Annual School Report
Welcome:
In an intentional effort to develop honorable, thinking, skillful citizens who possess integrity, act with honor and pride, and pursue scholarship and excellence in the service of humanity, Skyline High school has established a strong academic tradition coupled with award-winning activity programs. Its education program prepares students with the necessary skills to successfully achieve their post-secondary life goals, whatever they may be.
Mission:
Our students will be prepared for and eager to accept the academic, occupational, personal, and practical challenges of life in a dynamic global environment.
Principal 2023-24 School Year:
Keith Hennig
2023-24 School Year
To review the Issaquah School District 2023-24 budget details and more, please visit the annual district report. The Issaquah School District believes in seeking continual feedback from a broad and diverse range of constituents regarding their experiences with the District and their neighborhood schools. See the Reports and Surveys Website for more information and survey results.
Data from the Office of the Superintendent of Instruction (OSPI)
State testing is required by Washington State (RCW 28A.230.095) and federal law. The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), enacted in 1965, is the nation’s national education law and shows a longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students. On December 10, 2015 President Obama reauthorized ESEA as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These state and federal laws result in elementary students being regularly tested by the State to assess their progress as they move through school. State tests at designated grade levels which fulfill the federal Every Student Succeeds Act include the following:
- Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA):
- English Language Arts (ELA) (3rd-8th grades, and 10th grade)
- Math (3rd-8th grades, and 10th grade)
- Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS):
- Science test (5th and 8th grades)
Demographic Data
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 2,214
Teacher Experience Data
- Department Highlights
- Improving Student Achievement
- Special Programs
- Extracurricular Activities
- Athletics
Department Highlights
- Humanities
- Science
- Visual and Performing Arts
- CTE
- Math
- World Language
- Special Education
- International Baccalaureate
- PE
Humanities
The Humanities department has been working to create global citizens who are critical thinkers, readers, and communicators. Students have been analyzing both primary and secondary sources, crafting essays that support arguments, practicing verbal skills through group and whole class presentations, and exploring themes in history and English that embrace diversity. Students have been utilizing a newly adopted, culturally diverse curriculum that supports technological tools while building skills year to year.
Integrated Content increased students understanding of the cause and effect of world and national events as well as increased their abilities to communicate verbally and in writing the implications of the intricacies of how literature and history align.
IB Language and Literature HL 1 & 2 created opportunities for students to experience the rigor of analyzing not only literary texts, but many types of texts to critically think about all the differing messages that our ever-evolving modes of communication create.
IB History HL 1 & 2 engaged in activities that explored the national and global issues that present themselves on a daily basis in order for students to understand the origins as well as the implications of the actions of leadership around the world.
Science
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Systems
- General Physics
- IB Biology
- IB Chemistry
- IB Environmental Systems and Societies
- IB Physics
- IB Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
- Lab Methods
- Science of Forensics
Astronomy
- It was a lovely winter for night time observations! Students observed the Orion and Ursa Minor constellations, as well as documenting light pollution in our area! We were able to look at a rare new supernova in the spring, as well as a very rare planetary parade!
- This year was a big year for space photography! The James Webb Space Telescope continued to astound us with amazing images. We took time to learn about its mission and what we have to look forward to in the coming years!
- As we prepare for the upcoming Artemis missions, we learned about our history of human space exploration and habitation in space. We used this to help us understand how ground-breaking Artemis will hopefully be and cannot wait for these historic events to get underway!
- We applied what we learned this year with a culminating project that applied what we learned in astronomy to our favorite science fiction movie/show/book!
Biology
- Biology invited Grant Dixon, PHD candidate from University of Washington, to collaborate on a discipline-wide research project about Quantum Dot.
- All classes conducted a plant lab using Quantum Dots.
- This year, the Biology department collaborated with the University of Washington’s undergraduate neuroscience journal Grey Matters to bring a sheep brain dissection to Skyline. Neuroscience undergraduates ran sheep brain dissections and taught our Biology students some basics of neuroscience as an extension of our Cell Growth and Division Unit.
