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Students talk about projects together
Join Waitlist for Fall 2024

Applications closed March 14 for admission to the 2024-25 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 2024 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

Select your calendar...

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Admin - Boardroom

Board Directors Matt Coyne and A.J. Taylor will present an overview of policy governance and the role of the school board; time commitments and what it is like to serve on the ISD board; and information on how to run in the upcoming election. 

Questions?

More information about the November 2025 School Board Election is online.

Please email Emily Lee, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent at LeeE2@issaquah.wednet.edu or call 425-837-7002.

 

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Bellevue, WA

Issaquah School Board

Notice of School Board Assembly

Members of the Issaquah School Board plan to attend the WSSDA District Area 2 North Regional Meeting - Bellevue on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at Puesta Del Sol Elementary School in Bellevue, Washington. 

No action will be taken during this assembly.

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Issaquah Community Center

Issaquah Schools Foundation - Nourish Every Mind Student Showcase

Notice of School Board Assembly

 

Three or more members of the Issaquah School Board plan to attend the Issaquah Schools Foundation – Nourish Every Mind Student Showcase on Thursday, May 1, 2025 to be held from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at the Issaquah Community Center (301 Rainier Boulevard South, Issaquah, WA 98027).

No Board action will be taken during this assembly. Any actions resulting from this assembly will be taken during a future board meeting.

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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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Issaquah Middle School Library

The members of the School Board are hosting a town hall open to everyone in the district. You are invited to share your thoughts.

The town hall is from 5:30 - 7:00 PM on Monday, May 12, 2025 in the library at Issaquah Middle School.

If you are unable to attend the town hall but have an opinion that you would like to share, please submit written comments to the Board at SchoolBoard@issaquah.wednet.edu.

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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