Bellevue School District

Summary

Bellevue School District No. 405 (BSD) is a public school district in King County, headquartered in Bellevue. As of October 1, 2016, the district has an enrollment of 19,974 students.

Bellevue School District
Address
12111 NE 1st St
, Washington, 98005
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPre-K through High school
Established1942; 82 years ago (1942)
SuperintendentDr. Kelly Aramaki
NCES District ID5300390[1]
Students and staff
Students19,510 (2021-2022)[1]
Teachers1035.69
Staff1579.72
Student–teacher ratio18.84
Other information
Websitewww.bsd405.org
Location of Bellevue in King County, Washington (not co-terminous with the district boundaries)
Location of Washington within the United States

The Bellevue School District includes 28 schools: 15 elementary schools, 1 Spanish immersion elementary school, 1 Chinese immersion elementary school, 5 regular middle schools, 4 regular high schools, and two district-wide choice schools (grades 6-12). The district has a staff of about 2,900 employees, including about 1,500 teachers.[2]

In 2013, Newsweek magazine named Bellevue, Interlake, International, Newport and Sammamish to its list of "America's Best High Schools".[3] In 2013, The Washington Post placed Bellevue, Interlake, International, Newport and Sammamish on its list of "America's Most Challenging High Schools".[4] In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Bellevue, Interlake, International and Newport among its "Best High Schools".[5]

Boundary edit

It includes the majority of Bellevue. Additionally it includes Beaux Arts Village, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Medina, and Yarrow Point. It also has a portion of Redmond and a very small portion of Kirkland.[6]

Demographics edit

As of October 2020, there were 19,545 students enrolled in the district. 100 languages are spoken in the district, with 42.5% of students speaking a first language other than English. 17.2% of students receive MLL (Multi-Language Learner) Services. 19.0% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The racial demographics of the district are: 3.8% Black/African American, 43.9% Asian, 14.2% Hispanic, 10.1% Multi-Ethnic, 0.2% Native American/American Indian/Alaska Native, 0.3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 27.0% White.[7]

By February 2015 the district experienced an influx of highly educated immigrant families from East Asia and South Asia who selected the district due to its reputation for strong academics and testimonials from foreign sources. The district's number of Indian language-speaking students was 185 in 2004. As of 2015 the district had about 1,600 students who spoke Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and/or Taiwanese Min-Nan; and the district also had over 800 speakers of Indian languages. The speakers of Chinese had increased by 91% in a ten-year span beginning around 2004, and speakers of Indian languages had increased around 400% during the same period.[8]

Schools edit

Students attend elementary (primary) school from kindergarten to fifth grade, middle school from sixth to eighth grade, and high school from ninth to twelfth grade. Each of the school, except Choice schools, have a defined geographic attendance area. Students are assigned to a school based on the attendance area in which they reside.[9] With three exceptions, these schools are located in the city of Bellevue. Clyde Hill Elementary and Chinook Middle School are located in the city of Clyde Hill.

High schools (Grades 9-12) edit

Middle schools (Grades 6- 8) edit

  • Chinook Middle School
  • Highland Middle School
  • Odle Middle School
  • Tillicum Middle School
  • Tyee Middle School

Elementary schools (Grades Pre-K to 5th grade) edit

  • Ardmore Elementary School[10]
  • Bennett Elementary School[11]
  • Cherry Crest Elementary School[12]
  • Clyde Hill Elementary School[13]
  • Eastgate Elementary School[14]
  • Enatai Elementary School[15]
  • Lake Hills Elementary School[16]
  • Medina Elementary School[17]
  • Newport Heights Elementary School[18]
  • Phantom Lake Elementary School[19]
  • Sherwood Forest Elementary School[20]
  • Somerset Elementary School[21]
  • Spiritridge Elementary School[22]
  • Stevenson Elementary School[23]
  • Woodridge Elementary School[24]
  • Wilburton Elementary[25]

Choice schools edit

Former schools edit

Over the years, the district closed several schools. In many cases, declining enrollment after the baby boomers graduated led to closure. The district leased some schools to private schools or non-profit organizations. Some properties were transferred to other local governments.[32]

  • Ashwood Elementary School is the Bellevue Regional Library and two sports fields.[33][34][35]
  • Ivanhoe Elementary School is a performing arts center and public park.[36] Ivanhoe Elementary School opened in 1962 and closed in 1981.[37]
  • Kelsey Creek Home School Center (1-12) closed in June 2012.[38]
  • Lake Heights Elementary School became a YMCA location. In 2008, it traded sites with Newport Heights Elementary.[39]
  • Ringdall Junior High School was Eastside Catholic School and is now used as a temporary location for schools whose regular buildings are under construction. Currently, Ringdall is the temporary home of Cougar Mountain Middle School of the Issaquah School District.[40]
  • Robinswood Middle School and Robinswood High School were closed and replaced by The Big Picture School.
  • Surrey Downs School is now a King County District Court location and sports fields.[41][42]
  • Three Points Elementary School, located in Medina, is now an elementary school for Bellevue Christian Schools.[43]
  • Union S High School is now Bellevue Downtown Park. It was once known as Overlake High School.[44]
  • Wilburton School is now District offices and a City park.[45][46]