Chemistry
- Gen Chem did fun hands-on lab investigations and demonstrations: turn pennies to gold Lab, burning Cheetos, sacrificing gummy bears, Whoosh bottle, hand on fire demonstration, double displacement labs, and mystery white powder lab.
- Students also applied their knowledge of chemistry to their real lives and created 2-D and 3-D projects and accompanied by technology making presentations accessible by QR codes showcasing their interests in cooking, medicine, music, books, writing, etc.
- Using Chemical and physical properties of elements, students designed Element Superheroes and Advertised an Element to their classes. It was an engaging experience as they were learning Chemistry using art and imagination. Many students in the hallway stop by reading the element properties and relating it the beautiful drawings.
- IB Chemistry students worked diligently on their investigations after school and during breaks.
Environmental Systems
- This year in Environmental Systems students explored the world through project-based learning and labs.
- Students were lucky enough to hear from guest speakers from both public and private sector and learned about potential careers in the field of environmental science.
- Labs included evaluating trash disposal around campus, investigating storm drains, designing sustainable cities and mining for chocolate chips.
- Throughout the year, students were encouraged to think critically about their own interactions within the environment as well as the actions of those close to them.
- Overall, we had great fun exploring the world around us!
General Physics
- We had a number of projects with student choice, highlighting our students’ passions and interests! For example, students applied what they learned about momentum and impulse to a sport/activity of their choice!
- We revamped our final assessments to be culminating projects instead of high stakes testing. In Semester 1, students had the opportunity to see themselves in science by choosing a scientist that they could relate to and made a poster to share with the class. It was great to hear the stories they shared and see the diversity within science! In Semester 2, we let students talk about how physics in the movies doesn’t always measure up to real life!
- The highlight of our year is usually our engineering project, and it didn’t disappoint this year! Students used creative materials of their choice to build car models with crumple zones and restraint systems. Then we crashed tested them in class to learn about how physics relates to these important safety features.
- We ended the year by enjoying the sun and learning how to protect ourselves from harmful UV radiation with a lab designed to look at different protective factors.
IB Biology
Roughly 10% of Skyline High School students are enrolled in IB Biology. The three-teacher IB Biology team works collaboratively to develop and deliver interactive and engaging lessons throughout the school year. Between observing microscopic structures and illustrating physiological processes, to role-playing ecological interactions, IB Biology students are eager to learn about the science of life. Students in IB Biology I have completed an interdisciplinary, collaborative exploration of the "Science of Endangered Animals" in which students explore how biology, physics, chemistry, sports science and computer science can all be used to study the animal from multiple approaches.
IB Biology II students each completed an independent investigation: performing, collecting data, and statistically analyzing an experiment of their design. Investigations ranged from the cellular microscale (testing effect of temperature on rates of photosynthesis) to the ecological macroscale (analysis of invasive species in local parks) and everything in between. While cell phones continue to distract some students, the cloud of lingering effects of COVID and remote school is subsiding and students seem to be again comfortable with working collaboratively, having accountability for their learning, and interacting with a teacher instead of a screen.
IB Chemistry
- The post pandemic teaching in IB Chemistry was focused on hands on with many labs per unit. Students performed 16 labs for 10 units over the teaching session. Some of the interesting ones were, collecting Hydrogen gas by the downward displacement of water, mini mole rockets, calculating the molar Volume of Butane gas at room temperature and pressure.
- Students worked on Final presentations from science articles and performed demonstrations in class.
- IB students designed a stoichiometry scavenger hunt for general Chemistry students which benefited both groups at different levels.
- It was a fun year and the labs made inquiry-based learning very interesting and engaging.
IB Environmental Systems and Societies
- Students successfully completed IAs in field studies which is a big undertaking as most students had never conducted field studies before. It was impressive how they problem solved to measure things such as soil pH and nutrients, plant biodiversity, lichen as indicators of air pollution, and other topics.
- Students had the opportunity to go outside and learn about nature. Students explored their neighborhood for sustainable development characteristics. They learn some of the local flora and fauna, calculated biodiversity, completed a scavenger hunt of organism interactions, learned how do tree leaf rubbings and identify the type of tree based on botanical terms.
