Welcome to Crest Learning Center

Crest is a public MIHS program housed at Crest Learning Center specifically and carefully designed to offer a successful alternative pathway to graduation. All Crest graduates earn a diploma from Mercer Island High School. Most coursework is completed in class to support the individualized, project-based learning and supportive structure of the Crest Community students.
 
Here at Crest we have a dedication to our "Essentials" which include: Healthy Relationships, Community, Fun, and Work Ethic. Our values are reflected in all parts of the educational process of academics, social support, having fun while learning, and understanding the importance of a personal dedication to school. Crest is a program with high expectations and a strong sense of community, with all staff serving as positive adults in the lives of students.

Crest Learning Center
4150 86th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Phone: 206-236-3390

Crest Learning Center

Crest PRIDE! Four Core Essentials!

Healthy Relationships

Healthy connections are taught by building trust through acceptance and keeping an open mind. Respect is highly valued through sharing, listening, remaining honest, and being candid about thoughts and feelings in a safe community, where communication is encouraged and incorporated into the curriculum. Healthy relationships span friends, family, peers, adults in all capacities, and community members. 

Fun

Fun is an experience — often unexpected, informal, generally not cerebral but purposeful. Crest incorporates fun in all curriculum. Experiential fun learning occurs from group projects to field trips. Through learning new enjoyable activities, fun includes diverting the mind and body to contribute an extra dimension. Students are encouraged to share and explore all aspects of how fun can be added to each day.

Work Ethic/Grit

This is a distinct combination of passion, resilience, determination, and focus that allows a person to maintain the discipline and optimism to persevere in their goals, even in the face of discomfort, rejection, and a lack of visible progress. Students are supported while learning how to ethically work hard, remain committed to their goals, and persevere through struggles and failure. Habits and traits that comprise work ethic are emphasized and reinforced positively.

Community

Crest's Community embodies the soul of our program. It is a feeling of fellowship with others. Making efforts to be an active community member at Crest is vital to student success. Our strong curriculum results in sharing common attitudes, finding new interests, and learning how to be a productive member of any community. Crest students soon learn that supporting our community and being a part of it comes with embracing differences, feeling accepted, and finding a role here.

CREST SCIENCES

There are several science courses housed at Crest Learning Center: Horticulture, Advanced Horticulture and Marine Science. All of these courses are designed to introduce students to real world issues related to Environmental Science. In a Crest Science class, students are in the driver’s seat of their learning as they complete hands-on projects with real-life impacts. Students also take part in many labs and field trips, making for a memorable scientific education! 

As part of the Horticulture and Marine Science courses, students are also eligible for Future Farmers of America, a Career and Technical Student Organization dedicated to providing students with agriculture and leadership skills that can be applied in countless careers.

CREST ENGLISH/SOCIAL STUDIES BLOCK

creative writing and publishing

Crest Math

Step by Step Process for Applying to Crest

Crest Application Procedure

Interest in attending Crest can be initiated by a Student, Parent, Teacher, IEP Provider, Case Manager, HS Guidance Counselor or outside agency. Call or email the assigned counselor at Mercer Island High School or call the counseling department secretary at 206-236-3354. 

Guidance Counselors 

(A-D) Susie Brown - susie.brown@mercerislandschools.org

(E-J) Maddie LaPorte - maddie.laporte@mercerislandschools.org

(K-M) Laura Karson - laura.karson@mercerislandschools.org

(N-Si) Molly Smith - molly.smith@mercerislandschools.org

(Sj-Z) Katy Johnson - katy.johnson@mercerislandschools.org

Incoming freshmen contact is their Middle School Counselor

Process of Admission

Once a student has been referred and identified by committee, a visit to Crest is scheduled through the MIHS Counselor and the Crest Administrative Assistant. 

After the visit, the student is interviewed by Crest staff and if accepted, a Crest Application will be completed as well as a required letter written by the student explaining why they want to attend.

