Explore Kitsap County's Educational Choices School Districts
Bainbridge
Island School District
Bremerton
School District
Central Kitsap School
District
North Kitsap School
District
South Kitsap School
District
Educating Our Children
Kitsap County public schools have changed in
the past five years, with state education reform and a new emphasis on
standardized testing.
Local students' test scores are rising
consistently, but a tough economy has put steady financing for schools at risk.
Educators, taxpayers and state leaders are now confronted with the need to keep
test scores rising with fewer resources. Teachers and students also are
preparing for the graduation requirement Certificate of Mastery in
2008.
Alternative forms of public education -
home-school programs and parent-led classrooms, for instance - have become
popular. And several private schools are expanding to serve families who want
that option.
Here is a rundown of the County's school
districts:
South Kitsap
- Students: 11,300
- Schools: One high school, plus a small
alternative high school, three junior highs, an alternative junior high school
and 10 elementary schools.
- Summary: South Kitsap is home to the
state's largest three-year high school, some outstanding sports teams and an
award-winning drama program. SK provides supplemental instruction for home
school families with its Explorer Academy.
- South Kitsap schools are recovering from
a double-levy loss in 2000, which led to cuts in staff, education programs and
extracurricular activities. A new four-year levy passed in February 2001 and
will help restore the cuts.
- Superintendent: Beverly J. Cheney, as of
July 1, 2001, 360-876-7300
Bremerton
- Students: 6,216
- Schools: One high school, an alternative
high school and middle school, one junior high school, one middle school and
seven elementary schools. Bremerton also is home to the West Sound Technical
Skills Center, a vocational program that draws students from six school
districts.
- Summary: Bremerton schools are focusing
on education reform using funds from Initiative 728, passed in 2001 to help
reduce class sizes and improve reading scores. Facilities have been upgraded
and technology has been added at every level. Full-day kindergarten programs
are expanding across the district.
- SAT scores are on par with the state
scores and above the national average; ACT scores are above both the state and
national averages.
- Bremerton facilities are widely used by
community groups. The district's performing arts center is home to many
cultural events, as well as stage technology, television production and drama
classes. Bremerton schools have many partnerships with businesses and emphasize
the importance of community service in each grade.
- Superintendent: Elizabeth Hyde, as of
July 1, 2001, 360-478-5151.
Central Kitsap
- Students: 13,156
- Schools: Two high schools, a secondary
school, an alternative high school, three junior highs, an alternative junior
high, 14 elementary schools.
- Summary: Central Kitsap is the largest in
Kitsap County and is one of 26 districts across the nation to be federally
designated as "heavily impacted" by children of military families.
- The district has made major efforts to
prepare students for the new state standards, and offers summer school and
before- and after-school programs to help students prepare.
- The schools are known for their
technology programs and advanced placement course offerings at the high
school.
- The schools have gifted programs, a
parent-driven team school programs, a Montessori program and instruction for
home-school students.
- Superintendent: Catherine Davidson,
360-692-3111
North Kitsap
- Students: 6,500
- Schools: One high school, a small
alternative school, two junior high schools and seven elementary
schools
- Summary: North Kitsap schools offer
extensive program choices for their students. At the elementary and junior high
levels, the Options program is available for self-directed learners. The
district also offers tuition-based all-day kindergarten and the Beginning
Together preschool program at two schools.
- In 2002, the district embarked on a
massive building project funded by a $60.9 million bond passed in 2001. The
projects include renovations at the community pool and schools at every grade
level. The bond will pay for a new high school to be built near Kingston, too.
Projects funded by the bond money are expected to continue through
2007.
- Superintendent: Gene Medina,
360-779-8704
Bainbridge Island
- Students: 4,048
- Schools: One high school, one middle
school, one intermediate school and three elementary schools, with an
alternative education center.
- Summary: Bainbridge Island is one of the
area's wealthiest and best educated communities with a strong history of
supporting education. Its grade structure allows elementaries to house
kindergarten through fourth grades, while Sakai Intermediate School takes in
fifth and sixth. Woodward Middle School houses seventh and eighth, and the high
school is ninth through 12th.
- The district offers a tuition-based
full-day kindergarten, alternative, parent-driven education programs and a link
with home-school children. Many high school students take advantage of the
district's Running Start program to earn college credits before
graduation.
- Superintendent: Stephen R. Rowley,
206-842-4714
Buyers Remorse >Do Not Panic
Many homebuyers have experienced the alternating waves of excitement and regret that can occur when the real estate agent presents your offer to the sellers and they accept it. At first you will probably feel ecstatic--unless you wake up the next morning, covered with a rash and asking yourself, "What on earth have I just done?"
Occasionally agents get a morning-after call from buyers who will do anything to get out of the commitment they just made. If you are purchasing a home and find yourself in this condition, there are two important things to remember. First, your rash accompanies a very common condition called "Buyers' Remorse". Almost everyone who buys a house experiences this feeling, with varying degrees of intensity, sometime between making the inital offer and finalizing the sale.
Second, you should know that the anguish of buyer's remorse is almost always temporary. If you experience a sudden panic attack over your home purchase, call your real estate agent immediately. Postpone making any radical decision about backing out of the contract until you have considered things carefully and rationally with your agent.
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| Q |
What five basic components of a "smart home" can be controlled by technology?
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| A |
Lighting and window treatments, security and access control, data communication, environmental/energy management, and audio/video entertainment can all be operated by a "smart home". |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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