School Profile
Principal:
Erin Connolly
Assistant Principals:
Will Buker
Leah Hernandez
Kelly Kraft
Peter Smyth
Sydney Swenson Fee
Counseling Secretary:
Maureen Lipsen
ISSAQUAH HIGH SCHOOL
700 2nd Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
CEEB School Code: 480-500
Issaquah High School Website
Issaquah School District Website
2024-2025 School Profile
Counselors:
Hilde Tzemos (A-Chen)Emily Combellick (Cheo-Gal)
Rachel Auffant (Gam-J)
Maegan Pedersen (K-Mb)
Melanie Bonanno (Mc-P)
Nadine Leach (Q-St)
Steven Park (Su-Z)
Phone: 425-837-6140
Fax: 425-837-6166
IHS Staff
In 2024-25, IHS staff includes 140 certificated and 71 classified staff. Of the certificated staff, over half have Master’s Degrees. Classified staff members, including office professionals, para-professionals, custodians, food service workers, Career Specialists and nurses, work collaboratively with teachers and admin to provide student support services.
Mission
Issaquah High School prepares students to fly when they leave the nest by inspiring students to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners who positively impact the world and community in which they live.
School and Community
As one of three comprehensive high schools in the Issaquah School District, Issaquah High School (IHS) takes great pride in continuing a 100+ year tradition of excellence in academic and co-curricular programs. IHS serves over 2460 students in 9th through 12th grade.
- The school community is characterized by enthusiasm, spirit, passion, and humanity. Students, parents, and staff share an active partnership in the educational mission. The school is a green campus, has over 60 clubs and student groups, a strong music and theater program, excellent vocational and technical education opportunities and a long history of athletic excellence in the 4A KingCo League.
- IHS offers a variety of student programs for academic challenges and opportunities to earn college level credit including:
- Advanced Placement (AP) program
- CTE Dual Credit - articulated programs between Issaquah School District courses and Associate Degree Programs.
- College in the High School - articulated programs between Issaquah School District courses and Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
- Running Start - dual enrollment college program which awards both high school and college credits.
- Washington Network for Innovative Careers (WANIC) - seven school districts with branch campuses that host programs for students.
Curriculum Updates: 2025–26 Academic Year
IHS has implemented significant updates to its mathematics curriculum. The former CC Algebra 2 course has been reclassified as Advanced Algebra 2. New courses include Advanced Geometry, AP Precalculus, and Calculus 3/4 CHS—a college-level course for students who have completed AP Calculus BC.
Expanded offerings include new courses across disciplines that highlight a commitment to curricular diversity: AP Music Theory, Spanish 4 CHS, Business Law 2, and AP African American Studies.
Student Achievement 2024-2025
- 34 National Merit Commended Scholars
- 7 National Merit Finalists
- 8 National Merit Semifinalists
AP testing stats:
- 982 students tested
- 2306 exams taken
- 33 subject areas represented
- 94% of exams scored 3 or higher
- 77% of exams scored 4 or higher
- 42% of exams scored 5
- 125 AP Scholars
- 94 AP Scholars with Honor
- 284 AP Scholars with Distinction
During the 2024-25 academic year, over half of Issaquah High School’s student body participated in athletic programs, with 16 of 20 teams advancing to state-level competitions and numerous athletes earning individual state championships. The Boys Swim & Dive team secured its first-ever state championship, while student-athletes collectively set 21 school records and multiple state records. Additionally, 36 athletes signed letters of intent to pursue collegiate athletics.
IHS Sports Medicine has won the State and National Title 12 times, with 15 students named HS All Americans last year, including the individual National Champion.
Issaquah DECA grew to over 450 members, sent a record 70 students to the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, FL, and had 13 finalists, including a World Championship-winning team.
The Issaquah Robotics Society competed in 3 regular season events, qualified for District Championships, advanced to the FIRST Robotics World Championships finals in Houston, and earned awards for autonomous programming and other achievements.
