Cedar Trails Elementary School

Tour planning: 2027–28 school-tour schedule

Tuition and admission: cross-school comparison and checklist

At a glance

Summary

Cedar Trails is a strong, comparatively small Issaquah School District elementary school operating in a modern campus that opened in 2021. Its smaller enrollment and newer building may be attractive for a young child who benefits from a less crowded environment. Its recent state assessment results are strong, although they should not be used as a proxy for kindergarten classroom quality.

Enrollment and staffing

Interpretation

Cedar Trails enrolled approximately one-third fewer students than Grand Ridge in 2024–25. The schoolwide student/teacher ratio is favorable, but it does not reveal a prospective student's eventual kindergarten class size; specialists and other teaching assignments affect this calculation.

Academics

These percentages were calculated from OSPI's reported Level 3 and Level 4 results for all students. State assessments begin after kindergarten and are influenced by the student population and participation. They are one indicator, not a direct evaluation of a prospective student's future teacher or classroom.

The Washington State Board of Education included Cedar Trails among the schools recognized for 2024–25. The recognition cited growth for students in one or more racial or ethnic groups and students receiving special education services, along with achievement in ELA and math.

Kindergarten experience

• Issaquah School District offers tuition-free full-day kindergarten.
• For 2026–27, the district also offered a three-hour morning kindergarten option; this must be reconfirmed for 2027–28.
• Incoming families have school-based registration information and a family/teacher connection process before school begins.
• Typical kindergarten class size, daily play time and classroom staffing remain to be confirmed directly with the school.

Culture and community

Verified information

• The school identity is the Wolf Pack, with the values “Problem Solvers who are Accountable, Courageous and Kind.”
• The PTSA has organized summer playground meetups and library events to help new families and students become comfortable before school begins.
• School highlights include a STEM fair, reading activities, community fundraising and school-spirit events.
• Cedar Trails uses the districtwide Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework for academics, social-emotional learning, behavior and attendance.

Visit observations

• No firsthand visit or observation recorded yet.

Campus and facilities

• Opened in August 2021 as Issaquah School District's sixteenth elementary school.
• Approximately 78,000 square feet.
• 26 classrooms, plus a playfield, transportation circulation areas and parking.
• Designed capacity was approximately 650 students; actual 2024–25 enrollment was 374.

The building's age and unused capacity may provide a comfortable physical environment, but current room allocation and program use should be observed during a tour.

Programs and student support

• Library, music and physical education are part of the district elementary program; school-specific frequency should be confirmed.
• Multilingual learners receive district-supported English language development through push-in/co-teaching services.
• School materials describe learning-resource and special-education programming, but the exact services relevant to a prospective student should be discussed directly if needed.
• The districtwide MTSS framework provides tiered academic, social-emotional, behavioral and attendance support.

Downloaded academic resources

• Shared kindergarten curriculum and progress-tracking guide
• Cedar Trails 2024–26 School Improvement Plan snapshot
• Blank district kindergarten report card

Logistics

• Distance from home: To be calculated.
• Typical travel time: To be tested during morning drop-off hours.
• Walking/biking feasibility: Unknown; the campus is on Issaquah-Pine Lake Road SE.
• Bus eligibility and route: Determined by address and must be confirmed for 2027–28.
• Before/after-school care: On-site district program called Wolf Club; waitlist applies.
• District care hours currently begin at 6:30 a.m. and run after dismissal until 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday dismissal is currently earlier than other weekdays; reconfirm the 2027–28 schedule.

Enrollment and timing

Issaquah School District generally requires kindergarten students to be five by August 31 of the entry year. Confirm the current cutoff and registration rules with the district before applying.

Attendance is determined by the home address. A transfer would depend on space, staffing and district approval. The current “Limited” status is for 2026–27 and cannot predict availability for a prospective student's entry year.

Fit considerations

Possible strengths

• Smaller overall school population than Grand Ridge.
• Newer building and substantial physical capacity.
• Strong academic results and recent state recognition.
• Transition activities that help incoming children meet peers and become familiar with the campus.

Possible concerns

• Road access and drop-off logistics may be less neighborhood-oriented than Grand Ridge.
• The school has a shorter institutional history because it opened in 2021.
• Before/after-school care is waitlisted.

Information needed before deciding

• Whether the home address is within the Cedar Trails attendance boundary.
• Expected 2027–28 kindergarten class count and size.
• Stability and experience of the kindergarten teaching team.
• A prospective student's reaction to the campus during a visit.
• Actual commute, bus and after-school-care options.

Visit notes

No visit recorded yet.

Questions for the school

• How many kindergarten classes do you expect in 2027–28, and what is the expected class size?
• How much choice, free play and outdoor time does a typical kindergarten day include?
• How do teachers support children entering with different reading, math and self-regulation levels?
• How stable is the kindergarten teaching team?
• What adult support is present during kindergarten class, lunch and recess?
• What transition events will be offered to incoming 2027–28 families?
• What is the current Wolf Club wait time for an incoming kindergartener?

Decision notes

• Current status: Researching
• Overall assessment: Strong option if a prospective student benefits from a smaller environment
• Confidence: Medium-low until boundary, visit and classroom information are confirmed
• Next action: Confirm assigned school, then arrange a school visit during 2026–27

Sources

• Cedar Trails official website — accessed 2026-08-22
• Cedar Trails annual school report — accessed 2026-08-22
• Cedar Trails kindergarten registration — accessed 2026-08-22
• District Cedar Trails capital-project profile — accessed 2026-08-22
• NCES school profile — 2024–25 data, accessed 2026-08-22
• Washington 2024–25 assessment dataset — accessed 2026-08-22
• Washington 2024–25 recognized schools — accessed 2026-08-22
• District attendance maps — accessed 2026-08-22
• District feeder patterns — accessed 2026-08-22
• District school-status list — accessed 2026-08-22
• District before/after-school care — accessed 2026-08-22

Change log

• 2026-09-10: Added consistent 2025 Washington elementary-school rank.
• 2026-08-22: Added downloaded curriculum, assessment and School Improvement Plan resources.
• 2026-08-22: Initial profile created.