Mercer Island, an island community located at the southern end of Lake Washington and is connected by Interstate 90 to Seattle on the west and Bellevue on the east. Mercer Island is six square miles and is primarily a residential community of approximately 25,000 people, many of whom are employed in professional and managerial positions in the surrounding areas. The District is one of 35 schools in the King and Pierce counties affiliated with the Puget Sound Educational School District, a regional support educational agency. The Mercer Island School District, with a K-12 student population of approximately 4,000, enjoys a widespread reputation for quality and excellence, combining academics, cultural expression, and athletic achievement. This tradition of excellence is a major reason many families make Mercer Island their home. Achievement test scores at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are consistently the highest in the state. The district maintains a graduation rate of over 95 percent. With its proximity to Seattle and Bellevue, the Island has easy access to several public and private colleges and universities including the University of Washington, Seattle University, Bellevue College, and Lake Washington Technical College. The district employs a teaching and support staff of 500 and has an annual operating budget of approximately $72.7 million. The Mercer Island Schools Foundation in partnership with the schools’ PTAs contributes over $2 million dollars to maintain teaching positions and instructional support. Quality educators and support personnel are complemented by quality school facilities. The district has one 9-12 high school and an alternative high school program, one 6-8 middle school, and four K-5 elementary schools. The district benefits from the substantial contributions of parents and community. The Mercer Island Schools Foundation, established in 1981, has raised over $27 million for district programs.