District overview
Issaquah School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Issaquah adjusting to lower enrollment while opening a new high school?
Issaquah adopted a $415 million general-fund operating budget for 2026-27, down from $417 million the prior year. Officials described a loss of about 3,000 students since the pandemic, rising operating costs, and state-funding gaps while the district continues construction and program planning for a new high school expected to open in fall 2027.
Local levy revenue is material
The budget hearing said the educational programs and operations levy supplies about 17% of the general fund, or more than $70 million.
The district is right-sizing
Budget presentations tied staffing and operational adjustments to uneven enrollment declines, with elementary enrollment under greater pressure than high school enrollment.
State formulas leave identified gaps
Officials estimated a $19.4 million 2024-25 gap across special education, materials and operating costs, and transportation, and expected the finalized 2025-26 gap to increase.
New-high-school work is advancing
On August 27 the Board approved educational specifications, a racial-imbalance certification, and a $347,144.59 construction change order.
The district’s overall enrollment decline does not fall evenly across grade levels. Board members and administrators cautioned that staffing and facilities cannot be reduced in direct proportion to a single districtwide percentage.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Enrollment and budget right-sizing
in_progressThe district reduced its general-fund plan while monitoring uneven enrollment decline, staffing, fund balance, and state-funding gaps.
- Board reviewed projected enrollment decline and budget pressure
- Board held the budget hearing
- Board adopted Resolution 1270
Funding
State apportionment, local EP&O levy, fees, federal aid, and fund balance
New High School
in_progressThe choice high school is planned around engineering, robotics and entrepreneurship, with a health-sciences pilot; construction and operating planning continue toward fall 2027.
- Board reviewed program and project planning
- Board approved educational specifications, racial-balance certification, and a construction change order
Funding
Capital bond proceeds and capital-program resources
Student cellphone implementation review
in_progressThe Board received an implementation update in June and requested future discussion of how the district’s newer cellphone rules are working after a year.
- Board received a students and telecommunication devices update
Funding
District operations
Recent news
Eighty stored official Issaquah School District agendas, minutes, meeting pages, and official recordings were reviewed across 40 meeting groups from January 15 through September 10, 2026.
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We read every agenda, packet, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
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