About Us> Mission • History • Faculty & Staff • Employment

About Us: History of the school

Spring Street International School opened in the fall of 1995 in response to the interest of students and parents seeking a rigorous academic program responsive to the skill levels and interests of individual students. The school is approved by the Washington State Board of Education to serve students in grades six through twelve. Spring Street International School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, and is a Candidate Member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools. As an independent school, it is registered as a non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees, and is committed to independence of control by any government or church agency, or special interest group. The school, its teachers and administrators, are accountable directly to its students and parents. It is free to select its own goals, curricula, teachers and students in the pursuit of excellence in education.

Spring Street International School is located at 505 Spring Street in Friday Harbor, Washington. Approximately two-thirds of its students come from San Juan Island, others commute from Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Islands, and our international students stay in our student dormitory in Friday Harbor.  The unique setting of the school enhances the core program by allowing a diversity of educational experiences, through access to the local environment and community resources, and the use of unique talents of community member. While an atmosphere of intimacy is critical to the school’s functioning, the use of resource people insures that students are exposed to an unusually broad range of perspectives. The school seeks to promote a balance for students between an intensive academic program and experiential education, including field trips, wilderness experiences and an overseas program. We believe the exposure our students receive to a wide range of experiences helps keep the isolation of island living from imposing limitations on their choices in life.



The Spring Street International School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.