Original Research by School Decision on Ready Start Preschool
Ready Start Preschool is a public preschool program serving only prekindergarten students in Redmond, Washington, as part of the Lake Washington School District. Because it serves a single grade prior to kindergarten, most of the data points used to evaluate K-12 schools do not apply. There are no state testing results for this campus because prekindergarten is not a tested grade band. There is no graduation rate for the same reason. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access was available.
The enrollment figures reported are effectively zero, which is likely a data-reporting artifact or a reflection of the school's status rather than a sign of an inactive program. The demographic breakdown shows counts of zero across all race and ethnicity categories. Information on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education identification, and English learner status was not reported. Because a prekindergarten site often serves as a placement or referral-based program rather than a general enrollment school, these gaps may reflect the nature of the setting rather than a shortcoming. A parent interested in the program would want to confirm directly with the district how enrollment works, what the application process is, and what the actual student body looks like.
Redmond is a major technology hub best known for hosting the headquarters of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. The city has two distinct urban centers: the downtown area just north of Lake Sammamish and the Overlake neighborhood to the southwest, where the Microsoft campus sits. Residential neighborhoods such as Education Hill form a ring around downtown. The Lake Washington School District covers Redmond and surrounding communities. As a fast-growing city, Redmond has seen significant development, including new light rail service via Sound Transit's 2 Line, which reached Overlake in 2024 and downtown Redmond in 2025. The housing market reflects this growth: home values and rents are high. The median value of owner-occupied housing is well above national benchmarks, and rents are substantial, meaning families moving into the area for the preschool program should expect a competitive and expensive housing market. The city has a substantial renter population and a high share of workers commuting in from outside.
Academically, this campus does not produce the standard metrics one would use to compare schools. The Lake Washington School District has not publicly reported any recent major changes such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or boundary adjustments that would affect the preschool program, though a parent may want to ask the district directly about any upcoming plans.
For a parent considering Ready Start Preschool, the key question is not about test scores or graduation rates, which are absent by design. It is about what the program offers, how a child qualifies, and what the transition into kindergarten looks like within the district. The school's role appears to be a targeted early learning placement rather than a comprehensive elementary school. Families who value the technology-rich, amenity-filled environment of Redmond and its strong school district may find this a worthwhile option if the program fits their child's needs, but the information publicly available does not allow for a full picture of the classroom experience.
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