Crest applications are available at Crest Learning Center as well as in the Mercer Island High School Counseling Department.

Once the student is prepared for admission, they begin their classes as soon as possible. Student Guidance Counselors will update the student schedule to reflect changes.

The MIHS and Crest Staff collaborate to align academic, social and personal growth for each individual student. Crest Teachers and Counselors keep in regular contact to measure success and provide support. 

If you have further questions please contact Beverly vanHartesvelt, Crest Administrative Assistant 206-236-3390

History of Crest Learning Center

The East Seattle Years - 1971 through 1981

MI ONLINE 2025-2026

For students interested in taking online courses for the 25/26 school year, please complete both the Student Request for Online Form and pg 3 of the MI Online Course Expectations.

• MI Online Student Request Form
• MI Online Course Expectations 25/26

A change for the 25/26 school year is that all Computer Scored Tests will need to be taken in person with their mentor teacher.

The following groups will be prioritized for registration:

• Seniors needing specific credits for HS graduation
• Course not available at the school
• Course helps student make up failed credits needed to graduate

Students in these groups may benefit from online coursework, if there is space available

• Online course venue helps alleviate scheduling conflict
• Online learning environment perceived as better-meeting student's learning style
• Course offers student enrichment or subject matter of interest
• Course allows student to better prepare for college-level coursework
• Course allows student to prepare for the state assessments (MSP/HSPE)

Overview

MISD will primarily use APEX Learning as our provider, but may also use Courseware/EdOptions. These providers were selected from a vetted list provided by OSPI’s Alternative Learning Department Online Learning Division (formerly known as the Digital Learning Department). All providers have a signed contract for providing courses to the district, which is renewed annually. The contract varies by the type of provider. MISD does not vet the individual courses of the providers, except to determine if a course meets a graduation requirement (ie. is there enough American History in a course for the course to count as the US History requirement). All courses are available for credit on a MIHS transcript.

Timeline
Students may register prior to a semester's start date and if the needs arise they may request a course within the following windows:
Stand-alone course: Up to end of third week into semester.
Credit Recovery: Up to end of third week into semester.
Special considerations: Will be considered through the approval process by the student counselor and principal.

The Process
1) Students who wish to pursue an online course request must first complete MISD Form 2024 F (Student Request for Online Course). 

2) Once the form is complete and they connect with their counselor, the counselor reviews it and then provides it to Principal Wold for approval.

3) If the student is approved for the requested course, then the student will receive a digital form to notify the Online Course Registrar of the requested course and needed information. This will be emailed to the family from the High School Registrar. 

4) If the student is denied the requested course, the principal will contact the student and counselor. If the student so chooses their appeal avenue is through the Superintendent as outlined on the form. 

Students must be able to have a free period  available in case they need to be enrolled for daily attendance.

Contract Expectations
The student must make weekly contact with his/her Mentor Teacher. If adequate progress, as determined by the Teacher Mentor, is not being met, in-person meetings will be required and could result in additional interventions. These could include: additional Teacher Mentor contact by phone or email; regular in-person meetings; or scheduled on-campus work time. All coursework must be completed within the course start and end dates determined at the time of registration.

Acceptable Progress
Regular login and acceptable weekly progress toward course completion is required. Acceptable progress is the successful completion of approximately 5% of each course every week. If acceptable progress is not met, Washington state law mandates that the Mentor Teacher add further interventions and requirements, which could include scheduled work time during off periods, parent meetings, after school work time, or additional weekly check ins.

Earning Credit
Grading is the responsibility of the online teacher for the course. All grades and credit for completed courses will be recorded on the MIHS transcript. Withdrawing from a course within 10 school days of initial login will result in no record on the transcript. Withdrawing later than 10 school days after initial login and prior to the last 10 days of the course will result in a “W” on the transcript. Not completing the course will result in an “F” on the transcript. If the online provider has different rules regarding grade posting, those rules will take precedence.

