Mercer Island Youth and Family Services is a unique public/private partnership with the City of Mercer Island to…More provide human services and assistance to residents and families in need. The organization is largely supported by a non-profit foundation and proceeds from sales at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop.</p> <p>Formerly the site of a the Boys Parental boarding school, the MIYFS is based inside the Luther Burbank Building. Many classes and services are provided here or at the Island's public schools. Community-based services include loss and grief counseling, alcohol and drug prevention and youth development. MIYFS also contracts with other providers to help with domestic violence, sexual abuse and other legal aid. Emergency services, such as a food bank and rent assistance, are also available.</p> <p>MIYFS also provides student counseling services inside Mercer Island's public schools.</p>

The Mercer Island School District administers the Island's three elementary schools, middle school, high school and…More alternative high school branch, Crest Learning Center.</p> <p>The school district is one of the Island's most well-regarded institutions and often cited by residents as the reason they live here. Forbes magazine recognized the district in 2009 as one of the ten best nationwide in small U.S. cities. Measured by test performance, Mercer Island is consistently one of the top districts in Washington state. In 2009, district students achieved the second-highest average score on the state's MSP/HSPE proficiency exams.</p> <p>The district is led by Superintendent Gary Plano, appointed in 2008, and by a five-member school board, each subject to four-year terms.</p>

Mercer Island High School is the island's only public high school. The school maintains an excellent reputation…More backed by one of the state's highest on-time graduation rates and was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2006.</p> <p>Based on High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) results in 2009, Mercer Island High had the 11th highest average percent of students passing of 424 high schools in the state — 94 percent of students achieving math and reading standards, 95 percent in reading and 86 percent in science in 2011.</p> <p>Faculty at the school are also well-credentialed (2011 staffing): Of the 69 classroom teachers on faculty, 17 are certified as National Board Teachers and 67 have Master's Degrees.</p> <p>The school is not only known for academic excellence. Students are also offered a wide array of award-winning activities in athletics, theatre, music, marching band, broadcast radio station, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"hot-jamz-kmih-fm"} --> (Hot Jamz KMIH 88.9 FM), liberal arts and various other extracurricular activites. Facilities regularly open to the public showcasing student talent include a state-of-the-art performing arts theatre, <!-- name: Islander Stadium and the Mercer Island High School Gymnasium.</p> <p>Reflecting the close bond the high school shares with the community, the school's students and sports teams are known simply as the "Islanders."</p>

ETC's motto is "There is more than one way to go to school."

ETC is now accredited to provide K through 12…More education and provides full enrollment, dual enrollment (with another school), tutoring in single subjects and test preparation for the SAT and ACT. In addition to the main site, they have a secondary location in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where teachers provide instruction in Sunday School rooms, which is within walking distrance of Mercer Island High School. Independent studies in subjects like art and PE can be administered by ETC.</p> <p>The original owners were Mercer Island teachers who started the business in the basement of St Monica School. A speech pathologist is part of the staff. The College Board has approved ETC as a nonstandardized test site for the ACT test, where ETC can provide special accommodations that are not normally available at regular test sites such as extended time, a reader or a scribe.</p>