Mercer Island School District #400
Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, an island community located at the southern end of Lake Washington and 10 minutes from Seattle, is joined to the city of Seattle by the Interstate 90 floating bridge and to the City of Bellevue by the east channel bridge. The City of Mercer Island serves primarily as a residential area for approximately 21,600 people, most of whom are employed in professional and managerial positions in Seattle and the surrounding areas.
The Island and neighboring communities provide a wide variety of cultural and recreational activities for residents of all ages. From theater groups to indoor and outdoor art galleries to waterfront parks, there is something for everyone. More than 475 acres of parks and open space provide ample opportunities for sports, hiking, nature walks, picnics, and playgrounds for children. The Cascade Mountains offer some of the finest snow skiing in the region, and Lake Washington and the Puget Sound are ideal for boating and water sports.
The Mercer Island School District, with a K-12 student population of 3,900, enjoys a widespread reputation for quality and excellence, combining academics, cultural expression, and athletic achievement. This tradition of excellence is a major reason many families make Mercer Island their home. Achievement test scores at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are consistently the highest in the state. The district maintains a graduation rate of over 99 percent with 90 percent going on to colleges and universities. With its proximity to Seattle and Bellevue, the Island has easy access to several public and private colleges and universities including the University of Washington, Seattle University, Bellevue Community College, and Lake Washington Technical College.
The district employs a teaching and support staff of 445 and has an annual operating budget of approximately $30.5 million. Quality educators and support personnel are complemented by quality school facilities. The district has a 9-12 high school with an alternative program, a 6-8 middle school, and three K-5 elementary schools. All of the district’s schools have been completely remodeled in the past eight years, and all buildings are wired for internet access. A new state-of-the-art performing arts center at the high school is shared by students and community.
The district benefits from the substantial contributions of parents and community. The Mercer Island Schools Foundation, established in 1981, has raised over $3 million for district programs. The PTAs at each of the five schools have membership rates exceeding 80 percent of student enrollment and contribute generously to the support of school programs through fundraising and extraordinary volunteer participation. The community demonstrates continued strong support for its schools—Mercer Island School District has always passed its levies.
Mercer Island School District Mission
Mercer Island School District, in partnership with the community, commits to providing that all students will:
• be prepared to thrive in life;
• progress academically, intellectually and personally;
• graduate prepared to compete and succeed in post-secondary education and work; and
• be inspired to contribute to society.
Academic Achievement
Students are critical and creative thinkers, able to integrate and apply their knowledge, skills and interests.
Each student will set high expectations and work to attain them by:
• Mastering Washington State Essential Learning Requirements and Grade Level Expectations K-12.
• Achieving at individually and appropriately challenging levels.
• Demonstrating skills in 9 contents areas: Fine Arts, Language Arts, Math, Practical Life Skills, Science, Social Studies, Technology and World Languages.
• Demonstrating annual and continual yearly progress based on individual needs.
• Being governed by an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) if a special needs student.
Citizenship and Personal Development
Recognizing that these skills are developed through the partnership among school, family and community, all students will practice behaviors that exhibit citizenship and good character, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making.
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