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Fall 2026 Waitlist Open

Any student in grade 8 or 9 may join our waitlist until August 26. Don't delay; spots do sometimes open up for our nationally recognized choice high school. 

Visit our Enrollment page.

Gibson Ek High School
Welcome to Gibson Ek High School!

A nationally recognized choice option high school, Gibson Ek prepares students to take on real-world problems and achieve academic excellence through multi-disciplinary projects framed by Stanford’s Design Thinking Process.

Read more about our school

Students smile while presenting at design fair
Visit Design Fair

Mentors, families, & the community are invited to our annual, open Design Exhibition anytime between 9-11:50 a.m. on April 1. Each student demonstrates Design Thinking through a single project – displayed science-fair style – during one of three 50-minute sessions. Visitors walk through to ask questions and share feedback.

See our About Us page.

Graduate shakes principal's hand
The Countdown to Graduation Begins!

Seniors! Stay on track with graduation details, senior events, important deadlines and more. Gibson Ek’s graduation is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 12 at Issaquah High School. 

Visit the Senior Page

Upcoming Events

Select your calendar...

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ISD Administration Center, 5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah, WA 98029

Join the Special Services Team for Lens of Youth, Misunderstood Moments

April 8, 5:30-7 p.m. at the ISD Administration Building Boardroom

Misunderstood Moments is an awareness program by Lens of Youth. It collects real-life stories of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, each paired with original artwork by youth to help others understand, connect, and build compassion. Through public exhibitions and awareness events, participants experience these stories and artworks and are encouraged to make their commitment by signing the Pledge, fostering a community of kindness, inclusion, and understanding.

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Administration Building, 5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah, WA

Please note the agenda and materials may be modified up to 24 hours prior to the meeting; after that time, any agenda modifications will be addressed at the meeting.

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Want to help shape how our schools support multilingual families? Join the Language Access Advisory Committee! Our Focus: Accessibility, Accountability, Responsive culture, and Relationships.

Who can join the committee? Parents, community organization, students, teachers, district staff members, cultural advocates.

Semiannual Meetings:

  • Oct. 22, 2025: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
  • April 22, 2026: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

To apply click here: Application Link

For questions, contact:

Mayumi Johnson 

Language Access Coordinator

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If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of our previous ISD Online Virtual Open Houses, we are hosting two more on 3/24 (6:00 - 7:00 p.m.) and 4/23 (5:00 - 6:00 p.m.)!  Join us to find out more about ISD Online and how to apply!  Applications are open now through May 4.

During the event, we'll share more about our new virtual high school, which opens in the fall of 2026, including details about how our full-time school will offer flexibility, meaningful support from teachers and mentors, and a welcoming community that encourages students to learn, grow and find balance in their academic journey!  We will also go through the application process which is open now.

Those who attend will also have the chance to hear about our learning center; what our personalized, high-quality instruction will be like; how students can participate in extracurricular activities; and more. Students will have the chance to help us vote on a mascot for our new school, which will serve grades 9-12. 

Register for the virtual open house using this form.

You can also learn more about our new school on the ISD Online website.

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ACT Portables (Behind Gibson Ek High School)

The Academy of Community Transition (ACT) invites families of incoming students to join us on April 28 from 6-7 p.m. for “Incoming Family Night.” The event will be held onsite in our portables behind Gibson Ek High School.

Meet staff, connect with other families, tour the program space and get your questions answered about your student’s transition year.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the program and how to stay engaged in your student’s journey. We hope to see you there!

Learn more about the ACT program: Academy for Community Transition (ACT) - Issaquah School District 411

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Happening Now at Gibson Ek

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By the Numbers

182

Students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year.

Our small student body in grades 9-12 reflects a wide diversity of goals, from college to entrepreneurship to careers in a trade or the arts.

500+

Mentors

Hundreds of working professionals have volunteered to mentor our students through on-site internships and remote career-related projects.

20

Competency Areas

With no traditional classes or grades, students learn through self-directed projects, incorporating competencies in reading, writing, science, social studies and math.

8

Innovation Spaces

“Exploration time” allows students to dive hands-on into 3-D printing, visual arts, science, woodworking, music and audio recording, cooking, digital media, gardening, & more.

Image shows the building of Gibson Ek High School

School Highlights & Programs

Gibson Ek students commit to a personal vision through authentic new learning that empowers them to contribute their knowledge and skills to meaningfully influence the school and community.

Gibson Ek High School Principal Tonja Reischl

Meet Principal Tonja Reischl!

Hi, Gibson Ek families! I am excited for all of the ways our students will push their creativity and get involved in community initiatives to tackle big challenges. I'm inspired by the many community-builders who are working to make communities healthy, accessible and vibrant – and that list of community-builders includes our students! A few fun facts about me: I love anything outdoors, such as cross country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddleboarding, etc. I also enjoy learning about the outdoor ecosystems, including all of the creative ways people are restoring them, solving big problems, and ensuring access and accessibility for everyone.

Lathe

Project-Based Model

Gibson Ek High School is a choice school open to any Issaquah School District student looking for a more independent, project-based approach to learning. With no traditional classes or grades, Gibson Ek students learn through self-directed projects, using the design thinking process to guide their work. Projects incorporate reading, writing, science, social studies and math along the way. Certificated teachers guide and assess students as they work independently. As a Big Picture school, we develop students to live lives of their own design, supported by caring mentors and equitable opportunities to achieve their greatest potential. Students graduate from Gibson Ek with the skills, knowledge and qualities necessary to be activists in their world.

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Learning Through Internship

Learning Through Internship

Gibson Ek High School students learn from working professionals whose careers match the students’ interests. Mentors have the opportunity to teach a student about the job, coach soft skills, and make a lifelong impact on a teen. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Gibson Ek students are mentored by adult professionals, either in-person at a workplace or remotely while the student completes a project from home. Well over 100 volunteers mentor our students, from local shop owners to professionals across the country and the world.

Read More

 
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