any Issaquah teachers here?

Seattle_JiLLn

My friend is looking at a house in Issaquah and it would put her at Issaquah Valley Elementary - her child is only 1, so it's not like she's going to school soon, but she said she was looking at things and that school doesn't look like it's very good on paper.  So she wanted to know more "real scoop" on the school in particular,and the school district in general....  anyone have any info?

blueLu25

Issaquah School District is one of the highest rated in the state. I dont know about Issaqah Valley, in particular, though. 

zulan78

I'm not a teacher but from the research I have done Issaquah Valley is on the bottom of the Issaquah school district list.  If she wants her child to attend the best Issaquah Schools then she should look at houses within Cougar Ridge, Cascade Ridge or Sunny Hills Elementary. 

Seattle_JiLLn

Yeah, I know it's on the bottom of the Issaquah schools, but I guess the question is, is the bottom of a really good school district still good?   And is there some reason it's worse that wouldnt' really affect her kid?  Like do they have a lot of kids coming and going mid-year that affects test scores?

JeffieAnne

I'm a teacher (though not in Issaquah public schools) but that's where I live.   I've moved from a few districts and a private school.  The Seattle Times has a pretty thorough school guide.  Here's the profile to Issaquah Valley elementary https://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/schoolguide/profile.php?results=wasl&building_id=3673&search=&wasl_district_id=17411&wasl_grade_level=3

She can compare that to the profiles of other schools of neighborhoods they're looking at.  I know a lot of apartments are in that area, which probably account for some movement.  Their WASL scores for 3rd grade are actually really good, but by 5th grade, things look pretty bad.  I have no idea why that is.

I guess it would depend on where else they're looking to buy.  Like is the worst Issaquah school better than some Renton schools, yes.  But there are Renton schools that are really good, too. 

Seattle_JiLLn

They're looking all over, but they have that one, one in Bellevue up the hill up the Lakemont exit - dont' know what district that would be - and then one in Wedgewood in Seattle that are all on their high lists right now.    They've just started looking, but their own house has already sold, so they have to go pretty fast.

I also wonder - in 5 years, will things change so much that it sort of doesn't matter now?  Like I know by me they're building a new elementary school, so it's all in flux up here.