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Apply for Fall 2025

Applications open January 13 and close March 14 for admission to the 2025-26 school year. Gibson Ek is the Issaquah School District's only choice public high school. Enrollment is open to any eighth-grader living in the district interested in a small school and a project-based academic model centered on design thinking, internships and community impact. Read more and apply on our Enrollment page.

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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All eighth-graders and their families are invited to learn more about Gibson Ek and apply online to join the Class of 2029 cohort. Applications are open through March 14, and the admission lottery will take place on March 17.  

Learn more on our Enrollment page. And, join us for our virtual information sessions and our in-person open house to help decide if Gibson Ek High School is for you.  

  • Virtual Information Sessions
    • Tuesday, Jan. 21: Gibson Ek Overview
    • Wednesday, Jan. 22: Student Panel Q&A
    • Thursday, Jan. 23: Parent Panel Q&A
  • Feb. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.: In-Person Open House: Tour the school, view sample projects, meet Gibson Ek staff and students.
  • Mar. 14: Applications close at midnight

 

All eighth-graders and their families are invited to learn more about Gibson Ek and apply online to join the Class of 2029 cohort. Applications are open through March 14, and the admission lottery will take place on March 17.  

Learn more on our Enrollment page. And, join us for our virtual information sessions and our in-person open house to help decide if Gibson Ek High School is for you.  

  • Virtual Information Sessions
    • Tuesday, Jan. 21: Gibson Ek Overview
    • Wednesday, Jan. 22: Student Panel Q&A
    • Thursday, Jan. 23: Parent Panel Q&A
  • Feb. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.: In-Person Open House: Tour the school, view sample projects, meet Gibson Ek staff and students.
  • Mar. 14: Applications close at midnight

 

All eighth-graders and their families are invited to learn more about Gibson Ek and apply online to join the Class of 2029 cohort. Applications are open through March 14, and the admission lottery will take place on March 17.  

Learn more on our Enrollment page. And, join us for our virtual information sessions and our in-person open house to help decide if Gibson Ek High School is for you.  

  • Virtual Information Sessions
    • Tuesday, Jan. 21: Gibson Ek Overview
    • Wednesday, Jan. 22: Student Panel Q&A
    • Thursday, Jan. 23: Parent Panel Q&A
  • Feb. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.: In-Person Open House: Tour the school, view sample projects, meet Gibson Ek staff and students.
  • Mar. 14: Applications close at midnight

 

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Hybrid - Board Room and Zoom

This is a hybrid town hall meeting, offering in-person or virtual options.

  • In person at the Issaquah School District Administration Center: 5150 220th Ave. SE, Issaquah, WA 98029

 

Happening Now at Gibson Ek

News Panel

Student stands in front of trees
Gibson Ek Student’s Botanical Art Featured on Hatchery Signage

Visitors to the Issaquah salmon hatchery may be amazed to learn that the detailed botanical drawings on the new native plant garden signs were illustrated not by a professional artist, but by a Gibson Ek high school student. 

Rising senior Wren Larson spent the end of ninth grade and part of 10th making 47 drawings of native plants during his internship with Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. The finished signs were just installed this year. 

  • Featured Story
Read More about Gibson Ek Student’s Botanical Art Featured on Hatchery Signage

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Announcements Panel

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.

Read More

 
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