IB Physics
- 46 of 48 2nd year students took the IB Physics HL exam this year.
- In IB Physics 2 we worked with Rotational Motion and gravitation, Electrostatics, Magnetism, DC circuitry, AC power, as well as mechanical and electromagnetic waves. We rounded out the year with as much nuclear physics as we could cover before the IB Exam on day 1 of the exam window – April 25.
- The students have been wrapping up the course the last few weeks of school by completing two cumulative projects: an in-depth analysis of physics concepts shown in popular movies, and an art project involving a mosaic of transparent tape that, when polarized, shines in a rainbow of colors. They have also been learning about Special Relativity.
- The 83 first-year students have been preparing for the first exam with a new curriculum which will take place in May of 2025. They have been enjoying IB hands-on labs in Mechanics, Fluids, Circular and Rotational motion, gravitation, spring oscillations, and Special Relativity. Most of these students will be moving on to the 2nd year of the IB Physics course sequence and will be taking the IB exam in 2025.
IB Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
- Our IB SEHS class completed the year with 11 students completing the testing.
- We hosted a professional nutritionist to learn about personal health and nutrition in the nutrition for optimal performance.
- We reviewed case studies and developed training programs for our sports.
- We learned about the cardiovascular system by dissecting sheep hearts, monitoring heart rate and breathing capacities during exercise and learning about the impacts of exercise on health and wellness as we age.
- To finish the year, small groups are creating a skit to highlight their understanding of current nutrition strategies, environmental extremes and personality and motivation in sport.
Lab Methods
- We started the academic year by learning the steps of scientific methods (creating hypotheses, building theory, writing the conclusion etc.) and I am so glad to see my students' improvement in writing lab reports throughout the year.
- We used the technology in different activities: practices, projects, labs, video presentations, quizzes, and class work. Technology helped a lot to my students’ engagement and understanding.
- My students loved our in-person labs (especially flame test, elephant toothbrush lab, car & ramp lab, and acceleration lab etc.), and also group work-project activities.
- We also had the Gizmos labs which helped my students’ understanding of different chemistry and physics concepts.
Science of Forensics
- In Science of Forensics this year, we looked at how different scientific disciplines are represented and used in forensics to analyze evidence and help solve crimes.
- We learned how to investigate crime scenes and how to classify different types of evidence.
- We identified hairs and fibers found at a crime scene, learned how to collect and analyze them using chemistry.
- We learned how to calculate angle of impact and find the source of a projectile, given a bullet hole, in ballistics.
- We discovered what our blood is made up of, and how to test a suspicious stain for blood at a crime scene.
- We learned about blood types and how to type blood, along with how to collect serological evidence.
- We examined different types of blood spatter and how to identify them, along with finding the origin of the blood.
- We learned properties of drugs and how to perform presumptive and confirmatory tests to detect them in urine or in a powder.
- We discovered different types of DNA used in forensics, and how to extract DNA from a sample.
- We examined different case studies, from OJ Simpson, Jeffrey MacDonald, Assassination of JFK, Michael Peterson and the Tylenol Murders to see real-world applications of the forensic science we were learning about.
Visual and Performing Arts
The Visual and Performing Arts Department includes opportunities in drawing, sculpting, orchestra, choir, band, guitar, piano, music production and theatre. Students can also pursue IB credit in music, theatre, or art. Each of those individual arts excel yearly! All of the performance ensembles in choir, band and orchestras typically attend the local Eastshore League Festivals or other festivals such as the University of Washington festival. Members of our choir, orchestra and band ensembles are selected for All-State, All-Northwest, and All-National groups annually. It is not uncommon for members of our ensembles to place at the State Solo & Ensemble.
Travel opportunities for all of the ensembles include local and out of state adjudicated festivals and performance venues. Our Jazz groups compete both regionally (in state or out of state) yearly. The Skyline theatre department produces two plays and one musical each year, and competes in the ESUUS Shakespeare Competition. The Thespian Troupe also competes in the NW Regional "Thespy" Competition, where students regularly qualify for nationals, and attends the WA State Thespian Festival and Competition each year in March. From the art department, students compete in local and national competitions.