IHS is home to Evergreen Philharmonic, the only multi-school full symphony orchestra in the country.
Class of 2024 Graduation Requirements
Issaquah High School operates on a Carnegie Credit/Unit system with two semesters, each lasting 18 weeks, and earning one credit unit for each full-year subject passed or one-half credit unit for each semester-length course passed. Classes meet 300 minutes per week for a 18 week semester. Students must earn 24 credits for graduation. Please visit the counseling website and online course guide for detailed information about each graduating class’ individual requirements.
| Language Arts | 4.0 credits |
| World History | 1.5 credits |
| Civics | 0.5 credit |
| U.S. History | 1.0 credit |
| Mathematics | 3.0 credits |
| Science | 3.0 credits |
| Health | 0.5 credit |
| Physical Education | 1.5 credits |
| Fine/Applied Arts | 1.0 credit |
| Career and Technical Ed | 1.0 credit |
| World Language | 2.0 credits |
| Electives | 5.0 credits |
| 24.0 credits |
Graduates
Issaquah High Class of 2025 indicated the following post high school plans.
| Four year college | 81% |
| Two year college | 9% |
| Apprenticeship/Military/Other | 10% |
Mean SAT and Average ACT scores - 2025
| IHS | National | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT ERW | 650 | 519 |
| SAT Math | 662 | 505 |
| ACT Composite | 29.8 | 19.4 |
Grade Point Average is computed using semester grades for all classes starting in 9th grade. NC (Noncredit), S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), and P (Pass) marks are excluded from calculation of GPA.
| Marking System |
Point Value |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Class of 2025 |
||
|---|---|---|
| GPA | Total | % of class |
| 4.0 | 12 | 2 |
| 3.5-3.99 | 239 | 42 |
| 3.0-3.49 | 145 | 25 |
| 2.5-2.99 | 80 | 14 |
| 2.0-2.49 | 45 | 8 |
| 1.99 & below | 52 | 9 |
| Total | 573 | 100% |
Advanced Placement Courses
AP 2D Draw and Design
AP Biology
AP Calculus (AB)
AP Calculus (BC)
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Drawing & AP 2D Art and Design
AP Economics (Micro & Macro)
AP English Language & Composition
AP English Literature & Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP French 4 Language
AP Human Geography
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Psychology
AP Spanish Language
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government & Politics
AP U.S. History
Accelerated, Advanced and Honors Courses
Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry
Advanced Art
Advanced Computer Science Topics
Advanced Sales and Marketing
Advanced Spanish Conversation & Culture
Advanced Sports Medicine
Biomedical Science & Physiology
Chamber Orchestra
Concert Chorale
Evergreen Philharmonic
French 3 CHS (UW Option)
Honors Literary Analysis & Composition 1
Honors Literary Analysis & Composition 2
Honors Spanish 2
Honors Spanish 3 (UW Option)
Honors World History 1 & 2
Japanese 3 & 4 CHS (Cascadia CC Option)
Jazz Band
Leadership for ASB Officers
Percussion Ensemble
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Wind Ensemble
Career & Technical – Focused Course Offerings
Accounting
American Sign Language 1-3
Applied Algebra 2
Business Law 1
Child Development
Cybersecurity
Fashion Design & Merchandising 1
Food Science
Future Ready
Graphic Design 1, 2
Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to Computer Science Python
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Introduction to Engineering Design
Introduction to Sports Medicine
Journalism 1-3
Material Science
Personal Finance
Photography 1-3
Sales & Marketing 1-3
Science of Forensics
Sustainable Design and Technology
Technical Theatre Performance & Production
TV/Video Production 1-3
Video Game Design with Unity and C#
Website Design
Woods Technology 1-2
Yearbook 1-3
Academic Honors
Issaquah High School realizes that equity among all students is a necessary practice that needs to be emphasized more. We no longer rank students within the Issaquah School District in hopes we can demonstrate to students and families that we support the holistic view of students and encourage them to fulfill a variety of personal and academic areas for growth.