Pine Lake Middle School is home to about 900 students in the sixth through the eighth grade. As part of the Issaquah School District, Pine Lake serves students in the southern part of Sammamish. The school, which opened in 1974, has a strong focus on academics, athletics and the arts.
In 2006, the school received a National Blue Ribbon School award. Many campus teachers have their own school websites to communicate with students and disseminate class notes and assignments. The campus is closed, which means students need to stay on its grounds during class hours.
The Issaquah Schools Foundation and the campus PTSA support after-school homework help for Pine Lake students. Campus teachers have an average of about 12 years of experience. During the 2009-10 academic year, 63 percent of the 41 faculty members had earned their master's degree. In October 2009, the student body was evenly divided between boys and girls. The school mascot is the Wolverines.
While about 50 percent of Sunny Hills Elementary School students will attend Pine Lake, all pupils from Discovery and Creekside elementary schools are in the middle school's attendance area.