Kirkland Schools: Which Neighborhood Feeds Which School
In Kirkland, your address picks your school. Here is how the map works before you fall for a house.
How Lake Washington School District Works in Kirkland
All of Kirkland sits inside the Lake Washington School District, one of Washington's top-rated. The city splits into two learning communities. Central and south Kirkland feed Lake Washington High School. North Kirkland feeds Juanita High School. Choice schools sit on top, open to the whole district by application.
Which Kirkland Neighborhoods Feed Which School
Kirkland runs on two feeder paths. Your street decides which one, so confirm before you buy.
- Lake Washington High School — central and south Kirkland: Moss Bay, Norkirk, Market, Houghton, Everest, and Rose Hill, through Kirkland and Rose Hill middle schools.
- Juanita High School — north Kirkland: Juanita, Finn Hill, Kingsgate, and Totem Lake, through Finn Hill and Kamiakin middle schools.
Kirkland's Choice and Option Schools
Beyond your assigned schools, the district runs choice schools open by application or lottery. International Community School in Kirkland serves grades six through twelve and ranks among Washington's strongest public schools. Northstar Middle School and the Environmental and Adventure School offer smaller, focused programs. Emerson High School is Kirkland's competency-based option.
How to Check Your Home's Exact School
Boundaries move. The district redrew feeder paths in recent years, so last year's answer may be wrong, and a listing's school claim can be too. Use the district's attendance-area lookup at lwsd.org, enter the exact address, and confirm the assigned elementary, middle, and high school before you write an offer. I will pull it with you.
Key Dates: The 2026-27 School Calendar
These dates are set district-wide by Lake Washington School District. They are the same across every Kirkland neighborhood, so a relocating family can time a move with confidence.
- First day — grades 1-12: August 31, 2026; kindergarten: September 3, 2026
- Thanksgiving break — November 25 (half day) to 27, 2026
- Winter break — December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027
- Mid-winter break — February 11-12, 2027
- Spring break — April 12-16, 2027
- Last day — June 16, 2027 (half day)
Every Wednesday is early-release starting September 9, 2026. Always confirm the current calendar at lwsd.org before you plan around it.
A page for every Kirkland school
Lake Washington High School
Central and south Kirkland's neighborhood high school, grades 9-12.
Juanita High School
North Kirkland's neighborhood high school, grades 9-12.
International Community School
Top-ranked choice school, grades 6-12, admission by district-wide lottery.
Emerson High School
Kirkland's competency-based choice high school, open district-wide.
Kirkland Middle School
Downtown-core middle school feeding Lake Washington High.
Rose Hill Middle School
Serves the Rose Hill area and feeds Lake Washington High.
Finn Hill Middle School
North Kirkland middle school feeding Juanita High.
Kamiakin Middle School
Kingsgate and Totem Lake middle school feeding Juanita High.
Frequently Asked Questions
What school district is Kirkland, WA in?
All of Kirkland is in the Lake Washington School District, one of Washington's top-rated. It also covers Redmond and part of Sammamish. Within Kirkland, homes feed either Lake Washington High School or Juanita High School, depending on the exact address.
Which Kirkland neighborhoods feed Lake Washington High School?
Central and south Kirkland generally feed Lake Washington High School — Moss Bay, Norkirk, Market, Houghton, Everest, and Rose Hill — through Kirkland and Rose Hill middle schools. North Kirkland feeds Juanita High School instead. Because boundaries shift, confirm your specific street with the district's lookup.
How do you get into International Community School in Kirkland?
International Community School serves grades six through twelve and consistently ranks among Washington's top public schools. It is a choice school, so admission is by application and lottery, not by address. Families across the district can apply, regardless of which Kirkland neighborhood they live in.
Do Kirkland school boundaries change?
Yes. The Lake Washington School District has redrawn attendance areas and feeder paths in recent years, and it can again. That is why a home's school assignment should be verified when you buy, using the district's official address lookup, not an old listing or map.
Buying in Kirkland for the Schools?
Tell me the schools you want, and I will show you the neighborhoods and homes that feed them, with the boundary confirmed for every address before you tour. No guessing, no surprises after closing.
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