Bellevue Big Picture School

What Bellevue Big Picture School does

Bellevue Big Picture School is a public 6th-12th grade choice school located in Bellevue, Washington, operated under Bellevue School District (BSD405) and implementing the Big Picture Learning educational model. The school opened in September 2011 with its first graduating class in 2015 and has maintained a 100% graduation-eligibility rate across classes 2015-2022, with 90% of graduates enrolling in college. Maximum designed capacity is 525 students, structured at roughly 75 students per grade in grades 6-11 and up to 50 in grade 12. The current staff directory lists approximately 55 members led by Principal Bethany Spinler, with Assistant Principals Maria Frieboes and Devin Barrett.

The school's core products are organized around three pillars: the Learning Through Interests (LTI) internship program, in which high school students spend one full day per week at expert-mentor internship sites in minimum 10-week rotations, accumulating 500+ pre-professional hours by senior year; Project-Based Learning (PBL), which uses public exhibitions and digital portfolios for authentic assessment; and a multi-year Advisory structure where each student stays with the same advisor and peer cohort for 2-4 years to personalize learning plans. Supporting programs include Running Start, five Advanced Placement courses (AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science, AP Photography, AP Human Geography), College in the High School, and Jubilee REACH middle school athletics. The technology stack is conventional K-12: student-issued laptops with Microsoft OneNote as the course management system, Smart Boards, Synergy StudentVUE/ParentVUE for grades and attendance, Naviance/SchooLinks for college and career planning, and Finalsite for the public website.

Commercially, the school is a publicly funded entity with no tuition charged to resident students; the only documented fee is a $100 annual student parking permit. Revenue derives entirely from Bellevue School District allocations, Washington state education funding, and federal education programs. Admissions use an annual district-wide lottery (mid-December to early January open enrollment period) with 25% geographic quotas across the four BSD attendance zones (East, West, South, North) and free/reduced-lunch status plus gender as plus factors for diversity. The school is currently undergoing a major capital expansion — a 99,300 sq ft renovation/construction project at 4255 153rd Ave. SE designed for the 525-student capacity, with anticipated occupancy in Fall 2026 — followed by a programmatic innovation rollout beginning Fall 2027 to deepen implementation of the Big Picture Learning framework.

Name

Bellevue Big Picture School

Legal name

Bellevue Big Picture School

Website

https://bellevuebigpicture.bsd405.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bellevue Big Picture School is a public 6th-12th grade choice school in Bellevue, Washington, operated by Bellevue School District and implementing the Big Picture Learning model. It serves up to 525 students through Learning Through Interests internships, Project-Based Learning, and multi-year Advisory cohorts, funded entirely by district, state, and federal public education dollars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Public education
• Project-based learning
• School internship programs
• Secondary education services
• Personalized learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: As a public school within Bellevue School District, funding comes from district budgets, state education funding, and federal education programs. No tuition is charged for resident students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bellevue Big Picture School is a public 6th-12th grade choice school within Bellevue School District that delivers secondary education grounded in the Big Picture Learning model. Its core offerings include the Learning Through Interests (LTI) Internship Program in which high school students complete multi-week, mentor-led, real-world internships; project-based learning delivered through individualized student plans; an advisory structure in which each student stays with the same advisor and small peer group for 2-4 years; and dual-credit pathways such as Running Start and College in the High School. Assessment occurs through digital portfolios and public exhibitions rather than standardized testing, with students completing over 500 internship hours by senior year.

