Original Research by School Decision on Nikola Tesla Stem High School
Nickola Tesla STEM High School is a selective-admission alternative school in the Lake Washington School District, serving grades nine through twelve from its campus in Redmond, Washington. It shares a name and a STEM-oriented identity with the inventor, and the school's model is one of focused academic intensity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The enrollment is small for a comprehensive high school, and the student body is drawn from across the district through an application process.
Academically, the school posts results that place it among the state's highest-performing public high schools. On the Washington state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, nearly all students met the proficiency bar in English language arts and in science, and the vast majority did so in mathematics. The single year of reported data shows no trend, but the level of achievement is consistent with a school that selects for strong prior preparation and provides a challenging curriculum aligned to those strengths. The school likely offers Advanced Placement courses, though specific program data was not available in the material reviewed. A parent considering this school should expect a demanding academic environment geared toward college preparation, particularly in STEM fields.
Demographically, the student body is predominantly Asian, with a smaller share of White students and modest numbers of students who identify as two or more races or as Hispanic. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting a student population drawn from families with above-average economic resources. The enrolled students are roughly evenly distributed across the four grade levels, suggesting stable retention through high school. Data on students with disabilities and on English learners was not reported; a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures for those populations.
Redmond, where the school sits, is a major technology hub — best known as the home of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. The city has experienced rapid growth over the past several decades, with ongoing development including new corporate campuses and light rail connections to Bellevue and Seattle that opened in 2024 and 2025. Housing values are high, and the area draws a professional workforce. The city has two urban centers, downtown Redmond and the Overlake neighborhood, with schools distributed across residential neighborhoods rather than concentrated in one civic district. Nikola Tesla STEM High School is located on the east side of the city.
The Lake Washington School District has not seen any major recent referendums, curriculum changes, or property tax shifts that surfaced in publicly available information at the time of this review. A reader looking for such details may want to check the district's website directly.
A few gaps in the data are worth noting. A four-year graduation rate was not reported for this school in the material examined. Given the small enrollment and the selective nature of the school, such a figure would help a family gauge completion rates. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline incidents, and course access offerings was also absent. Some of these gaps may reflect that the school's status as an alternative school means it is not always included in the same reporting frameworks as comprehensive high schools.
For a family seeking a high-intensity STEM pathway with a strong record of academic achievement, Nikola Tesla STEM High School is a match. The peer group is academically oriented, the setting is a dynamic tech-centered city, and the school's small size allows for a focused experience. A family should confirm the application timeline and what support the school provides for students who may need additional help in advanced coursework, since the data on special populations is not present. This is a school that works best for students who are already thriving in math and science and who want to accelerate further in those fields.
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