About Us

The Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning is a choice middle school on the campus of Eastlake High School which is found in Sammamish, WA.  We have 32 student in sixth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade.  The Sammamish Plateau marks the eastern edge of the Lake Washington School District and also is the western edge of the Issaquah School District.  Sammamish became an incorporated city in 1999.  

The Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning is one of five choice middle schools in the district that offer an alternative framework to create a particular school environment that instructs students using district approved curricula.  Renaissance is hope to 96 students total who come from all over the Lake Washington School District.  Our staff includes our office manager/registrar/attendance manager, Steph Bertholf, our school nurse, Rebecca Harris, 4.6 full-time teachers, a part-time school counselor, a Youth Eastside Services behavior specialist, a dedicated associate principal, Cheryl Kenyon, and a shared principal, Todd Apple who is also the principal of Eastlake High School.

Renaissance was teacher initiated and developed in 2004 - 2005 with a presentation to district administrators and school board in the spring of 2005 and opened in the fall of 2006 with 45 seventh graders. There 2.2 full-time teachers (Diane Kane, Cathy Colombo, and Martha Daman). The program was/and continues to be based on a strong constructivist philosophy along with the anchoring belief that visual and performing arts are CORE pieces of a well-rounded education that honors and sees everyone's humanity and fosters a love of learning and self-expression.

Focus

Students develop in an environment of artistry, rigor and warmth. Students learn to think and act using multiple approaches and perspectives. They are known and nurtured as important individuals who have an active concern for their community and society.

Application

7th and 8th grade students may apply at any time during the year and will be admitted on a "space available" basis.

All Lake Washington School District students entering the 6th grade are welcome to apply and need do so in their 5th grade year. Each Choice School hosts an Information Night and Tour in November and the application window will open at this time.

Acceptance is determined by a lottery system held at the LWSD Resource Center so that all who apply have an equal chance to attend. Those who are assigned numbers beyond the number of available openings are automatically put onto waiting list.