2008 strike edit

On June 10, 2008, Bellevue teachers voted almost unanimously to go on strike if a new contract could not be reached by the end of the summer. On the evening of September 1, the day before classes would have started, the Bellevue Education Association (BEA) announced the beginning of the strike.[47] On September 14, BEA members agreed to the tentative agreement that school was to begin on September 15. The dispute between the BEA and BSD had three main issues: compensation; benefits; and use of the Curriculum Web, a strictly enforced curriculum for all teachers to follow.[48]

2023 Consolidation Request edit

In 2023, the Bellevue School Board considered merging 3 schools; Ardmore, Wilburton and Eastgate into other schools following low fertility rates and lack of students. The request was to move students from Ardmore to Bennett, Cherry Crest and Sherwood Elementary, move students from Eastgate to Spiritridge and Somerset Elementary, and moving the Spiritridge AL program to Woodridge, and finally moving Wilburton students to Clyde Hill and Entai Elementary. The Board rejected the Ardmore request but finally accepted the Eastgate and Wilburton request. The move is scheduled for the 2023-2024 school year.[49]

Honors edit

President Barack Obama visited Medina Elementary School on February 17, 2012. He spent 10 minutes at the school, greeting about 450 students with hand shakes and high fives.[50]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Bellevue School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  2. ^ Bellevue School District: "About Us". Archived from the original on May 6, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Newsweek, America's Best High Schools 2013, May 6, 2013. url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html
  4. ^ Washington Post, America's Most Challenging High Schools 2013, April 2013 url=[1]
  5. ^ U.S. News & World Report, "Best High Schools 2013, April 2013 "Best High Schools in the US | Top US High Schools | Education - US News". Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  6. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division (December 21, 2020). 2020 Census – School District Reference Map: King County, WA (PDF) (Map). 1:80,000. U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "About". bsd405.org. May 13, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Thompson, Lynn. "Bellevue schools engage influx of tech-sector immigrants’ children" (Archive). Seattle Times. February 16, 2015. Updated February 19, 2015. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "Attendance Boundary Maps". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012.
  10. ^ "Ardmore : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  11. ^ "Bennett". Archived from the original on October 4, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  12. ^ "Welcome to Cherry Crest". Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  13. ^ "Clyde Hill Elementary". Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  14. ^ "Eastgate : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  15. ^ "Enatai : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  16. ^ "Homepage". Archived from the original on October 14, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  17. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on October 14, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  18. ^ "Newport Heights Elementary". Archived from the original on October 14, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  19. ^ "Phantom Lake : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  20. ^ "Sherwood Forest : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  21. ^ "Somerset : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  22. ^ "Spiritridge : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  23. ^ "Stevenson : Elementary : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  24. ^ "Woodridge Elementary". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  25. ^ "Wilburton Home". Wilburton Elementary School. July 17, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  26. ^ "Ring My Belle with Rachel Belle".
  27. ^ "Bellevue Big Picture School". Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  28. ^ "International School Front Page". Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  29. ^ "Sunset/Puesta del Sol". Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  30. ^ "Jing Mei Elementary School".
  31. ^ "Bellevue Digital Discovery".
  32. ^ Google Maps: Bellevue, WA.
  33. ^ Crossing the Corridor, April 21, 2010, retrieved January 22, 2011[dead link]
  34. ^ Crossing the Corridor Part II, April 24, 2010, retrieved January 22, 2011[dead link]
  35. ^ Ashwood Playfield, retrieved January 22, 2011
  36. ^ Ivanoe Park, retrieved January 22, 2011
  37. ^ Piro, Mary Ellen (February 2008). "Bellevue School District Timeline" (PDF). Eastside Heritage Center. Eastside Heritage Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2011.
  38. ^ "Kelsey Creek : Alternative Schools : Schools : Bellevue School District". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  39. ^ Newport Heights Construction, archived from the original on December 13, 2010, retrieved January 22, 2011
  40. ^ BSD Middle Schools FAQ's, May 13, 2015, retrieved November 5, 2018
  41. ^ Surrey Downs Park, retrieved January 22, 2011
  42. ^ Google Maps: satellite images of Bellevue, WA
  43. ^ Three Points Elementary, archived from the original on December 12, 2010, retrieved January 22, 2011
  44. ^ Center, Eastside Heritage (June 2, 2014). Bellevue: Post World War II Years. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439645451.
  45. ^ WISC Construction, archived from the original on December 13, 2010, retrieved January 22, 2011
  46. ^ Wilburton Hill Park, retrieved January 22, 2011
  47. ^ "Bellevue teachers go on strike". The Seattle Times. September 1, 2008. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  48. ^ "BSD Homepage with information on the strike" (pdf). bsd405.org. Archived from the original on September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  49. ^ Molmen, Brock (February 9, 2023). "Planning for the Future – Recommendations to the Board". Bellevue School District. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  50. ^ President Obama Visits Medina Elementary, archived from the original on March 26, 2012

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Bellevue School District Report Card
  • Newsweek listing of top public high schools[permanent dead link]
  • Bellevue Schools Timeline: 1883–Present, from the Eastside Heritage Center