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Phantom Lake Elementary in Bellevue, Washington is one of the oldest schools in the area, established in 1894. Today, it’s home to a thriving and diverse student population, with approximately 33% with a first language other than English, 33 different languages spoken among school families, and 28% qualifying for free or reduced price meals.

While Phantom Lake is one of the smaller elementary schools in Bellevue, the school uniquely provides critical special education preschool services for the district, for which eight of the school's classrooms were originally designed. Our close-knit and welcoming school community organizes over a dozen events throughout the school year incorporating preschool and elementary families and neighborhood organizations alike. 

Due to declining student enrollment across the district, Bellevue Schools is looking to close several elementary schools and repurpose them for "innovative programing" (choice schools), including Phantom Lake Elementary. This would not only disperse our neighborhood school community across various schools in the district, but critically leave special needs families throughout the district without early learning support.

Bellevue School Districts cites declining student population and classroom underutilization among criteria for school closure. However, Phantom Lake Elementary is one of the few schools in the district with year-over-year student population growth. The discrepancy is that our numerous preschool students are not counted among the student body, and our flourishing preschool classrooms are considered “unoccupied” because the district does not receive per-capita early learning funding from the state. 

Bellevue School District will make a final recommendation on school closures to the School Board by February 9th.

Please speak out now to preserve this vital institution of Bellevue’s past, present, and future!