International School is a 6th–12th school in the Bellevue School District. The school follows a seven by seven curriculum wherein students pursue studies in seven core academic areas for all seven years of attendance. The seven core subjects are: English, Science, Math, Social Studies, Physical Education, Fine Arts, and French.
Admission
Admission to IS is based on a lottery system. Bellevue-area applicants enter a lottery as fifth graders. Siblings of students already enrolled get priority, and then names are drawn from the general pool for the remaining spots. International School is not affiliated with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, and if students want to participate in high school sports, they can do so at their "home school".
History
International School was founded in 1991 by Bellevue teachers. It was funded with a competitive $300,000 grant from the "Schools for the 21st Century" Commission. International School opened with 150 sixth and seventh graders in the fall of 1991, housed in an old elementary school. Later, the school was moved to its current location in an unused junior high.
All students at IS are required to take seven years of French. In the past, German was offered, but due to budget and personnel issues, German was gradually phased out from 2009 to 2014. Historically, about two-thirds of incoming students had taken French and one-third had participated in the German Language Program. Both programs had co-existed successfully since the founding of the International School, Each year, students at the school put their language skills to use during the optional two-week French exchange with the Saint-Stanislas school in Nantes, available to 10th graders and up. In addition to the language programs, IS has a long-standing partnership with the Amity Institute which places native French speakers with an undergraduate degree and a career goal in education in the school as French language teaching assistants.
Achievements
The International School has been ranked 9th in the nation on Newsweek Magazine's list of the best high schools, and currently is first. International School was also selected as a Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Education. Bellevue's International School has received a top grade in U.S. News & World Report Gold Medal Schools list. The weekly American news magazine ranked high schools nationwide based on college readiness and quality-adjusted exams per test taker. The International School is ranked as the 18th best high school in the country.
Demographics
In the 2017–2018 school year, the total student enrollment for the high school section was 312. The racial demographics are: 0% African American, 44% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 12% Multiracial and 41% White. 26% of students speak another first language besides English. 5% receive special education services, and 4% are eligible for free/reduced price meals. In the 2017–2018 school year, the total student enrollment for the middle school section was 266. The racial demographics are: 1% African American, 43% Asian, 4% Hispanic, 9% Multiracial and 42% White. 29% of students speak another first language besides English. 5% receive special education services and 9% qualify for free/reduced price meals.
