The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has announced it will restructure grade configurations in order to make more efficient use of building space and respond to changes in student enrollment patterns, which have seen numbers rising in Sammamish and Redmond, but declining in Kirkland.

Beginning in the 2012-13 school year, the district will shift to a new system of K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle school, and grades 9-12 high school.

According to the Redmond Reporter, the majority of the district’s growth over the next five to seven years will occur at the elementary school level. Thus, moving to a new system of K-5 elementary buildings, putting grades 6-8 into middle school buildings and grades 9-12 into high school buildings will free up more space at the elementary level, where need is greatest.