School District Questions (Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish: houses, school districts, bus)

[SouthSeasLifestyler]

I am wondering how the entitlement to attend schools work with the school districts. I am specifically thinking of Bellevue School District and Lake Washington District.

Here's what I think I understand, PLEASE correct me if I am wrong:

- I know if you are in the "zone" for a school, you definitely can go to that school (unless the attendance is at capacity, in which case you are sent to another school)

- You can apply for an out-of-zone school within your school district, but your priority is lower than those who are in-zone

- You can apply for a school that is NOT in your own school district, but your priority is lower than everyone who is in that school district

- If you qualify for "gifted" programmes, you get to go to the schools that provide those programmes even if you are not in the zone

- If you win the right to attend some "choice" or "special" schools, you get to go to them even if you are not in zone (in fact some of them have no zones, they just serve the entire district and attendance is determined by lottery)

From all this: Am I right in guessing that if you wanted a school that was out of your school district the chances of getting in are very low; and that if you wanted a school that was out of zone, you are unlikely to get it. Your main chance to get into out-of-zone schools are if you qualify for the special programmes, or AP or IB or Cambridge (whatever) or make it through the lottery system.

SSLifestyler

[Hemlock140]

That's pretty much it. Many of the schools in both Issaquah and lake Washington are already overcrowded, so unless you enroll early your chances of even getting into the one nearest your home are lower than in the past. In Sammamish, for example, Mead elementary is way overcrowded, while nearby Smith and Blackwell have plenty of room. It also can depend on the grade, currently kindergarten enrollment seems to have dropped while 1st-5th have increased. Mostly due to new residents moving to the area to work at Amazon and Microsoft.

[SouthSeasLifestyler]

Thanks for that. I was looking at some Bellevue houses and for some reason, the High School that is assigned to the property is Sammamish High School. Isn't that the other side of Lake Sammamish which seems a bit far, when I consider I am trying to reduce commute.

SSLifestyler

[tobester]

Originally Posted by SouthSeasLifestyler

Thanks for that. I was looking at some Bellevue houses and for some reason, the High School that is assigned to the property is Sammamish High School. Isn't that the other side of Lake Sammamish which seems a bit far, when I consider I am trying to reduce commute.

SSLifestyler

Sammamish High is on 140th in Bellevue - kinda in the middle - don't confuse it with the town of Sammamish or the lake

[Hemlock140]

Easy to be confused. Tobester is right that Sammamish High is in Bellevue, but Lake Sammamish has Redmond and Bellevue
on the west side, Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond on the east side, and then we incorporated most of the East Lake Sammamish Plateau into the City of Sammamish, where there are 3 high Schools in different districts within 1 mile, Eastlake Skyline and Eastside Catholic.

[jjinla]

All of Issaquah is not experiencing a population explosion, particularly not the schools near Bellevue as there is nowhere to build. Stay away from the Highlands if that is a concern.

[Inkpoe]

Yes, just remember the Sammamish HS was there before there was even a town named Sammamish.

Do remember that if you do get into the "out of zone" schools, that it is your responsibility to provide transportation. Bellevue SD (not sure about Issaquah, LWSD) provide HS with metro bus passes, so you'd have to look up bus routes for your kid if you go that way.