LWSD Approves Expansion at Eastlake High School

The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has approved a significant expansion of Eastlake High School (EHS) to accommodate an additional 300 students, opting against the construction of a new choice school in Sammamish due to budget concerns. This decision addresses critical overcrowding issues at EHS, where students often eat lunch on hallway floors due to congestion in common areas. Proposed improvements include adding 10-11 classrooms and modifying existing spaces to enhance traffic flow. Principal Todd Apple highlighted the need for budgetary considerations in planning these enhancements. Students have raised concerns about current traffic conditions, which can triple their commute times.

The expansion is expected to take around two years, with construction starting this summer and some modifications possibly completed by fall. LWSD determined that expanding existing schools is a more cost-effective solution than the initially planned choice school, which faced budget overruns and delays. This expansion aims not only to alleviate overcrowding but also to enhance educational offerings at EHS by providing more specialized course subjects.