A New Chapter for Issaquah And a Personal One for Me

There’s been a lot of conversation lately about the new high school being built in Issaquah and depending on who you talk to, that conversation ranges from excitement… to frustration… to a lot of unanswered questions.

But for me, this project hits a little closer to home.

Because the site where this new high school is being built? It’s where my girls went to preschool. And just across the street, my parents still live at Providence Point. This isn’t just another development or district update, it’s a place tied to some of my most meaningful memories.

And now, it’s becoming something entirely new.

What’s Happening

The Issaquah School District is in the process of building a new high school to help address continued growth and overcrowding across the district. As more families move to the area and as communities like Issaquah and Sammamish continue to evolve, the need for additional space has become increasingly clear. The roller coaster for the actual development has spanned over a decade, but plans are now finalized and moving forward.

The new school is expected to open in the next couple of years and will serve as an important addition to the district’s long-term planning.

Why This Matters

For many of my clients, schools are one of the biggest drivers in their home search and Issaquah has consistently been a top choice because of its strong reputation, community feel, and balance of accessibility and lifestyle.

Projects like this signal something important:

• This is a community that is growing

• And one that is continuing to invest in its future

But with that growth comes complexity.

The Conversation Around It

If you’ve been following along locally, you know there’s been quite a bit of discussion around this new school.

Some of the biggest points I’ve been hearing:

• Questions around how it’s being funded

• Concerns about whether the final size will fully meet long-term needs

• And a general sense of confusion around how decisions are being made

And honestly, those conversations are valid.

When something this significant is happening in a community, especially one that impacts families, neighborhoods, and long-term planning, it’s natural for people to want clarity and transparency.

A Place with a Story

What makes this project even more meaningful is the history of the site itself.

Long before plans for a new high school, this property was home to what many locals still refer to as “LBI”, the former Lutheran Bible Institute campus, later Trinity Lutheran College. For years, it served as a place of learning, faith, and community.

Over time, the property evolved again, with portions becoming Providence Point and other areas continuing to serve local families in different ways, including the preschool my girls attended, Noah's Ark and Sammamish Christian School (does anyone else remember lawn chairs parked outside waiting for your turn to register?).

And now, it’s entering yet another chapter.

What I keep coming back to is how this site has always been a place for learning, just in different forms, for different generations.

From a church, to a college campus to a preschool and elementary school. 

And now, it’s being transformed into a high school.

When you really think about it, that’s incredibly rare. One piece of land, continuing to serve the same core purpose, education, growth, and community, across generations, just in evolving ways.

There’s something really special about that.

A Personal Perspective

For me, this is one of those moments where you can feel both things at once.

There’s a sense of nostalgia, because I can still picture what that space used to be, the routines, the drop-offs, the everyday moments that made it meaningful.

And at the same time, there’s an understanding that this is what growth looks like.

Communities evolve. Needs change. And spaces that once served one purpose often become something entirely different for the next generation.

What This Means for Issaquah

From a broader perspective, this project is part of a bigger story.

Issaquah has long been one of the most desirable areas on the Eastside, not just because of its schools, but because of its lifestyle, its proximity to everything, and its strong sense of community.

And while projects like this may come with questions or growing pains, they also reinforce something important:

• People want to live here

• And the community is continuing to adapt to support that demand

A Community in Transition

Change, especially in places that hold personal meaning, isn’t always easy.

But it’s often a reflection of something bigger: a community that is growing, evolving, and continuing to invest in the future.

And for those of us who have long-standing ties to Issaquah, it’s a reminder that while things may look different over time, the heart of what makes this area special is still very much the same.

And in this case, it’s not just a new school, it’s the next chapter of something that’s been shaping this community for generations.

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