International School, Bellevue WA

Original Research by School Decision on International School

International School is an alternative school serving grades six through twelve in Bellevue, Washington, within the Bellevue School District. Its classification as an alternative school signals a distinct academic model, and the data available reflects a focused, high-performing environment. The school enrolls a student body that is relatively small for its grade band, and its composition is notably diverse: a substantial share of students are Asian, with White students making up the next largest group, followed by small shares of two or more races, Hispanic, and Black students. A very modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a distinctly low-poverty context. The school does not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners in the available data, so a parent would want to inquire directly about those services.

Academically, the picture is strong. On the state's Smarter Balanced assessments, International School posted proficiency rates that are high across every tested grade and subject. The math proficiency rates for each grade level from sixth through eighth are well above state norms, and the English language arts rates are similarly elevated. The eighth-grade science assessment results are even stronger. When combined across all subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in King County. This is a school where a large majority of students are meeting or exceeding state standards. Because the school serves only through twelfth grade, the data includes high school grades, but no graduation rate appears in the available records. That gap is not unusual for an alternative school, which may have a non-traditional graduation timeline or serve students on varied pathways, but a parent should confirm the school’s graduation and postsecondary outcomes directly.

The school sits in Bellevue, a city that blends a high-rise downtown core with suburban neighborhoods. Tech companies are the dominant employers, and the housing market is among the most expensive in the region. Home values are very high, and rents are similarly steep. The city has experienced rapid growth, particularly in downtown and the BelRed corridor, with new office towers and residential high-rises rising around light rail stations. For a family considering this school, the housing context is a major factor: living within commuting distance of Bellevue’s tech employment centers often comes with a premium price tag. The city itself offers extensive parks, trails, and commercial amenities, and the downtown area is walkable, but most neighborhoods remain car-oriented.

International School’s student body is academically driven, as reflected in the consistently high test scores. The school’s alternative designation may mean a smaller, more tightly knit academic community than a traditional comprehensive high school, though the data does not specify the exact program focus. Parents looking for a school where strong academic performance is the norm and where the peer group is similarly oriented will find a match here. Those concerned about diversity of economic background may note the low share of students from lower-income households. The lack of detailed data on special education and English learner services means a proactive conversation with the school is advisable for any family with those needs.

In short, this is a high-performing, selective-feel school in an expensive, economically vibrant city, and it serves a student body that, by the available measures, is achieving at an exceptionally high level.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 688%

School 88% · District 36% · ▲ 52 pts above district

▲ 51 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 782%

School 82% · District 73% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 44 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 879%

School 79% · District 65% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 687%

School 87% · District 36% · ▲ 51 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 786%

School 86% · District 64% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 889%

School 89% · District 72% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Science

Grade 891%

School 91% · District 68% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 49 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

This schoolBellevue School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 7Lower-income67%Higher-income89%22 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income58%Higher-income85%27 pp gap