Schools that RulePrograms shaping the next generation BY HALEY HAMILTON // ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEX SCHLOER

T here are a lot of cool things happening at schools throughout the

Eastside. Here are some highlights that will almost make you wish you could go back in time and do it all over again. Or at least it will assure you that the next generation is getting a solid foundation to lead — both professionally and civically.

More than languages are spoken in the Bellevue School District

Tax dollars at work: Local property tax levies provide 22.1 percent of the yearly budget for the Lake Washington School District.

The student population at Bellevue College is

33,364. 56.9 percent

are women.

80

local property tax

other sources

The average elementary class size in Bellevue is 22.9 students

Microsoft recognized more than

teachers

&150

schools around the globe as the 2014-2015

Class of Education Innovators.

Four Washington

schools made the list.

800

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KIRKLAND

MERCER ISLAND

BELLEVUE

REDMOND

WOODINVILLE

SAMMAMISH

RENTON

BOTHELL

Lake Washington Teen CEOWho wouldn’t invest money in these kids? Lake Washington School District offers teen tycoons the chance to pitch their current business ideas at Teen CEO, a “Shark Tank” style competition. Winners can earn up to $2,500 to help fund their entrepreneurial dreams. Sidney Counts and Patrick Beighle won Teen CEO in 2014 with their business, Harwood Tees.

Bear Creek Wait … high schools have J-terms? They do at Bear Creek in Redmond. The private school offers courses studying everything from Harry Potter to creating the perfect quilt during its collegiate-like two-week seminars.

Bellevue High SchoolThis school may be known for its 12 football state titles, but BHS students work just as hard in the classroom and are continually ranked as one of the top high schools in the country for its academic excellence.

Talbot Hill Elementary Too bad these kids can’t throw their hats in for the 2016 elections. Students at Renton’s Talbot Hill Elementary participate in Mic-rosociety, a democratic mini-society in the school aimed at engaging student-run busi-ness, nonprofits and government agencies.

Bellevue CollegeWhen it comes to education, the more the merrier. In 2012, Bellevue College was recognized nationally for as a finalist in the Bellwether Award in the Workforce Develop-ment category for its “It takes a Village: Strategic Partnerships for Student Success” program. (Also, see our story about Bellevue College’s Adult Occupational Education program on page 95.)

Sammamish High SchoolThe playing field isn’t always even when it to comes education, but Sammamish High School works hard to close the gap for all beginning Limited English Proficient students (LEPS) and the 15 percent of its student body that qual-ifies for special education services by implementing innovative ideas based on problem-solving curricula.

St. Thomas Selected as a 2014-2015 Microsoft Showcase School, St. Thomas in Medina integrates mobile and cloud technology to personalize education to students and prepare them for the workplace.

Eastside PrepAlice and Tom Strong had an idea in 2002 for a rigorous and engaging school for students on the Eastside. That small school, Eastside Pre-paratory School, had 16 students. Eastside Prep now has 325 students and a 70,000-square-foot campus.

Evergreen AcademyAt Evergreen Academy, the kids in elementary and Montessori preschools are hard at work learn-ing about everything from music to Spanish. But it’s their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) studies that blow our minds. Kindergartners learning windmill design techniques and building blades for tiny sailboats as the older kids work on developing solutions for oil spills? They are doing all of this and more.

SCHOOLS THAT RULE

St. Louise SchoolAt St. Louise School in Bellevue, giving back is an important lesson taught to all students, and you are never too young to start. In fact, pre-K students work on three year-long classroom service projects, including Thanksgiving baskets, a toy drive and a Penny for Patients fundraiser. The tiny tots also help tend to the school gardens!

Interlake High SchoolStudents at Interlake High School can enroll in The International Baccalau-reate (IB) Diploma Program, one of the most academically challenging educational programs in the world. Offered in 1,460 schools globally, IB at Interlake prepares students for success beyond high school.

EASTSIDE

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