CTE
Business and Economics: Skyline’s DECA Chapter of 525 Business and Economics students, which is the largest in the State of Washington and 10th largest worldwide, qualified 236 students for the State competition where 54 qualified to compete at the International Career Development Competition (ICDC). Due to IB Exams, 39 students attended the ICDC Conference. At ICDC, 4 students earned top 10 honors.
Computer Science: In 2023-24, nearly 400 students were enrolled in either introductory or IB Computer Science(CS) courses. In introductory courses, students learnt the fundamentals of programming through various engaging activities and projects. They were able to learn about CS career paths and expectations through two guest speakers from the software industry. In IB CS courses, students were engaged in computational problem solving through challenging coding exercises. Students built their knowledge of how various digital computing systems and devices operate. They created innovative computing solutions to their clients' problems. All the students held active membership in CS focused clubs like Robotics, Technovation, Competitive coding, Game design, AI and Web design and Engineering clubs and extended their skills. Over 100 students regularly participated in robotics club activities ranging from robot design, prototyping, building to testing to meet the annual FIRST competition challenge. This enhanced students’ engineering ability to work together as part of large team with subgroups organized into business, mechanical, electronics and software areas.
Graphic Design: Classes produced designs in the Adobe Creative Suite to be used by local businesses and organizations.
Yearbook: Student staff used their photography and page-building software skills to successfully publish a 300+ page yearbook for our school and community. Our book from last year was selected for national recognition in the Jostens annual catalog.
Mock Trial: Skyline’s Mock Trial team continues to be one of the preeminent programs in the State. This year we traveled to Port Orchard for our district tournament and came away with 1st and 2nd place finishes for our teams. This earned both automatic bids to the State Tournament, hosted by YMCA Youth & Government at Pierce County Courthouse this year. Both teams finished very strong with Silver ending up in 6th and Green in 12th place. This is the 4th year in a row we have placed both teams in the top 12 out of over 60 teams state wide. In addition, a number of members chose to participate in additional competitions through Empire Mock Trial. In September we traveled to Chicago to participate in the Windy City Challenge and this spring participated in Empire Online. The team of 12 finished in 3rd place and qualified for the playoffs which took place on June 8th. Currently, we are planning to attend Empire Mock Trial’s Constitutional Challenge in Philadelphia this September.
Forensics Club: Skyline’s Forensics Club continued to grow in interest and creativity this school year thanks to the very strong and consistent leadership of the executive board members. The club explored topics in blood stain evidence, fingerprint evidence, hair and fiber analysis, ballistics and criminal profiling, to name a few. We also had 3 members compete in Technology Student Association’s Forensic Science competition. One member qualified for the semi-final at the TSA Conference at the Hilton Double Tree in SeaTac in March.
Criminal Justice: Classes were enhanced by a number of guest speakers over the course of the year including a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Washington State Patrol Detective, a number of King County Prosecutors, a District Court Judge. Some of the special topics covered in the course included Use of Force by Law Enforcement, Extremist Groups, Gun Rights and Gun Laws, Mock Trial, Capital Punishment and different approaches to rehabilitation of incarcerated people.
Police Science/Forensics: Classes enjoyed a great deal of interest once again. Students were able to gain an understanding in forensics techniques such as Fingerprints, various types of Impression evidence, Blood Stain evidence, Forensic Anthropology and Pathology, Arson Investigations, Forensic glass analysis, auto investigations, ballistics, and interrogation techniques. Guest Speakers from King County Fire Investigators, the FBI and Washington State Patrol also added to the student's exposure to various careers they could pursue in this area.
Computer Science: Skyline Technology Student Association (TSA) club earned top awards in Washington TSA conference held in March 2023. Software development and Animatronics teams each won first places and Board Game Design team won third place. The club doubled in size to 60 in 2022.
