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Join Waitlist for Fall 2025

Applications closed March 14 for admission to the 2025-26 school year, but eighth-graders who missed the deadline may join the waitlist. Gibson Ek is an innovative choice public high school open to students living in the Issaquah School District interested in a student-driven, project-based educational model.

Learn how to join the waitlist on our Enrollment page.

Graduates smile together
Find Senior Info

Gibson Ek’s graduation is scheduled for 5 p.m., Friday, June 13 at Issaquah High School.

Learn all about other Class of 2025 events, requirements and deadlines on our Seniors page.

Student shows project with dungeons and dragons figures on table
Design Thinking

Our complex and dynamic world needs people who can take initiative, think critically, persevere through failures, and collaborate in diverse communities. For this reason, we use Stanford University’s “design thinking” model as a framework for student projects.

Gibson Ek High School
Welcome to Gibson Ek High School!

Located in Issaquah, WA, Gibson Ek is a choice high school offering an innovative educational model for students looking for a more personalized, authentic, project-based approach to learning.

Read more about our school

Upcoming Events

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Last Day of School for Students: Half Day High and Middle Schools, Full Day Elementary

*Note: On April 24, the district announced that it had just received the waiver from the state. Here is that announcement:

 

The state has approved Issaquah School District’s request to waive the school day on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This waiver was requested due to weather-related closures earlier in the school year. As a result, the last day of school for all students will be Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The schedule for June 24 remains the same — elementary schools will attend a full day, and secondary schools will follow a half-day schedule. Students will not attend school on June 25.

The district applied for this waiver under the state’s Emergency School Closure Waiver program, which allows missed days to be waived if certain conditions are met. These include making up at least three missed days, demonstrating reasonable efforts to recover all lost instructional time, and ensuring the district meets the state’s required annual instructional hours.

The web-based calendar will be updated today; the PDF version of the calendar will be updated as soon as possible.

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Hybrid - Board Room and Zoom

The School Board will hold a special meeting on June 26, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The meeting will be called to order at 5:00 PM and the Board will immediately go into Executive Session, expected to last 1 hour. The Board will then call the meeting back to order to adjourn at 6:00 PM.

The Issaquah School Board, Superintendent Tow-Yick, members of the ISD Administration, and legal counsel will be present to discuss litigation or potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). This session will be held in person at the Administration Center (5150 220th Ave. SE, Issaquah, WA 98029) and a Zoom option will be provided. This session is expected to last 1 hour and end at 6:00 PM.

Executive Sessions are not open to the public and no action will be taken.

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Administration Building, 5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah, WA

The agenda and meeting details will be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Please note the agenda and materials may be modified up to 24 hours prior to the meeting; after that time, any agenda modifications will be addressed at the meeting.

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Zoom

The agenda and meeting details will be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Please note the agenda and materials may be modified up to 24 hours prior to the meeting; after that time, any agenda modifications will be addressed at the meeting.

 

NOTE-

This meeting was originally scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, but was moved to 9:00 AM and will take place over Zoom to accommodate School Board Directors' schedules. This change was approved by the Board at the April 10, 2025 regular board meeting.

Happening Now at Gibson Ek

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By the Numbers

182

Students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year.

Our small student body in grades 9-12 reflects a wide diversity of goals, from college to entrepreneurship to careers in a trade or the arts.

500+

Mentors

Hundreds of working professionals have volunteered to mentor our students through on-site internships and remote career-related projects.

20

Competency Areas

With no traditional classes or grades, students learn through self-directed projects, incorporating competencies in reading, writing, science, social studies and math.

8

Innovation Spaces

“Exploration time” allows students to dive hands-on into 3-D printing, visual arts, science, woodworking, music and audio recording, cooking, digital media, gardening, & more.

Image shows the building of Gibson Ek High School

School Highlights & Programs

Gibson Ek students commit to a personal vision through authentic new learning that empowers them to contribute their knowledge and skills to meaningfully influence the school and community.

Gibson Ek High School Principal Tonja Reischl

Meet Principal Tonja Reischl!

Hi, Gibson Ek families! I am excited for all of the ways our students will push their creativity and get involved in community initiatives to tackle big challenges. I'm inspired by the many community-builders who are working to make communities healthy, accessible and vibrant – and that list of community-builders includes our students! A few fun facts about me: I love anything outdoors, such as cross country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddleboarding, etc. I also enjoy learning about the outdoor ecosystems, including all of the creative ways people are restoring them, solving big problems, and ensuring access and accessibility for everyone.

Lathe

Project-Based Model

Gibson Ek High School is a choice school open to any Issaquah School District student looking for a more independent, project-based approach to learning. With no traditional classes or grades, Gibson Ek students learn through self-directed projects, using the design thinking process to guide their work. Projects incorporate reading, writing, science, social studies and math along the way. Certificated teachers guide and assess students as they work independently. As a Big Picture school, we develop students to live lives of their own design, supported by caring mentors and equitable opportunities to achieve their greatest potential. Students graduate from Gibson Ek with the skills, knowledge and qualities necessary to be activists in their world.

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Learning Through Internship

Learning Through Internship

Gibson Ek High School students learn from working professionals whose careers match the students’ interests. Mentors have the opportunity to teach a student about the job, coach soft skills, and make a lifelong impact on a teen. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Gibson Ek students are mentored by adult professionals, either in-person at a workplace or remotely while the student completes a project from home. Well over 100 volunteers mentor our students, from local shop owners to professionals across the country and the world.

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