French, Mandarin and Spanish 3 are not offered through MI Online.
French, Mandarin and Spanish levels 1 & 2 will be offered through MIOnline; however, students are only eligible to receive CR (credit) however, no letter grades will be given due to the nature of asynchronous language learning.

Course Eligibility and Tuition
MI Online Course eligibility is determined through an administrative review process. Mercer Island School District covers tuition for courses as long as a student does not exceed seven combined (on-site and online) courses for a semester. In other words, a student must have at least one unscheduled period to enroll in an online course. Additionally, students may not over-enroll (have more than seven courses).  Special allowances are made for students in their senior year needing credits to graduate.

Additional Costs
Some courses (particularly AP, literature, and science courses) may require supplemental texts or materials. Additional non-tuition costs are the responsibility of the student.

NCAA Eligibility
Students and parents are responsible for ensuring that the online course meets NCAA requirements should NCAA eligibility be part of the student’s post-high-school planning. Fuel Education courses often do not meet NCAA eligibility. If you need to verify that a course is NCAA certified, please let your counselor know at the time of course request.

CREST SENIOR AWARDS

Each June, Crest celebrates our seniors prior to the larger MIHS graduation ceremony.  At that time, we also recognize two deserving students who personify the spirit of our community.  We invite you to read about our awards, and if you'd like to contribute to the scholarship fund, there is a QR link below.

FOUNDER'S AWARD

For one who displays an independent spirit, successfully overcoming difficulties, demonstrating integrity and self-motivation, showing appreciation and respect for the community, achieving a degree of positive change in his or her life, and identifying a path for his or her life after high school. 

LINDA HOLT AWARD

For one who is a true supporter of Crest and the Crest community, for making things happen behind the scenes and having a calming presence, for being accepting and non-judgmental, subtle in actions, and deep in character, and for being consistently present.

Bloom Where You’re Planted

PLUS, WE RECOGNIZE AN OUTSTANDING HORTICULTURE STUDENT!

HORTICULTURE "DIRT" AWARD

The recipient of this award demonstrates all of the following characteristics of a horticulture student: 

D - Dedication to the program development and success. This person shows a true personal investment in the course, attends class regularly, contributes their ideas and follows through with execution on projects. 

I- Impactful to the classroom community. This person shows a compassion and respect for all aspects of horticulture and this is demonstrated by the positive attitude they keep in class. 

R – Responsible for their work and takes pride in the quality of work produced. This person shows maturity when asked to handle large projects, supervise groups of their peers, and can be trusted to complete all tasks assigned. 

T – Teamwork for their ability to work in any of the horticulture job crews. This person can easily work the various types of jobs within the class and lead groups to complete their tasks.

Donate to Crest's Senior AwARDS SCHOLARSHIP

https://wa-mercerisland-lite.intouchreceipting.com/mihsasb

Crest Learning Center: FAQ Sheet

Who goes to Crest?

• Crest is made up of about 50-80 students, plus ~120 online students, who are looking for an alternative to the traditional curriculum at Mercer Island High School.
• The reasons for attending could include:
  • Preferring smaller class size
  • Feeling overwhelmed in a large building
  • Needing additional assistance and support in core courses
  • Attendance issues
  • Wanting different ways to learn and be assessed
  • Wanting more voice in learning options

How Crest classes are different:

• Smaller Class Size: Most classes are about 16:1 student/teacher ratio
• Differentiated Instruction: Materials are selected based on individual student areas of growth and need
• Project Based Learning: Individual and group projects make up the majority of assignments in English, Social Students, and Science
• Student chosen topics: many projects give students choice in their learning
• Strong Teacher/Student Relationships: Most students have the same teachers for multiple years. 
• Multi-grade Learning Experiences: Most courses are multi-grade
• Low Homework: Crest courses have built in work time. Student work not completed in class is expected to be completed outside of class. Math classes have homework, but low volume.

What courses are offered at Crest?

