Portrait of a Graduate
Preparing Students for Life Beyond High School
The Issaquah School District recently developed a Portrait of a Graduate, a shared vision that helps define the most important skills, mindsets and qualities all students should have when they graduate. This work goes beyond grades and test scores, reflecting the idea that students need durable skills like collaboration, communication, problem-solving, creativity and empathy to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The Portrait of a Graduate will:
- Align district goals around a common definition of success
- Ensure students build and strengthen skills through teaching and learning experiences
- Provide a skills-based framework integrated across elementary, middle and high school.
- Help students prepare for college, careers and life
- Support and inform our next strategic plan
The Portrait of a Graduate was developed with significant community voice and collaboration. As ISD moves into implementation, ongoing feedback will help ensure the Portrait continues to reflect the needs and aspirations of our students and community.
Skill Areas
Agency to Learn
Graduates demonstrate passion, persistence, growth mindset, executive functioning and resiliency in their learning to adapt to changes and prioritize wellness.
Critical Thinking
Graduates show inquiry, creativity and systems thinking to solve complex problems and develop new opportunities to better the world.
Effective Communication
Graduates communicate with purpose across different audiences and modalities to foster discourse and human connection.
Collaboration & Influence
Graduates participate on teams in different roles, cultivate effective teams and build inclusive social networks to accomplish shared goals.
Interpreting Information & Data
Graduates gather, analyze and synthesize various types of data, leveraging emerging technology to maintain integrity in the context and use of information.
Hear more on our podcast!
Download: Portrait of a Graduate
