Construction

Construction crew working on the roof at Audubon Elementary School

The district’s growing enrollment is evidence that LWSD attracts families to the area it serves in Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish, Washington. To serve that growing enrollment, the district is “Building Excellence.” That’s the district’s long-term plan to continue to build schools and to provide quality learning environments and experiences.

Current construction: 2022 Building Excellence Levy

In February 2022 voters approved this levy to fund school construction to make sure our students have room to learn in our fast-growing district. This levy provides funding to build critical classroom space across our district:

  • Add a new elementary school on underdeveloped land on Redmond Elementary campus, with up to 24 classrooms for about 550 students. 
  • Additions at Finn Hill, Kirkland and Redmond middle schools, providing capacity for 600 more students.  
  • Additional high school capacity for about 1,200 more students.
  • Acquisition of property for future schools.  

2019 Capital Construction Levy

In April 2019, voters approved a capital projects levy that provides:

  • Classroom space for 1,052 students by providing additions at five schools for a total of 44 new classrooms.
  • Expansion of commons and auxiliary gym space at Lake Washington High School (LWHS) and expansion of core facilities at the identified elementary schools where feasible.
  • Student safety and security enhancements including exterior security cameras at all elementary schools and remodeled entryways at Redmond, Eastlake and Lake Washington High Schools to implement entry control systems.

2016 Bond Projects

In April 2016, voters passed a bond measure to fund eight projects that provided space for 3,000 additional students.

Past projects

The 2011 capital projects levy added space for 1,100 high school students when the district went to four-year high schools in the fall of 2012. The district added classrooms and auxiliary spaces at two high schools and built one new choice high school. 

Our community’s overwhelming support of the school district’s 2006 Phase 2 modernization bond provided safe and innovative learning environments to students at 10 aging schools and one new school. The schools were built to strict specifications for education, health, safety and efficiency. 

Our community’s overwhelming support of the school district’s 1998 Phase 1 modernization bond provided safe and innovative learning environments to students at 11 aging schools. The schools were built to strict specifications for education, health, safety and efficiency.

How construction is funded

The state does not provide funding for construction of new schools to accommodate student growth and provides limited funding for rebuilding aging facilities. Local districts are responsible for raising their own money and must use two primary sources for funding construction: Bonds and/or capital projects levies.

Due to rapid enrollment growth Lake Washington School District has run a number of ballot measures since 2010 in an effort to reduce overcrowding and address aging facilities.

Learn more about past ballot measures here

Recent capital projects levies