Quick answer
The Bellevue School District (BSD) serves approximately 20,000 students across Bellevue and portions of neighboring communities, and is consistently ranked among the top school districts in Washington State.
| High schools | Bellevue, Newport, Interlake, Sammamish |
| Middle schools | Chinook, Highland, Odle, Tillicum, Tyee, International |
| Elementary schools | 16 |
| Graduation rate | Above 95% |
| Also serves | Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, Beaux Arts Village, parts of Newcastle and Redmond |
Critical for buyers: not all of Bellevue is in BSD. Portions of eastern and southern Bellevue fall within the Lake Washington or Issaquah school districts. Verify by exact street address before making an offer.
The high schools
Bellevue High School
The district's original high school, located in West Bellevue near downtown. Strong academic record, well-established athletics program, and an active alumni community. Serves West Bellevue, Enatai, Clyde Hill, Medina, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, and Beaux Arts Village.
Newport High School
Located in south Bellevue serving Newport Hills, Somerset, Factoria, and surrounding areas. Consistently among the highest-performing high schools in Washington State, with strong AP participation and a well-regarded STEM and academic culture.
Interlake High School
Located in central-east Bellevue. Home to the district's International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, which draws students from across the district through the district's choice process. Interlake also houses the Gifted High School Program. Consistently ranked among the top public high schools in the state and nationally.
Sammamish High School
Located in east Bellevue serving Lake Hills, Crossroads, and surrounding neighborhoods. Known for its project-based learning model and the most economically and culturally diverse student body in the district. Has undergone significant facility modernization.
The middle schools
| Middle school | General area served |
|---|---|
| Chinook | Clyde Hill, Medina, Points communities |
| Highland | Central and north Bellevue |
| Odle | Northeast Bellevue, Bridle Trails area |
| Tillicum | South Bellevue, Newport area |
| Tyee | East Bellevue, Lake Hills area |
| International School | District-wide choice program, grades 6–12 |
The International School is a district choice program rather than an attendance-area school. It serves grades 6 through 12 with a small-school model and rigorous curriculum, and admission is through an application process.
Which communities BSD serves
BSD's boundaries extend beyond Bellevue's city limits and do not cover all of Bellevue.
Fully or almost fully within BSD:
- Medina
- Clyde Hill
- Hunts Point
- Yarrow Point
- Beaux Arts Village
- West Bellevue, Enatai, Somerset, Woodridge, Lake Hills, Crossroads, Newport Hills
Partially within BSD:
- Bellevue — some eastern and southern addresses are in Lake Washington or Issaquah districts
- Newcastle — split between Bellevue and Issaquah districts
- Redmond — small southern portion falls within BSD
- Factoria and Eastgate — split, verification essential
How to verify school attendance by address
This is the single most important due-diligence step for any buyer for whom school district matters.
Step 1. Go to the Bellevue School District's official school locator or boundary lookup tool on bsd405.org.
Step 2. Enter the exact street address — not the neighborhood, not the ZIP code.
Step 3. Confirm the assignment separately for elementary, middle, and high school. These do not always follow the same geographic pattern.
Step 4. Ask the district whether any boundary adjustments are under consideration for that area. Districts redraw attendance areas in response to enrollment growth and capacity, and a boundary that holds today may change.
Step 5. If a choice or option program matters to you, confirm the current application process and whether attendance area affects eligibility.
What not to rely on: listing descriptions, Zillow or Redfin school data, neighborhood name, ZIP code, or what a neighbor tells you. Real estate portals commonly display school data that is approximate or out of date.
What BSD access means for home values
School attendance is among the strongest drivers of home value in Bellevue.
The observable pattern:
- Homes within BSD command a measurable premium over comparable homes in neighboring districts
- Within BSD, certain attendance areas carry additional premium
- The premium persists across market cycles because demand is structural rather than cyclical
Practical implications for buyers: if BSD is not a requirement for your household, you can typically find comparable or better homes for substantially less in Redmond (Lake Washington School District) or Issaquah and Sammamish (Issaquah School District). Both districts are strong, and the price difference is often $300,000 to $700,000.
Practical implications for sellers: if your address falls within a strong BSD attendance area, that should be central to how the home is marketed — and it should be stated accurately. Overstating school attendance in marketing creates real liability.
How BSD compares to neighboring districts
| District | Serves | Relative standing |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | Bellevue, Points communities | Top tier statewide |
| Issaquah | Issaquah, Sammamish, parts of Renton, Newcastle | Near-peer to BSD |
| Lake Washington | Kirkland, Redmond, Kenmore, parts of Sammamish | Strong; larger, more variable by school |
| Mercer Island | Mercer Island | Top tier, single high school |
| Northshore | Bothell, Woodinville, parts of Kenmore | Solid, steadily improving |
| Renton | Most of Renton | Below Eastside averages |
The most useful comparison for buyers: Issaquah School District performs at a level genuinely comparable to BSD on academic metrics, at a meaningfully lower price point. Skyline High School in ISD consistently ranks among the top high schools in Washington. For buyers who have been told BSD is the only acceptable option, ISD deserves a serious look.
Common questions
Is the Bellevue School District good? It is consistently ranked among the top districts in Washington State and among the strongest nationally, with graduation rates above 95% and high AP and IB participation.
What high schools are in the Bellevue School District? Four comprehensive high schools: Bellevue, Newport, Interlake, and Sammamish. The district also operates the International School, a grades 6–12 choice program.
Which Bellevue high school is the best? Newport and Interlake consistently post the strongest aggregate academic metrics. Interlake houses the IB Diploma Programme. The right fit depends on the individual student — program offerings, size, and culture differ meaningfully among the four.
Is all of Bellevue in the Bellevue School District? No. Portions of eastern and southern Bellevue fall within the Lake Washington or Issaquah school districts. Verify by exact street address.
Does Medina go to Bellevue schools? Yes. Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, and Beaux Arts Village are all served by the Bellevue School District.
How do I find out which school my address feeds into? Use the district's official school locator on bsd405.org with your exact street address, and confirm elementary, middle, and high school separately.
Do school boundaries change? Yes. Districts adjust attendance areas in response to enrollment and capacity. Contact the district directly to ask whether changes are under consideration for a specific area.
Is Issaquah School District as good as Bellevue? On measurable academic outcomes they are genuinely comparable. ISD homes typically cost substantially less than comparable BSD homes.
We verify attendance for every client
School attendance is the area where we see buyers make the most expensive mistakes — paying a district premium for an address that does not qualify, or overlooking a home that does. We confirm attendance by exact address before any offer goes in, and we will tell you plainly when a listing's school claim does not hold up.
Related reading: Best neighborhoods in Bellevue → | Washington State school district rankings → | Best public schools in Washington State →
About Tribeca NW Real Estate
Tribeca NW Real Estate is a top-producing brokerage headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. 1,675 homes closed. $1B+ in transaction volume. 875+ five-star reviews on Google and Zillow.
School information is subject to change. Always verify current attendance boundaries, program offerings, and enrollment policies directly with the Bellevue School District at bsd405.org. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by the district.
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