements vary by school.
*The 3rd credit of math and science are chosen by the student based on their post-high school interest.
**Personalized Pathway Requirements are related courses that lead to a specific post-high school career or educational outcome chosen by the student based on the student’s interests and High School and Beyond Plan, which may include Career and Technical Education and are intended to provide a focus for the student’s learning.
Kinhigh school credits during a full school year with a total of 540 hours. They have 21 Skill Center programs across 9 locations throughout the seven school districts. The Issaquah School District 11th and 12th students can apply for WANIC courses and earn dual credits. There are also summer program opportunities for 9th graders. To learn the details of the WANIC program and how to apply, please visit: wanic.org.
TRANSCRIPT
This is an official record of a student’s grades for high school-level classes. Colleges and employers only look at high school transcripts (not middle school or elementary report cards).
WORLD LANGUAGE CREDIT
Students can get a World Language Credit if they take tests and meet scoring requirements. This is a great way for bilingual/ML students to get credit for fluency in their first language. Ask your high school counselor for details.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
Schools have excellent resources for students and parents who need information about post-secondary education and career decisions like financial aid, part-time jobs, volunteer opportunities, etc. Look for all this information on the school’s website. For students with developmental disabilities, the Academy for Community Transition (ACT) in the Issaquah School District will provide training and support to let young, differently-abled adults (the ages of 1821 years old) connect with communitybased employment experiences and finetune social, vocational and life skills. For ACT details, check https://www.isd411. org/programs-services/special-services/ special-education-programs/academy-forcommunity-transition-act
DANCES
Schools organize optional dances for students. Homecoming is during the fall. There is always a fun theme, so students
sometimes coordinate their outfits to fit the theme. Students typically wear formal attire (e.g., dresses and suits). In addition, at the end of the school year, schools organize the Prom, a very formal event where girls wear long dresses and boys wear tuxedos.
DRUG-FREE ZONES
Schools in the Issaquah School District are protected as drug-free zones, as established by the City of Issaquah and King County. Drug-free zones provide for possible double penalties for anyone caught trafficking controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a designated school, school bus stop, or public park.
GIBSON EK HIGH SCHOOL
This is the District’s newest high school, which opened its doors in September 2016. This school uses a Big Picture Learning model that encourages students to use “out of the box” learning methods. At Gibson Ek, students learn through projects that have been carefully chosen instead of attending classes like ones at a regular high school. New learning methods work better for some people. If you have questions or want to learn more about the school, visit https:// gibsonek.isd411.org/.
ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT
