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Is it True?

CLAIMS

[1] Declining academic performance is indicative of enrollment decreasing.  [MISS email from Mike Cero on Feb 6, 2025.]

[2] Student enrollment down 19.5%.  Severe decline in student enrollment.  As of 2025, 34% of Mercer Island parents with school-aged children choose not to enroll them in Mercer Island public schools. Mercer Island’s enrollment decline is the most severe in the county. 
[Downloaded document in June, 2025 from Parents for Mercer Island, an organization founded by Brian Gaspar.] 

[3] “34% of parents send their children out of district.”  Cited US Census as data source. [Robert O’Callahan, June 11, 2025 School Board Meeting, Facebook June 23, 2025.]

FACTS
Enrollment in the district is down from 4,437 students in 2018 to 3,952 students in 2025.

The percentage decline is (4,437 – 3,952)/4,437 = 10.9%. Subtracting the 120 open enrollment students leaves 3,832 students living on the island enrolled in MISD.

The percentage decline is (4,437 – 3,832) / 4,437 = 13.6%.

This is not just a Mercer Island issue, enrollment across the Puget Sound region has remained at 23,000 below pre-pandemic levels or approximately 10%.
DATA
CLAIM  

FACT
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CLAIM

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IS IT TRUE THAT THERE WERE FUTURE BONDS PLANNED FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?   No.  

CLAIM

FACTS

The claim that the Long-Range Facility Plan includes future school bonds of $116MM in 2027, $136MM in 2029, and $150MM in 2031 is simply fabricated.  Another version of this claim is that district projects an additional $248,000,000 in future bonds for elementary schools over the next 4 to 12 years.   

Completely false.  There are no projected future bonds for elementary schools in 4-12 years.

When asked about this, MISD's response was simple:  

The Mercer Island School District does not have three more bonds planned. In the future, there will be another long range planning committee and community engagement process to determine the next set of facility needs.

Ask MISD yourself by emailing [email protected].

How did this claim get made?  The document cited is a PLANNING document.  This is how planning works:  ideas are generated, options considered, and a plan is formed.  There are NO bonds planned, no costs determined, no timing determined, no approval by the School Board.  

In fact, Piper Sandler showed the rate for our local Schools to be FLAT FOR THE NEXT 14-YEARS.  That’s consistent with what MISD had been doing, a decade between bonds.  In 2014, the bond built half of IMS, Northwood, and classrooms at MIHS.  11- years later, a new bond was requested for the other half of IMS and work at MIHS.  It’ll take awhile to get that rolling, so the 12-14 duration is consistent with what we’ve experienced.

Yes, there will be bonds in the future.  A planning committee will be formed, recommendations discussed, community engagement available, and options considered.  The school board will vote to see which option goes to the voters.

For the April 2025 bond, there were several options considered in order to hone in on the right plan over the last few years.  Four scenarios were covered in the Long-Range Facility Plan, and Option C was selected for detailed costing as the bond proposal. 
From MISS:  "We analyze these academic outcomes as problems not addressed in the bond: 1 in 4 students are not on track for college-level math and science learning without remedial classes."

This is simply UNTRUE.  The stat that MISS references includes students who don’t take the evaluation, and those student’s 0 scores are included in the data. 

You REALLY have to stretch reality to say that MISD is not providing an outstanding education for students.

Our students are accomplished and amazing individuals who've been supported by parents, teachers, coaches, and a whole community that supports them.  The MISS implication that they're not ready for college or failing is absurd.

Class of 2024 College Map.  Nationally and internationally, our students are prepared and successful.

MIHS Newsletters.  Check out the range of accomplishments here.  Guaranteed Islander pride!

MIHS Profile.  Impressive.
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[Not that it’s worth writing, but this metric (on-track for college-level math and science’) which includes zeros for students who choose not to take the test  is higher at Mercer Island than Bellevue, Lake Washington, Issaquah, and Northshore.]

Get your questions answered

 If you'd like to see a question added to this list, please email us at [email protected]
For more detailed information on the bond, please visit the Mercer Island School District website.