Technovation: A club that empowers women and non-binary people to code and do business completed 4 projects and one project from them was placed in the semifinalists list in the international Technovation challenge. The Technovation challenge asks students to create an app that benefits society using coding and business skills. The club spent the first half of the school year understanding these skills, and the next half is spent applying them to create an app and complete the business plan.
Math
- We offered math classes ranging from Algebra 1 to IB Higher Level 2 taught by 17 teachers. While the majority of our math teachers teach math their whole day we also have math teachers who teach IB Theory of Knowledge and leadership.
- Two of our teachers are CTE certified and taught multiple sections of Applied Algebra 1, Applied Algebra 2, and Personal Finance. These courses work to emphasize real life applications while covering core math curriculum.
- Over 30 students were supported by being enrolled in lab classes that were taken concurrently with another math class. These classes pre-teach and reteach material, build skills and work to give students more confidence and success in their regular math class.
- Had over 375 students take IB math classes. Not only do our second year IB students in both standard and higher level take a multi-part exam in May but in the late fall they turn in a Math Exploration, which is an on average 15 page paper where they discuss and work with the math involved in a chosen topic of interest.
- Teachers returned to the level of rigor that existed pre-COVID while still supporting and filling in gaps in knowledge. Technology such as graphing calculators and computer programs were used where appropriate.
World Language
Japanese: The highlight of the Japanese course is that we not only focus on the study of “Adventures in Japanese” which is a series of textbooks from the school district but we also use “Minna no Nihongo” and “Easy Japanese”, which are considered the best textbooks in Japan. Students love these curriculum, too. Besides the practice of 4 language skills, we often have various Japanese people to come to talk to our students as guest speakers. Our students will get more confident of using the target language and understanding the people and the culture of the target language. These activities provide them to be a better global citizen in the near future.
Chinese: Our Chinese program was honored as the Distinguished K-12 Chinese Program in the United States by the Chinese Language Teachers Association-USA. Two of our students earned the 3rd place and the Chinese Culture Talent Award in the 2024 Washington State Chinese Proficiency Contest. 10 students were inducted into the National Chinese Honor Society. We also conducted a successful joint online paper-cutting class with students from Yubei Secondary School in China. This collaboration has laid a solid foundation for further cooperation and paves the way for a planned trip to China next year.
Spanish: Our Spanish students built a beautiful Día de los Muertos ofrenda to learn about this celebration in México. Our Spanish 3 classes built piñatas while learning about Las Posadas celebrations in Latin America. Spanish 2 classes learned about Celebraciones de Año Nuevo and made Uvas de papel to ask for wishes for the new year. Spanish 4 classes, learned about Latin American Cuisine, they made tortillas in class, tried Rosca de Reyes, Tamales, Tostones and Maíz peruano. Our Spanish 3 and IB classes learned about the culture in Spain and Latin America through Salsa and Flamenco dancing workshops. Students loved this activity and we are hoping to bring back the dance workshops again next year for another great learning experience.
French: The students of Madame Regan and Madame Fisher had a GREAT time participating in “Manie Musicale”, an international event where students listen to and do activities centered around current popular French music. It is an authentic experience that covers many areas and cultures from the Francophone world. It is structured to line up with the NCAA March Madness tournament, students create a bracket from 16 songs, and vote on each round, with top winners getting prizes. It’s a super fun way to experience and immerse oneself in the French language!
ASL: Skyline has a new and burgeoning ASL program. With two different levels and a very experienced teacher, students are immersed in the silent speaking community. Students enjoy interpreting and communicating with using real events in the community and have fun in class.
Special Education
As the Special Education Department continues to provide equitable access to learning for all students who are served with an IEP, our intention is to grow our inclusive practice in both LRC1 and LRC2.
This year we had greater number of LRC2 students scheduled into general education classes demonstrating improvement in their social and academic skills. Seventeen LRC1 and LRC2 students benefited from the Social-Emotional Learning Strategies Class that provided them with social skill support to enable them to engage more fully in their general education classes.
