BISD FAQs
Understanding Our Schools
Your Questions, Answered
Have a question about our schools? Ask us. We’ll answer it here.
We know families and community members have questions about enrollment, staffing, budgets, buildings and the decisions ahead. We also know information sometimes gets passed along that isn’t complete or accurate.
This page is a place to get clear, factual answers, with sources. When we receive a question that others may be wondering about too, we’ll add the answer here.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
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Coming SOON
We've Heard
"Odyssey could just convert to a charter school."
The Facts
Not under current Washington law. The state's original charter law allowed existing public schools to convert to charter schools, but that option was eliminated in 2016 when the Legislature rewrote the law after a state Supreme Court ruling.
Today, the only option would be to start a brand-new charter school. Washington charter schools must be open to students from anywhere in the state, so a new school could not give priority to Bainbridge Island families the way Odyssey does now.
Odyssey is a vibrant part of our school district, and we're committed to keeping it that way. Our Strategic Plan calls for learning environments where every student is known, supported and connected, and Odyssey's close-knit multiage classrooms are a great example of that.
Sources: Washington State Board of Education, Charter Schools FAQ; E2SSB 6194 Final Bill Report (2016); RCW 28A.710.050.
We've Heard
"Odyssey would be better off as a charter school, separate from the district."
The Facts
As part of BISD, Odyssey shares in district resources that a charter school would have to replace on its own. In Washington, a charter school is a separate organization with its own board, and it is responsible for its own:
- Funding: Charter schools do not receive local levy dollars. In BISD, levies pay for things the state doesn't fully fund, including staff, programs and smaller class sizes.
- Buildings: Charter schools can't run bond measures. They have to find, pay for and maintain their own facilities.
- Transportation: Today, Odyssey students can ride existing BISD bus routes to the neighboring Ordway and Bainbridge High School campuses, next door to Odyssey. As a charter school, Odyssey would no longer be part of the district's routes and would have to provide or contract for its own transportation.
- Special education: A charter school must provide special education services itself or contract for them. It would no longer be part of BISD's special education staff and programs.
Staying in BISD also keeps Odyssey's enrollment priority for Bainbridge Island families.
Sources: Chapter 28A.710 RCW (Charter Schools); E2SSB 6194 Final Bill Report (2016).
We've Heard
"Odyssey has tiny classes, only 13 students, while everyone else is packed in."
The Facts
The "13" is students per grade, not per classroom. Odyssey uses multi-grade combined classrooms (grades 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 and 7–8), so each classroom holds two grade levels. The state report shows about 13 students in each grade, which means a combined 1–2 or 3–4 classroom typically has about 22-26 students.
Odyssey's classrooms are comparable in size to general education classrooms across BISD. The combined-grade model is a different structure, not a smaller one.
Enrollment is by lottery, with priority for Bainbridge Island residents and siblings of current students.
Source: OSPI Washington School Report Card, Odyssey Multiage Program enrollment by grade; BISD classroom rosters, 2026–27.
We've Heard
"With enrollment declining, our schools must be slipping."
The Facts
Bainbridge Island students continue to perform well above state averages:
- English language arts: 86.4% of BISD students met standard, compared to 52.8% statewide.
- Math: 78.4% met standard, compared to 43.1% statewide.
- Science: 82.7% met standard, compared to 51.0% statewide.
Niche ranks BISD #5 of 234 school districts in Washington and #1 in Kitsap County, and BISD earned recognition through the State Superintendent's Award for 2025–26.
Sources: OSPI Washington School Report Card; Niche.com 2026 rankings; OSPI Washington School Recognition Program.
We've Heard
"There are empty classrooms all over the district."
The Facts
A classroom without a homeroom class is not an empty room. Our schools use these spaces every day for intervention and small-group instruction, special education, music, art, counseling and other student services.
New state special education rules (WAC 392-172A-03045, effective August 1, 2028) require districts to provide a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. BISD uses space for intervention classrooms to meet that need.
Sources: WAC 392-172A-03045; WSR 26-09-120; BISD Teaching & Learning.
We've Heard
"BISD spends far more per student than other districts."
The Facts
BISD spends $19,837 per student,close to the state average of $19,341.
BISD's student-to-teacher ratio is 20.3, compared to 19.7 statewide. In other words, we aren't overspending, and we aren't overstaffed.
Source: OSPI Washington School Report Card, per-pupil expenditures and student-to-teacher ratio.
We've Heard
"Based on attendance rates, BISD should have fewer teachers and classrooms."
The Facts
Washington funds and staffs schools based on enrollment, not daily attendance. State basic education funding is figured from the number of students enrolled, which districts report through monthly enrollment counts. Some states fund by average daily attendance, but Washington does not.
A student who is absent is still enrolled. They still have a desk, a teacher and a place on the class list, and they'll be back. Absences also change from day to day and are spread across many classrooms, so attendance never frees up a whole classroom or a teaching position.
A student who is absent is still our student. The students who struggle most with attendance are often the ones who need us most. Our job is to build inclusive school communities where every student feels welcome and excited to come to school. When they walk through the door, a classroom, a desk and a teacher should be waiting for them. Planning for anything less would send the wrong message.
BISD's attendance rate is higher than the state average, and improving attendance even further is a goal in our Strategic Plan.
Sources: RCW 28A.150.260 (state funding allocation based on enrolled students); Chapter 392-121 WAC (enrollment reporting); OSPI Washington School Report Card.
Still Have a Question?
If you’ve heard something that isn’t answered here, we’d like to know. Send us your question and we’ll get you the facts.