• English/Social Studies Block
• Horticulture
• Marine Science
• Creative Writing
• Applied Algebra 1
• Applied Geometry
• Applied Algebra 2
• Directed Studies
• Resource

How do I enroll in Crest Classes?

• Students are accepted by application through team meetings.
• See your guidance counselor, IEP provider, or any Crest teacher for an application

Are there non-classroom course options?

• MI Online Courses
  • Courses from approved providers (APEX, Fuel) are available through Crest Learning Center
  • These courses can be taken independently/off-site or with daily seat time in a monitored classroom
  • Access to Credit Recovery
  • Access to hundreds of course options, many not available through MIHS

Will I earn credit that will get me into college through Crest?

• All Crest courses earn credit towards a Mercer Island High School degree program
• Core Classes are NCAA approved

Where do Crest students go after graduation?

• Universities (Western, Oregon State, Central, Eastern, Montana, Evergreen, Ringling, Rose Hulman, Hawaii)
• Local colleges (Bellevue College, Seattle Central, Renton Tech, Green River College, Lake Washington Tech)
• Workforce Integration

Hi all! This is Sofia L, and I’m almost halfway through my first semester of community college. And I just wanted to give you an update, as well as how all of your teachings have helped me as a college student. Currently, I am a straight A student with the four classes im taking. (English, Sociology, 20th Century Art History, and drawing). And in my spring semester im going into the honors program for English, history, and art. After this spring, I will be transferring to UCLA to pursue Studio Art with a minor in psychology. I wanted to share this with you because the education and mentorship you have given me has set me up for the upmost success. In my classes, especially English, I have been learning the very basics, and a lot of my peers have been struggling with this. However, because of how you challenged me, this is a piece of cake for me! Deadlines are easy because of the time management and organization skills I’ve learned, and overall Crest has made me the student I have always dreamed of being. I put in my IEP because I didn’t believe I could keep up, I honestly thought because I went to Crest I couldn’t handle the workload— But that is farther from the truth. I have not used any accommodations! Crest has prepared me so much for college, and even though I am not doing project based learning, I am still thriving. In Crest, I truly learned how to be a self sustaining student. So I just wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, you have all truly changed my life and put me on a path of greatness. I hope the school year has been going well and the new students have been treating you well. I miss you all very much, the teachers here are not as fun as you! I will try to visit during winter break! Hope you’re having a good day!

Sofia L.

All the Crest Essentials have been a big part of my life post high school. I have learned the importance of having healthy relationships. Making sure that I am being surrounded by people that will push me when I feel like giving up. These people tie into a community. Making sure that you have a home base outside of what home should be. I have joined clubs at Western to try to find my place. I ended up creating my own club with a few friends to ensure that there were more options for the incoming students and creating  more communities for everyone. Throughout my career, I have had challenges but making sure that I stay focused in my goal instead of just the things that have gone wrong was a really important and useful lesson I got from Crest. If things can go wrong, they will so it is important to keep your eye on the prize. The last thing and the most important piece of growth I have had since graduating is a lesson that you taught me, actually. You taught me that as much as work is important, I should make it a point to take breaks for my wellbeing. This ties into the ‘fun’ aspect. I have started scheduling breaks in my planner. Usually these breaks are to cook and eat but I didn’t realize how little I ate until I started doing this. I have also developed some very good cooking skills if I may say so myself. I will admit at first I doubted the process but once I started getting the into the routine of taking small breaks, I realized how helpful it was. I realized how much of a difference it had in my mental health. I still have a lot of room to grow but thanks to all the Crest Essentials I have felt more in control with my uncontrollable life.

As I continue my journey, I will always make sure I go back to everything I have learned at Crest. I will remember that Crest is always a place that I could go back to if need be thanks to all the amazing staff that pushed me when I wanted to give up.

I could write so much more Michael, but I kept it short and sweet. Writing this reminded me how grateful I am to you and to everyone there who helped me. 

Thank you for everything! Let me know what time the graduation is. Hopefully I can at least go to say hi. 

Thank you,

Pamela P.