Mercer Islanders Support our Schools
Mercer Island students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. Student success reflects dedicated educators, supportive families, and a community that takes pride in its schools. Learn more here about student achievements, our schools, and community support.
Mercer Island students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. Student success reflects dedicated educators, supportive families, and a community that takes pride in its schools. Learn more here about student achievements, our schools, and community support.
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Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools (CMIPS), founded over 30 years ago, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to ensuring stable school funding through bonds and levies. Our mission is to support students and schools by sharing accurate, factual information, and advocating for the resources public education needs to thrive.
If you question anything documented here, please contact us. [email protected] |
DID YOU KNOW?
Explore. You'll be informed and impressed.
TRUTH & FICTION
With the election season for City Council and MISD School Board upon us, there are some claims being made about the MISD students, staff and administration that are not factual. CMIPS does not endorse candidates; however, CMIPS will provide data-based responses to claims that are not accurate.
If you find anything on this site that you think may be incorrect, don't hesitate to contact us at yesMIschools.org.
If you find anything on this site that you think may be incorrect, don't hesitate to contact us at yesMIschools.org.
JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER
Dear Mercer Islander,
Mercer Island schools have a long tradition of excellence. With strong academics, arts, athletics, and innovation, our students are well-prepared for college, careers, and life. This success is made possible by dedicated educators, engaged families, and a supportive community.
Our schools are a source of deep community pride—built on decades of investment in future generations and a shared commitment to high-quality education.
Recently, there’s been a growing effort to discredit our students' achievements, the strength of our programs, and the dedicated educators and community members who support public education. These claims rely on false or misleading information—easily disproven, yet repeatedly shared. We won’t speculate on motives. But we will share accurate, verifiable facts—with sources. We invite you to stay informed and engaged with the latest happenings in Mercer Island schools—because our students, staff, and community deserve nothing less.
We invite you to read below and discover just a few of the remarkable accomplishments of our Island students and the rich opportunities available in our schools. Stay tuned for future updates—because when you know the facts, it’s clear why our schools remain strong and a lasting source of pride for Mercer Island.
Moving forward together,
Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools
CMIPS, founded over 30 years ago, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to ensuring stable school funding through bonds and levies. Our mission is to support students and schools by sharing accurate, factual information, and advocating for the resources public education needs to thrive.
Check out where students in the MIHS Class of 2025 are going to college.
You’ll be so impressed and proud to be an Islander!
Mercer Island Student Accomplishments
Mercer Island schools have a long tradition of excellence. With strong academics, arts, athletics, and innovation, our students are well-prepared for college, careers, and life. This success is made possible by dedicated educators, engaged families, and a supportive community.
Our schools are a source of deep community pride—built on decades of investment in future generations and a shared commitment to high-quality education.
Recently, there’s been a growing effort to discredit our students' achievements, the strength of our programs, and the dedicated educators and community members who support public education. These claims rely on false or misleading information—easily disproven, yet repeatedly shared. We won’t speculate on motives. But we will share accurate, verifiable facts—with sources. We invite you to stay informed and engaged with the latest happenings in Mercer Island schools—because our students, staff, and community deserve nothing less.
We invite you to read below and discover just a few of the remarkable accomplishments of our Island students and the rich opportunities available in our schools. Stay tuned for future updates—because when you know the facts, it’s clear why our schools remain strong and a lasting source of pride for Mercer Island.
Moving forward together,
Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools
CMIPS, founded over 30 years ago, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to ensuring stable school funding through bonds and levies. Our mission is to support students and schools by sharing accurate, factual information, and advocating for the resources public education needs to thrive.
Check out where students in the MIHS Class of 2025 are going to college.
You’ll be so impressed and proud to be an Islander!
Mercer Island Student Accomplishments
- MIHS Media Programs Win National Awards: KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV received multiple prestigious awards at the 2025 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Awards. KMIH won the Golden Microphone as America’s top high school radio station for the second year in a row. Faculty advisors Joe Bryant, Natalie Woods (radio), and Michael Ketchum (video) earned top honors as Best Faculty Advisors. Awards spanned categories like Best Campus News, Best Podcast, Best Sports Play-by-Play, and more. More here.
- VEX Robotics World Championship Qualifier: The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) VEX Robotics Team has qualified for the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas. This recognition honors the students’ technical skills, design and programming expertise, and strong teamwork throughout the season. More here.
- MIHS Students in partnership with AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime and Coordinating Council for Refugees (CCFR) delivered over 150 roses and handmade Valentine’s cards to residents at Island House Assisted Living and Aljoya Mercer Island. This compassionate gesture celebrated and uplifted local seniors, fostering meaningful intergenerational connections. More here.
- Cross Generation Pen Pals: For the past 12 years, students from Mrs. Oliveira’s 3rd Grade Classroom at Northwood Elementary and residents at Aljoya Mercer Island are building meaningful connections—one letter at a time! Through a thoughtful pen pal program, young learners and senior neighbors have exchanged stories, questions, drawings, and encouragement throughout the school year. This heartwarming partnership fosters intergenerational friendship, builds writing and communication skills, and reminds us all of the power of human connection—no matter your age.
- PTA Scholarships Recipients: Congratulations to the 29 MIHS seniors who were awarded a MI Community Scholarship, which has been administered by the Mercer Island PTA Council since 1978. Each scholarship recognizes outstanding attitude, effort, and a student’s positive contribution to the classroom and community. More here.
- MISF Support: Mercer Island Schools Foundation has raised over $27 million since its inception in 1981 to support school programs, curriculum, development, and more. Find out more at Mercer Island Schools Foundation. This year MISF exceeded their fundraising goal and will be contributing $1.2 million to MISD.
- State Recognition: All four elementary schools—Island Park, Lakeridge, Northwood, and West Mercer—were honored by the Washington School Recognition Program for supporting student growth and academic achievement during the 2023–2024 school year. More here.
- MI Phone-Free Schools: MISD reported strong outcomes from the 2024–25 rollout of MI Phone‑Free Schools across Islander Middle School and Mercer Island High School. Data from the Education Effectiveness Survey shows (1) 83% of teachers say limiting phones “always” improves their teaching ability, (2) 83% report a boost in student engagement, and (3) 76% believe it’s improved students’ social-emotional well-being. More here.
- National Letters of Intent: 26 athletes signed National Letters of Intent to compete in NCAA sports, across 16 different sports and 24 colleges. More here.
- 3A State Championships in 2024-25: Cross Country Both Boys & Girls, Girls Track & Field, Girls Tennis, Girls Swim & Dive, Boys Golf, Boys Soccer, Boys Lacrosse, Drill Team. More here. Of special note: Drill Team swept all three state championship categories (Military, Kick, Pom) at the Sun Dome in Yakima — their first-ever state titles. More here. Girls Swim & Dive earned their third consecutive 3A State Championship, scoring 381 points (second-highest in state history) and setting school records in seven events. More here.
- IMS Orchestra: 7th & 8th Grade Orchestras were named a Concert Hour Exemplary Honor Group at the 2025 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All‑NW Conference—one of only two middle school ensembles selected across six Northwest states. More here.