Kirkland/ Redmond Schools (Bellevue: apartment, house, school district)

[trzups]

My husband and I are moving with our two kids to Kirkland/ Redmond soon, and I am trying to get some information on the schools in the area. I was feeling very comfortable with all of the schools in the entire Lake Washington School district, but then as we were looking at a home in Redmond, we found out that the current owners are moving to Bellevue so that their daughter can attend Belleview High and NOT Redmond High. Can anyone tell me whether or not I should be concerned about the Redmond schools? And how difficult is it to get into the charter schools (or as they call them-- choice schools)?
Thanks for any help you can offer me!

[marksind]

Redmond schools are fine. Lake Washington is a very good school district. My wife works at Redmond High. It consistently has the most National Merit scholars in the district, and more requests for variances to attend it than the other three high schools. It's noted for it's math and science classes in particular. There are minor drug issues (like any high school) and a transient demographic that feeds into it from a nearby apartment and subsidized housing area, but these are by no means dominant influences. There are no safety issues. Most of the area is high-income, and in typical suburban fashion the kids have much nicer cars than the teachers.

A key difference between it and the Bellevue district is that Lake Washington is three-year junior high, three-year high school, while Bellevue is four-year high school. If you end up in the Redmond area, definitely opt for Redmond Junior High over Evergreen (the other junior high that feeds the high school). Evergreen is just not up to the same level. My kids went there, and they were disadvantaged academically starting at the high school vs. the Redmond kids, who have more advanced math and language classes available to them.

[jwb123]

I agree with the post above.

My neice and nephew are both in the Redmond junior, and high schools. Very good schools, and teachers.

[trzups]

Thank you both!! This is very helpful. We just sold our house (hooray!), so we will be heading up next weekend for what I hope is our final house-hunting trip. The Redmond schools sound like just what we are hoping for.

[scirocco22]

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[Redline]

Any of the Kirkland schools good for K-8? I don't have kids (yet) but I thought I'd ask. What about that private school on 70th? Holy Family or something? Thanks.