Issaquah High School

Issaquah High School is a four-year public secondary school in Issaquah, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle. Also known as Issaquah Senior High School or IHS, it is one of three high schools in the Issaquah School District and serves students in grades 9–12 from the central portion of the district. Issaquah High serves Issaquah, Sammamish, and Bellevue.

History

Founded in 1901, Issaquah was the only high school in the school district until Liberty High School opened in 1977. Previously located near the Issaquah Middle School campus, IHS moved to its present site in southeast Issaquah in 1962. Growth of enrollment at IHS has coincided with the growth of the Issaquah community. The Issaquah School District completed the construction of the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus in 2005, making it the new home to the freshman class of IHS and nearby Skyline High School. IHS enrolled only three grades (10-12) for five academic years (2005–10), while an extensive remodeling of the school took place. As of this year, the remodeling is complete.^[3] The cost of the remodel totaling $61,500,000, it is now the District's largest school. The three stories accommodate 1,850 students. There are three classroom wings, science labs, a main and auxiliary gym, commons, and administrative spaces.^[4]

Mascot controversy

In 2003, the school changed its mascot from "Indians" to "Eagles". The change came after The Church Council of Greater Seattle adopted a resolution calling for an end to all Native American imagery in school mascots in 2002.^[5][6]

Athletics

Issaquah High School competed in the largest school classification (AAA) in athletics through the 1996-97 school year, when new WIAA classifications were introduced: 3A and 4A.^[7] With the opening of Skyline High School in 1997, IHS lost a significant amount of its enrollment and competed in Class 3A through the 2007-08 academic year. With continued growth, Issaquah moved up to 4A, the largest school classification, for 2008-09, and is a member of the Kingco 4A conference. In 2014, the IHS Golf team led by Tommy Bakamus, won kingco and districts. The team went on to win 2nd in state and Zack Overstreet won 1st place in state.

The IHS baseball team won its first state championship in 2000. Issaquah won the state title again in 2004 and 2007.

In November 2007, the girls' soccer team won the state championship. The girls' soccer team also won the state championship in 2004,^[8] 2006^[9] and 2007.^[9]

The IHS girls' gymnastics team entered the 2002 state championship meet as the lowest-seeded team, but ultimately won the state title.^[10][11]

In 2008, Issaquah's lacrosse club, nicknamed "ILC", won the D1 WHSBLA state championships by defeating Bainbridge Island 11-8. They also won it again in 2009.

The 07-08 IHS drill team took first place for pom at the WIAA Drill/Dance State Competition.

The 14-15 girl's track and field team took first place in KingCo, District, and the state championships, as well as going undefeated during the season meets and invitationals.

The 15-16 girls's soccer team won the 4A State Championships 2-1 over West Valley. This was their first state championship in 4A since 2007, when they were a 3A school.^[12]

Demographics

Black 1.7%; Asian 18.4%; American Indian/Alaska Native 0.2%; Hispanic 6.8%; Pacific Islander 0.1%; Multiracial 4.9%; White 67.1%;^[2]

Academics

Issaquah High offers the Advanced Placement program, with more than 16 college-level courses.In 2013, IHS had 11 National Merit Finalists and 24 National Merit Commended Scholars.More than 90% of IHS students earned a 3 or better in AP exams. IHS is home to the only multi-school full symphony orchestra in the country. The Advanced Sports Med Class placed 1st at National Competition and were the WCTSMA Team State Champions.^[13]

Community

ASB sponsored a “Munch Madness Food Drive” collecting over 25,000 non-perishable items for the Issaquah Food Bank. IHS Varsity athletes launched “Project Unify”, a basketball program pairing Special Olympians with Varsity athletes to train and play in a basketball competition. The Multi-Cultural Club sponsored Multi-Cultural Night honoring and celebrating cultures from all around the world for the Issaquah community.^[13]

Staff

In 2013-14 IHS staff includes 103 certified and 44 classified staff. Of the certificated staff, over half have master's degrees.^[13]

Notable alumni

• Isaac Brock - lead singer of Modest Mouse
• Colin Curtis - Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees.
• Kate Deines - Women's Professional Soccer players for the Seattle Sounders Women.
• Brian Yorkey - Tony Award winning book writer and lyricist of Broadway show "Next to Normal".
• Jennie Reed - World and U.S. national champion track cyclist and Olympian^[14]

References

External links

• Official website
• Issaquah School District: Issaquah High School
• Office of the WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Issaquah High School