private high schools options? (Sammamish, Issaquah: school district, universities, tuition)

[flyingsaucermom]

My 7th grader has told us he'd prefer to attend a private high school over Issaquah High. He is disinterested in the typical public school experience (extracurriculars, "jocks" and cliquish girls) and wants a more serious environment. I think he'd prefer smaller class sizes where teachers have more breathing room in their curriculum for discussion and debate.

This is really an interesting development for our family, certainly not one I anticipated. I don't know where to start in learning about schools. We can probably afford up to $25k a year. We're not religious, but we've got Jewish and Catholic backgrounds so we might be open to either if they equally as open. My son is an A/B student who would likely become an A student under the right motivating conditions. We're not trying to push him into ivy league level universities so we're not looking for uber competitive schools. I think we're just looking for a well-rounded alternative.

Anyone have recommendations?

[Hemlock140]

We have Eastside Catholic here in Sammamish, just up the hill from Issaquah.mi did some work there when they built it, and then (2008) it was $16,000. By now it's probably more, but they have a website and probably show the tuition. Very nice campus, and the parents we know with kids that went there have been very happy with it.

[Seacove]

We have friends that sent their kids to Eastside Catholic and are in college now.

[tobester]

FYI - all high schools (public and private ) have cliquish elements.0

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by tobester

FYI - all high schools (public and private ) have cliquish elements.0

Not a particularly helpful response Tobester.

[homesinseattle]

Eastside Prep is a great school: strong academically but a wonderful focus on the arts as well. http://www.eastsideprep.org

[Ira500]

Have you given any thought to Gibson EK, the new innovative high school in the Issaquah school district? I don't know much about it, other than the fact that they call it "innovative" rather than alternative, and looks like the kind of high school I would have enjoyed going to( no sports teams, etc.)

[josie13]

Overlake comes highly recommended. Families I know who have chosen it have had great experiences. We did not choose it, but wish we had.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Have you given any thought to Gibson EK, the new innovative high school in the Issaquah school district? I don't know much about it, other than the fact that they call it "innovative" rather than alternative, and looks like the kind of high school I would have enjoyed going to( no sports teams, etc.)

Hi Ira, no we haven't. We hadn't considered any sort of alternative program until now. Will check it out... it's close to home!

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

Hi Ira, no we haven't. We hadn't considered any sort of alternative program until now. Will check it out... it's close to home!

For whatever reason, Gibson EK doesn't like to be referred to alternative. They prefer innovative.