Students in Lake Washington High School’s AP US Government & Politics classes get first-hand experience in the legislative process. As part of the class, students crafted Senate Bill (SB) 5171, which bans gender-based price discrimination on similar products
Explorer Community School

Explorer Community School Grand Opening
Project Updates
We are so pleased that all our bond projects are now completed and ready for students. We want to thank the community for their continued support in building needed classroom space. While spending will still occur over the next year as we close out the projects, the charts below show planned 2016 bond program revenues and expenditures compared to current receipts and spending. Of the total planned revenues and expenditures of $434 million has been received to date. Of the total planned revenues and expenditures of $434 million that has been received to date, the district has spent $409 million.
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On April 30, 2020, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) sold a total of $118.85 million of tax-exempt refunding bonds, which will refinance $134 million of its existing debt, to take advantage of lower market interest rates. The refinancing will save the district’s taxpayers more than $18.6 million over the next nine years.
Energy-efficient design saves money in the long run. To implement energy-efficient features into its construction projects, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) applied for grants from Puget Sound Energy (PSE). The projects received grants that totaled $261,978.
Lake Washington School District (LWSD) staff regularly meets with representatives from Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish to determine what new housing projects have been permitted and what that will mean for enrollment growth in our schools.
In addition, this year, LWSD worked with Flo Analytics, an outside planning, GIS and data-analytic consulting firm, to prepare long-range enrollment projections. Flo Analytics staff were complimentary of the district’s enrollment projection work to date, including the level of planning and detail they maintained.
Households around the district received the Building On Success Progress Report in mailboxes this month. It included an overview and progress updates on construction projects funded by the 2016 bond and the 2019 capital projects levy. If you missed it in the mail, be sure to view it online to learn more about:

Explorer Community School opened to students in fall 2017. Final closeout of the project is expected by May 2018.

The covered play area at Explorer Community School has now been installed.

LWSD held its grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting for Explorer Community School on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
Video: Cranes are setting modular buildings onto their foundations.
Aerial Photos
Photo credit: Tim Rice Photography
Drawings and site plans
Project Information
This project was included on the Long-Term Facilities Task Force recommendations. Given the age and condition of the portables, the project includes replacing the portables rather than investing in upgrading portables that are near the end of their useful life.
Architect: Magellan Architects
Contractor: Not selected yet
Location: 7040 - 208th Ave N.E. Redmond (at Dickinson Elementary)
Square Footage: 3,000
Capacity: 75 students
Spaces: 4 modular, including 3 standard classrooms and support space
Estimated Project Cost: $1,664,000 (Includes construction costs of $1 million 2016 dollars, $.5 million in non-construction costs, and $100,000 in expected construction inflation)
Planned opening: 2017
Building Condition/Current Situation: Explorer Community School is a choice school located on the Dickinson Elementary campus. It is housed in portables that are between 26 and 30 years old and rated in “Poor” condition based on the annual building evaluation done using the State Building Condition Assessment. This score is based on an annual building evaluation of multiple building systems and sub-systems conducted by a third party vendor.