Eastside Catholic School

Summary

Eastside Catholic is a private Catholic School located in Bellevue, Washington. It is also a member of the National Catholic Education Association. Eastside Catholic enrolls approximetly 500 students in grades 9-12, employs 44 teachers (of which 27 have masters degrees, one a PhD, and one a JD) and 2 counselers. On average, the student/teacher ratio is 15:1 on a yearly basis, with an average class size of 22. The student body represents a relatively diverse mix of school districts from throughout the greater Seattle area, although a large majority of students live in Bellevue and the Sammamish Plateau. Eastside Catholic participates in the Metro AAA League in 18 sports. Approximetly 85% of students participate in sports or other after-school clubs.

History

Eastside Catholic High School was orignally concieved in 1974 by a group of seven parents interested in establishing a private Catholic School in the Seattle Eastside. This culminated in 1980, when the school was established. The campus was originally located near downtown Bellevue, close to Bellevue Park. However, rising real estate prices and pressure from the city forced the school to it's current location in the south end of Bellevue, just north of Renton. The current campus is rented from the Bellevue School District and was originally a Middle School. A new campus is currently under construction on the Sammamish Plateau, between two existing public High Schools (Skyline and Eastlake High School). In 2005, the school celebrated it's 25 year existence among a thriving community of alumni who statistically have stuck to the Seattle area for the most part.

Awards

As at many High Schools, Eastside Catholic faculty boast various awards. Speech and debate coach Mike Burton was inducted into the Pierce Country Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the five legendary officials in the history of Pierce County sports, as well as the Distinguished Service Plaque-Fifth Citation from the National Forensics League. The Catholic Educational Association Conference recognized Eastside Catholic in 1997 as one of the 25 most innovative Catholic schools in the country.