Product overview

Bellevue Big Picture School is a 6-12 grade public choice school within the Bellevue School District, implementing the Big Picture Learning educational model. The school offers a unified educational program centered on three core pillars: Learning Through Interests (LTI) Internship Program where students complete real-world internships; Project Based Learning (PBL) as the primary pedagogical approach; and Advisory Program providing personalized student support. Additional programs include Running Start and College in the High School for college credit, five AP courses, and Jubilee REACH sports for middle schoolers. Student assessment occurs through portfolios and public exhibitions rather than traditional testing. The school is undergoing expansion with a new campus opening fall 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learning Through Interests (LTI) Internship Program Signature program in which high school students complete multi-week (minimum 10 weeks), mentor-led internships at partner organizations such as hospitals, tech companies, financial institutions, and museums. Students spend one full day per week at internship sites and complete more than 500 hours of pre-professional work by the end of senior year. Open to enrolled high school students.
• Project Based Learning (PBL) Pedagogical program in which students engage in deep inquiry through projects connected to community concerns, career exploration, mentorship, and technology, blending academic content with collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Students are assessed via public presentations and individualized project standards rather than traditional testing. Available to enrolled 6th-12th grade students.
• Advisory Program Core organizational structure in which each student is placed in an advisory class focused on well-being, college and career exploration, service learning, interest-driven projects, and academic skill development. Students stay with the same advisor and small peer group for 2-4 years. Provided to all enrolled students.
• Running Start Program that allows 11th and 12th grade students to enroll tuition-free at Bellevue College and earn both high school and college credit simultaneously by taking college courses not offered at the high school campus.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses College-level courses offered on-site for high school students, including AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science, AP Photography, and AP Human Geography, enabling students to earn college credit through AP exam performance.
• College in the High School Program that allows students to earn college credit through designated high school courses including Precalculus, Senior English, Physics of the Universe, and Photography, offered alongside regular high school coursework.
• Student-Led Conferences and Exhibitions Assessment method in which students present their learning through digital portfolios and quarterly public exhibitions, discussing growth with staff, parents, peers, and mentors under individualized, real-world project standards. Provided to all enrolled students.
• Jubilee REACH Middle School Sports After-school athletic program delivered in partnership with Jubilee REACH, offering coed cross-country, basketball, soccer, badminton, volleyball, flag football, and track and field depending on field availability, for enrolled middle school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate for classes 2015-2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Big Picture LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founding educational partner since school opened in 2011. Big Picture Learning provides the educational design framework including the 10 distinguishers (advisory structure, LTI internships, authentic assessment, etc.), professional development, coaching, and network support. Nationally, Big Picture schools report 92% graduation rate and 95% college acceptance.
• Bellevue Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship site partner providing students real-world experience in fire services and emergency response careers.
• Overlake HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship site partner providing healthcare career exposure for students interested in medical professions.
• Seattle International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship site partner for students interested in film, media arts, and entertainment industry careers.
• Pacific Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship site partner providing STEM-related learning experiences in informal education setting.
• Jubilee REACHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for middle school athletics and activities. Jubilee REACH facilitates sports programs (soccer, basketball, golf, cross country, flag football) on BSD middle school campuses.
• MahlumcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm leading the design of the new school campus renovation/construction project at 4255 153rd Ave. SE. Developing educational specifications and building design.
• GlidanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship site for student Pranav Adhyapak, providing real-world work experience.
• Canary TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship site for student Thiru Deepak, providing technology industry exposure.
• Museum of FlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship site for student Chris Bridgeland, providing aerospace and museum career experience.
• WSP EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship site for student Will Bravenec, providing engineering industry experience.
• Seattle Pacific University Athletic Training DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent internship site for student Aaqil Alpuri, providing sports medicine and athletic training experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• High Tech High: San Diego-based public charter school network (grades 6-12) built around project-based learning, internships, and student exhibitions. Operates as a direct methodological peer to Bellevue Big Picture School with a similar PBL + real-world work backbone.
• Envision Schools: Bay Area public charter school network emphasizing project-based learning, advisory structures, and portfolio-based assessment. Closely aligned with Bellevue Big Picture's pedagogy and student-experience model.
• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of public charter and independent schools with rigorous college-prep curricula and AP-heavy coursework. Comparable as an alternative public/independent school competing for similar college-bound families in the same demographic segment.
• Crosstown High: Memphis public high school built on EL Education's project-based learning model with industry partnerships and internships. Direct methodological peer in the public-school PBL + internship category.

Broad incumbents

• Big Picture Learning: National nonprofit network of 275+ schools that licenses the LTI/advisory/PBL framework under which Bellevue Big Picture School operates. Comparable as the broader incumbent ecosystem rather than a single peer institution.

Emerging players

• Khan Lab School: Mountain View-based independent school experimenting with personalized, mastery-based, blended learning. Comparable as a design-forward alternative school focused on student agency and real-world application, though operating at smaller scale.

Regional players

• Lakeside School: Premier private 5-12 school in Seattle with strong college placement and project-based elements. Comparable as a regional alternative school competing for the same high-achieving Bellevue-area families, though operating as an independent private institution.
• The Overlake School: Independent 5-12 school in Redmond, WA serving a similar Eastside demographic to Bellevue Big Picture. Competes for the same college-prep-bound families in the Bellevue/Redmond corridor and offers comparable extracurricular and college-counseling depth.
• Lake Washington School District Choice Schools: Neighboring Washington district operating its own choice and alternative schools (e.g., Tesla STEM, International Community School). Comparable as a regional competitor for choice-school families on the Eastside.

Others

• Bellevue School District: Parent organization and funder of Bellevue Big Picture School. Comparable as the governing district against which the school's outcomes and choice enrollment competition are benchmarked, though it is not a competing school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bellevuebigpic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/BellevueBigPictureSchoolUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/bellevuebigpic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bellevuebigpictureschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/bellevuebigpic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bellevue Big Picture School