Although Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) newest choice high school has been open for less than a year, students are already feeling right at home.

“This is my group of people,” said sophomore Maya Ganesan about what she likes about the school.

Ganesan, a Redmond resident, is one of 300 students — 150 freshmen and 150 sophomores — attending the school, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Currently without an official name, the school is known as the STEM School. It opened in September with Eastlake High School (EHS) in Sammamish hosting students and staff in the fall while the building at 4301 228th Ave N.E. in unincorporated King County near Redmond was under construction.

“They were gracious enough to have us on their campus from September through December (2012),” said STEM principal Cindy Duenas about EHS.

The building is only partially complete but Duenas said it should be complete by the end of this school year. When school begins in the fall, STEM will have juniors in addition to freshmen and sophomores, and in fall 2014, seniors will be added to the mix for a total of 600 students (150 per grade). Duenas said they will eventually have 50-75 students from the district’s four comprehensive high schools on campus on a partial-day basis, as well.

IMMERSED IN STEM

The focus on STEM education at the new school was what drew Ganesan, who had previously attended Interlake High School in Bellevue.

“I decided to take the leap and I’m glad I did,” she said.

Ganesan said she was drawn to the school’s different options, as well as its lab concentrations.

Duenas said the first two years at STEM are foundational with students studying core academic competencies. The final two years at STEM are application based, which includes three yearlong labs students can choose from: environmental science, forensics and biology and digital media and design. Duenas said another focus of STEM will be to get students’ works published, both in-house, as well as in outside publications.

The school will also offer internships and partnerships with local STEM-related businesses. Duenas said professionals will come to the school to work with students but there will also be opportunities for students to intern in the field.

SHARED INTERESTS

Like Ganesan, other students at STEM applied for the choice school based on its science and math concentration.

Hana Keller, a sophomore from Sammamish, wants to study biology and become a doctor of some sort. She said she applied for STEM because she thought it would be fun to be around other students with the same motivation who would push and challenge her.

Sophomore Devansh Kukreja of Redmond and freshman Kevin Nakahara of Kirkland agreed with Keller.

“We share similar interests,” said Kukreja, who wants to go into computer engineering.

In addition to sharing academic interests, the four students said it’s been nice to make friends with people they otherwise wouldn’t have met if they’d attended their home schools.

Coming from a different district, Ganesan admitted she wasn’t sure about coming to STEM because she didn’t really know anyone. But she was surprised at how nice everyone was and how comfortable she was around them.

“It’s such a good mix of people,” she said. “It’s the best group of people you could imagine.”

EXTRACURRICULARS

As the first students at STEM, Keller said a lot of responsibility is bestowed upon them such as naming the school, coming up with school colors, a mascot, forming clubs and more.

“We’re the first year here, which makes it pretty cool,” she said.

The students are not taking this responsibility lightly as Nakahara said the opportunity to be the “first” anything is rare in most schools as clubs and organizations are usually already established.

Although they have the option of forming various after-school organizations and clubs, STEM does not have any sports and students can go to their home school to participate if they choose.

Nakahara plays for the Lake Washington High School (LWHS) baseball team and has played with many of his teammates since grade school. He said being able to see his friends during practice and games is nice as he doesn’t see them throughout the rest of the school day.