Bellevue School District

Bellevue School District No. 405 (BSD) is a public school district in King County, Washington, United States, that serves the communities of Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, Beaux Arts, and portions of Newcastle, Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond and unincorporated King County. As of October 1, 2016, the district has an enrollment of 19,974 students.

Bellevue School District
Location
Bellevue, Washington
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPre-K through High school
Established1942
SuperintendentIvan Duran
Students and staff
Students19,974
Other information
Mission statementTo provide all students with an exemplary college preparatory education and food so they can succeed in college, career and life.
Websitewww.bsd405.org
Location of Bellevue in King County, Washington
Location of Washington within the United States
Not to be confused with Bellevue Community School District.

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 2,000 employees, including about 1,100 teachers.[1]

In 2013, Newsweek magazine named Bellevue, Interlake, International, Newport and Sammamish to its list of "America's Best High Schools".[2] In 2013, The Washington Post placed Bellevue, Interlake, International, Newport and Sammamish on its list of "America's Most Challenging High Schools".[3] In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Bellevue, Interlake, International and Newport among its "Best High Schools".[4]

Demographics

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.[5]

In 2016, there were 19,974 students enrolled in the district. More than 80 languages are spoken in the district with 35% of students speaking a first language other than English. 14% receive ELL (English Language Learner) services. 19% receive free or reduced-price meals. The racial demographics of the district are: 2% Black/African American, 38% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 38% non-Hispanic White, and 9% Multiracial.

In 2020, there were 20,295 students enrolled in the district. 97 languages are spoken in the district, with 39% of students speaking a first language other than English. 15% of students receive ELL services. 17% of students qualify for free or reduced-prices meals. The racial demographics of the district are as follows:

  • 3% African American
  • 42% Asian
  • 13% Hispanic
  • 9% Multi-Ethnic
  • 33% White

Schools

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.[6] 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)

Middle schools (Grades 6- 8)
  • Chinook Middle School
  • Highland Middle School
  • Odle Middle School
  • Tillicum Middle School
  • Tyee Middle School

Elementary schools (Grades Pre-K to 5th grade)
  • Ardmore Elementary School[7]
  • Bennett Elementary School (Rebuilding) [8]
  • Cherry Crest Elementary School[9]
  • Clyde Hill Elementary School[10]
  • Eastgate Elementary School[11]
  • Enatai Elementary School[12]
  • Lake Hills Elementary School[13]
  • Medina Elementary School[14]
  • Newport Heights Elementary School[15]
  • Phantom Lake Elementary School[16]
  • Sherwood Forest Elementary School[17]
  • Somerset Elementary School[18]
  • Spiritridge Elementary School[19]
  • Stevenson Elementary School[20]
  • Woodridge Elementary School[21]
  • Wilburton Elementary[22]

Choice schools

Former schools

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.[28]

  • Ashwood Elementary School is the Bellevue Regional Library and two sports fields.[29][30][31]
  • Ivanhoe Elementary School is a performing arts center and public park.[32] Ivanhoe Elementary School opened in 1962 and closed in 1981.[33]
  • Kelsey Creek Home School Center (1-12) closed in June 2012.[34]
  • Lake Heights Elementary School became a YMCA location. In 2008, it traded sites with Newport Heights Elementary.[35]
  • 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 Highland Middle School.[36]
  • 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.[37][38]
  • Three Points Elementary School, located in Medina, is now an elementary school for Bellevue Christian Schools.[39]
  • Union S High School is now Bellevue Downtown Park. It was once known as Overlake High School.[40]
  • Wilburton School is now District offices and a City park.[41][42]

Demographics

As of October 2012, there were 18,351 students enrolled in the district. The district is 3.2% Black/African American, 32.1% Asian/Pacific Islander, 10.9% Hispanic, 6.6% Multiracial and 47.0% White. 32.1% of students speak a first language other than English; there are over 81 languages spoken in the district. 10.2% of students are ELL (English Language Learners). 8.1% are enrolled in various levels of Special Education. 21.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Of students who speak a language other than English as their first language, the top spoken are (in order): Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese, Russian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Telugu, Hindi, French, Persian and Tamil.[43]

2008 strike

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.[44] 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.[45]

Honors

Presidential visit

President Barack Obama visited Medina Elementary School on February 17, 2012. He greeted about 450 students with hand shakes and high fives.[46]

References
  1. Bellevue School District: "About Us". Archived from the original on 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  2. 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
  3. Washington Post, America's Most Challenging High Schools 2013, April 2013 url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/ Archived 2013-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  4. U.S. News & World Report, "Best High Schools 2013, April 2013 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2016-03-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. 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.
  6. "Attendance Boundary Maps". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2006-10-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  22. "Wilburton Home". Wilburton Elementary School. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  23. "Ring My Belle with Rachel Belle".
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  27. https://www.bsd405.org/jingmei/
  28. Google Maps: Bellevue, WA.
  29. Crossing the Corridor, 2010-04-21, retrieved 2011-01-22
  30. Crossing the Corridor Part II, 2010-04-24, retrieved 2011-01-22
  31. Ashwood Playfield, retrieved 2011-01-22
  32. Ivanoe Park, retrieved 2011-01-22
  33. Piro, Mary Ellen (February 2008). "Bellevue School District Timeline" (PDF). Eastside Heritage Center. Eastside Heritage Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-21.
  34. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2006-10-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. Newport Heights Construction, archived from the original on 2010-12-13, retrieved 2011-01-22
  36. BSD Middle Schools FAQ's, retrieved 2018-11-05
  37. Surrey Downs Park, retrieved 2011-01-22
  38. Google Maps: satellite images of Bellevue, WA
  39. Three Points Elementary, archived from the original on 12 December 2010, retrieved 2011-01-22
  40. Center, Eastside Heritage (2014-06-02). Bellevue: Post World War II Years. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439645451.
  41. WISC Construction, archived from the original on 2010-12-13, retrieved 2011-01-22
  42. Wilburton Hill Park, retrieved 2011-01-22
  43. "2012-13 DEMOGRAPHICS AT A GLANCE" (PDF). bsd405.org. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  44. "Bellevue teachers go on strike". The Seattle Times. 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  45. "BSD Homepage with information on the strike" (pdf). bsd405.org. Archived from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  46. President Obama Visits Medina Elementary, archived from the original on 2012-03-26
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