New High School: Construction Expected to Start in Spring

During the September 25 School Board meeting, directors had the opportunity to review some renderings of what the interior of the New High School is anticipated to look like, and heard that the timeline for the project is still on target to begin construction in the next six months.

As we shared in the FOCUS print newsletter last spring, the district is moving forward with a plan to build a smaller, cost-effective portion of the original New High School design. The project will use approximately $146 million in available funds from past voter-approved measures in 2016 and 2022, as well as other sources such as state School Assistance Program funds and interest earnings. Construction is expected to begin in March 2026, and the school is expected to be ready for students in the fall of 2027.

The district plans to use a community engagement process to help shape academic programs and offerings for the new school. Community input will continue to play a key role in shaping the vision for this campus and the students it will serve.

How We Got Here

In 2016, voters approved a bond to purchase land for a fourth comprehensive high school. Legal challenges and land-use appeals delayed the project for years, during which time the cost to build a new high school rose significantly. By the time the district acquired the property in 2020, projected costs had grown from $120 million to nearly $200 million. The district attempted to pass bonds in 2024 and 2025 to fund and offset rising project costs that now reached $292 million. Both measures fell short of the 60 percent supermajority required by state law.

A Plan with Future Flexibility

The district is using available funds to build a smaller high school that will reduce current and projected overcrowding. This scaled-down project still meets previously approved land-use and permit requirements approved by the City of Issaquah. District staff proposed a construction plan that will help relieve overcrowding at Issaquah and Skyline high schools, while keeping future expansion options open.

The current design includes:

• A 79,000-square-foot west wing with 25 classrooms
• Capacity for about 650-700 students
• A reduced parking garage and multi-purpose athletic field with lights and a track
• Road improvements along 228th Avenue Southeast and internal roads
• Existing buffers, utilities and stormwater systems preserved
• Continued accommodations for the neighboring Providence Point community

The Issaquah School Board approved this plan in April 2025. Board members emphasized that the school should reflect the evolving needs of students and the workforce, with flexible learning spaces and opportunities to serve students and families into the future. The field and school facilities will also be available for community use by the cities of Issaquah, Sammamish and nearby municipalities.

Here are some of the renderings of what interior spaces may look like in the New High School:

An architect's rendering of one view of the library at the New High School.

An architect's rendering of the commons of the New High School, looking west.

 

An architect's rendering of what one of the flexible spaces on the second floor of the New High School may look like.