As we learn more about inclusive practices, the research is clear, students make more progress toward closing the educational gap when they have the opportunity to be in general education settings. Next year the Special Education secondary school will be significantly changing our practice across the district by introducing a teaming approach to student support. Special Education teachers will be ‘Inclusion Facilitators’ supporting the placement of more students who require Special Education Support in general education classes by ‘pushing in’ to support students or ‘pulling out’ students for targeted small group support and collaborating with general education teachers as they provide specially designed instruction. The Teaming practice will allow us to have greater flexibility to be responsive to student needs by providing support where and when they need it most. We will be able to support students and teachers across all classes in a way that we have not been able to do before. This year we piloted this approach with our senior students and found it to be very successful. All of our seniors who have an IEP will graduate on time this school year.
This year we saw the introduction of the IXL learning System an online program used to provide diagnostic data on student skill levels in math, reading and writing. By tracking student progress throughout this school year district administrators were able to identify deficits in some fundamental skills particularly related to language skills that are necessary for students to be able to access grade-level text and foundational math skills. To address the language deficit, secondary schools will be delivering the Wilson reading program, a structured literacy program based on phonological-coding research, to qualifying students. Students who identified as having significant gaps in their math skills will be scheduled into a newly introduced Intensive Math class. This data will allow us to continually modify our practice.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Program operates in schools in over 150 countries across the world. It remains one of the most respected educational organizations available to schools looking for programs of advanced study for their students. The International Baccalaureate Program (IB) at Skyline High School offers students an opportunity to engage in rigorous college preparatory studies while enrolled in grades 11 and 12. The school maintains three IB tracks (IB Career, IB Course and IB Diploma) that include access to over 30 IB courses of various difficulty. Roughly 50% of eligible students are taking 1 or more IB classes, including 351 students taking part in the IB Career and IB Diploma Certificate programs.
For more details on IB program offerings and student performance at SHS please see our website: https://skyline.isd411.org/academics/international-baccalaureate-ib-program
PE
The PE Department offered a new class, Hiking Fitness. In this class, students walked up to 10 miles a week walking the neighborhood streets and trails. Students learned about proper fitness walking form, walking safely (including what to do when you encounter a bear, which we did!), and sidewalk etiquette.
Yoga classes stretched students’ bodies and minds. Students practiced yoga three times a week while learning about 45+ different yoga poses and creating their own 30-minute yoga routine that aligns with a personal physical goal they created.
Freshman and Spartan PE classes worked collaboratively to create a new and exciting game, using two existing games. Students applied the knowledge they obtained during the semester and aligned their game with state standards.
In Weight Training, students learned proper lifting techniques and safety considerations and performed a variety of lifts during the semester. Students tracked their progress, performing different fitness assessments, which enabled them to properly adjust their goals weekly.
Improving Student Achievement
Skyline High School provides a safe and challenging learning environment for a population of approximately 2,200 students. Student enrollment information and assessment data provide Skyline stakeholders valuable insight to facilitate the creation of appropriate levels of academic, social and emotional supports to our changing demographic representation. School achievement trends across the years have been positive and Skyline High School continues to outperform both Issaquah School District and Washington State percentages of students who meet state standards in all noted areas and graduation rate.
While teaching and learning is a complex and difficult task, Skyline strives to ensure all students are prepared for and eager to accept the academic, occupational, personal, and practical challenges of life in our dynamic global environment. At the root of this mission are two important aspects of successful teaching and learning – establishing systems to improve student regular attendance and ensuring students accumulate the necessary credits for graduation (i.e., not failing courses).
Regular attendance provides students the opportunity to engage in the academic, social and emotional activities, programs and interventions designed to enhance individual student skills and knowledge needed for success in post-secondary life. With a focus on regular attendance and ensuring students have the programs and supports needed to pass credit-bearing courses, Skyline will continue to have a clear/shared focus with high standards and expectations for all students.
To this end, Skyline’s School Improvement Plan will focus on reducing course failures through the application of intervention, supports and resources designed to connect our students to school and support effective teaching and learning for all connecting students. Ensuring that to our school through supports, resources and/or intervention - ensuring students have the skills and knowledge necessary to gain credit allows Skyline’s stakeholders to feel involved, invested and responsible for the success of all students.
Special Programs
Issaquah Scholars, ISF Tutoring, International Baccalaureate, 7th Period Options, Think First! Robotics, TEALS partnership with Microsoft, ECE Preschool, Running Start: College in the High School, WANIC, Shakespeare in the Classroom, Mental Health Social Worker partnership with Swedish, Drug and Alcohol Interventions with Friends of Youth.
Extracurricular Activities
Activation Through Art, Art Club, ASB, ASB Dance Committee, ASL Club, Automotive Club, Badminton Club, Band, Biology Club, Black Student Union, Board Game Club, Cheerleading, Chess Club, Chinese Club, Choir Club, Classical Music, Club MED, Computer Science club, Cube Club, Cultural Diversity Club, Cupcakes for a Cause, Cryptocurrency Club, CSI Club, Dance Team, DECA, Drama Club, Engineering Club, E-Sports Club, Evergreen Philharmonic, FCCLA, Film Club, Financial Literacy & Beyond Club, Free the Children Club, French Club, Games Club, Glee Club, Global Studies, Green Team, GSA, Guitar Club, Japanese Club, Japanese NHS Club, Jazz Band, Journalism, JSA, Key Club, Korean Club, LEAP Club, Link Crew, Marine Science Club, Math Club, Mock Trial Club, Model UN Club, National Honor Society, New Generation Club, Orchestra, PAWS Club, Ping Pong Club, Project Agape, Red Cross Club, Relay for Life, Robotics Club, Rocketry Club, Science Club, SHOCK Club, Science National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Speech & Debate Club, STEM Outreach Club, Stock Investment Club, Strong 4 Sam Club, Students Affirming Gender Equity, Tech Theater Club, Technology Student Association Club, Teen Link Club, Traffic Student Court, Ultimate Frisbee Club, We Care Club, Writer’s Club, Yearbook.
Athletics
Skyline High School strives to develop and maintain athletic programs in which student-athletes recognize their full potential by providing participants unique experiences and situations that are difficult to duplicate in the classroom. Lessons learned and experienced through athletics will last a lifetime and enhance the student-athlete’s high school experience.
Approximately 1,000 student-athletes participated in our athletic programs throughout the year. Varsity student-athletes earned a 3.50 cumulative GPA and the average GPA for all of the athletic teams this year was a 3.00. Along with their academic success, Skyline student-athletes and teams have garnered many league and district championships and many state placers.
Outside of the athletic arena, many of our athletic programs regularly participate in community service events from clothing drives, to youth camps, all of which help to build a stronger school and unify the local community. Skyline Athletics above all else, strives to develop the entire person by teaching the values of honor, pride, scholarship, integrity, and excellence.
State Testing
Two tests given to high school students—The Smarter Balanced Assessment and the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science help indicate how well Issaquah students are learning.
Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)
The SBA consists of two parts: a computer adaptive test and a performance task. Writing is included at every grade level and students are asked to solve multi-step, real-world problems in math. Performance tasks ask students to determine an array of research, writing, and problem solving skills. The SBA results describe student achievement (how much students know at the end of the year).
The Grade Level Total ELA and Grade Level Total Math charts on the right-hand side of the page indicate the percent of tenth grade students who met or exceeded standard in ELA and Math on the SBA compared to the percent of tenth grade students who met or exceeded standard district-wide.
SBA English Language Arts (ELA) scores
SBA Math scores
Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)
The WCAS fulfills the federal requirement that students be tested in Science once at the elementary level. The WCAS measures the level of proficiency students have achieved (what students know and can do) based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The WCAS assesses all three dimensions of the learning standards (Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts).
The numbers on the chart represent the percentage of students in eleventh grade who met or exceeded standard on the WCAS compared to the percentage of students in grade 11 who met or exceeded standard districtwide. Given that a limited number of students took the WCAS, scores may not provide a full picture of science achievement.