Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule an appointment by visiting or calling the office, or emailing your counselor. Student drop-in: Before School & During Lunches

Office: 425-837-4833   Fax: 425-837-4907

Counseling Center Hours

7:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. (M, T, Th, F)

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (W)

Counseling Center Contacts

•  Academics/School Work:
  • Understanding graduation and course requirements
  • Improving your grades and managing school tasks.
  • Helping you with your stress level.
  • Your schedule and class registration.
  • Running Start and other special program questions.
• Personal/Social:
  • Adjusting to high school life and beyond.
  • Helping with stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, friendships, family life, etc.
  • Working out conflicts with classmates, teachers, friends and family members.
  • Strong feelings and things that are bothering you.
  • Financial assistance? Don’t let your family’s financial situation stop you from participating in LHS Activities – talk to your school counselor! We might be able to help.
• College/Career/Future:
  • Preparation for life after high school. 
  • We help students with their future plans – post-secondary school, college, jobs/careers.
  • Applying for college or scholarships.
• Help Might Look Like …
  • Getting to know you and listening without judgment.
  • Working to problem-solve an issue--maybe a challenge you are having with a class or a teacher or friend.
  • Questions you might have that you’re not sure who to ask.
  • Helping answer questions about applying to college or pointing you in the direction for post-high school opportunities. 
  • Someone to talk to when you’re feeling overwhelmed, left out, scared, nervous, anxious, or anything else.
  • If you’re worried about a friend, and you’re not sure what to do.

Email or call their counselor to make an appointment. Visit the contact page:

Counseling Center Contacts

Office: 425-837-4833   Fax: 425-837-4907

Counseling Center Hours

7:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. (M, T, Th, F)

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (W)

• Here are just some examples of when parents might contact their student's counselor:
  • Needing assistance with academic planning, class placement or college planning.
  • Discuss a class or school concern (we also advise parents to contact teachers directly).
  • Support for your child’s academic, personal or social needs:
    • Family and homelife changes that may interfere with learning such as death, divorce, changes in living situation or finances.
    • Friendship challenges.
    • Adjusting to high school life.
    • You need referrals for community resources.

Access Care Solace Services

• 24/7/365 multilingual support – A multilingual team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf, and schedule an appointment
• Care regardless of insurance – Connect to care with any coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.
• Easy access to care – Use Care Match, the self-serve website, to find a provider or services on your own.
• Call 888-515-0595 at any time. 
• Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers. Visit www.caresolace.com/issaquah and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Access Care Solace Services

If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Care Solace is NOT an emergency response service or mental health service provider.

Talk to you counselor for more information!

Academic Resources

Community Resources

Academics

Course Request Process

LHS Course Catalogue

Graduation Requirements

Parents/Guardians are an important resource: Even though your child may not always recognize how much you are doing for them, it is important to maintain open and calm communication with your child about their progress at school. For example:

• What class do they feel they are most successful in and why?
• What areas are the most difficult and how do they think you or someone else could support them?
• Does your student know the resources that Liberty HS has available?
• Ask what the best part of their day was and probe for detailed answers. Your child might just say "lunch" or "dismissal", but dig deeper; it will spark conversation!
• Also check Qmlativ and Canvas to check grades and graduation requirements. 

Teachers are an excellent resource: Many of our teachers are available before or after school by appointment, and during FLEX time for extra help. Check with each teacher for information about availability. For best results, please have your student contact their teacher ahead of time to make an appointment. Teachers also keep a wealth of information on their Canvas sites about each course!

After school help is sometimes available in the library as the school year progresses. Check with your teachers or counselor for more information.

Flex Time: Teachers offer academic supports and interventions during Flex Time/Advisory. Students should talk to their teachers about what options are available. (Teachers may also know of students interested in tutoring their peers. Inquire with teachers.)

King County Libraries: Free tutoring in person and online.

Study Zone 

KC Online Tutoring

Khan Academy: Offers free online tutorials and resources in different subjects including AP.

Khan Academy

The high school transcript outlines a student's classes taken, grades and credits earned, GPA and other graduation requirements met. This important document is used by the school, district and state to determine if a student has met all high school graduation requirements. Colleges and universities will require this document for application to their school.

Order a transcript

Grade Point Average (GPA) can be calculated using the following steps:

• Step 1: Obtain a copy of your transcript through Parchment.
• Step 2: Determine the Grade Point values for each grade you earned on your transcript. In WA State, these are the Grade Point values for letter grades:
  • A = 4.0
  • A- = 3.7
  • B+ = 3.3
  • B = 3.0
  • B- = 2.7
  • C+ = 2.3
  • C = 2.0
  • C- = 1.7
  • D+ = 1.3
  • D = 1.0
  • E or F = 0.0
  • W (Withdraw) and P (Pass) do not count into GPA calculations
  • For example: The grade for your freshman year Biology A (Semester 1) class is a B-, so this would equal 2.7 points. The grade for Biology B (Semester 2) class is a B+, so this would equal to 3.3 points.
• Step 3: Add up all the Grade Points.
  • For example: The grade for freshman year Biology A (Semester 1) class is a B-, so this would equal 2.7 points. The grade for Biology B (Semester 2) class is a B+, so this would equal to 3.3 points. Add these together and your total Grade Point value is 6.
  • [If you have 1.0 credit grades (this is typical for Running Start classes), count these grades twice in your grade point total. For example, the grade for your Running Start Biology 101 class is an A-. The credit value is 1.0. The A- point value is 3.7. Add 3.7 twice into the total Grade Points (i.e. 3.7 + 3.7 = 7.4 Grade Points)]
• Step 4: Add up the total number of semester grades. (This is easiest and most straightforward if you are using semester-only grades that equal 0.5 credits.)
  • For example: Biology A (Semester 1) class is worth 0.5 credits; Biology B (Semester 2) class is worth 0.5 credits. So the total number is 2.
  • [If you have 1.0 credit value, count this class twice in your total number of semester grades. If you have credits that are less straightforward (i.e. 0.333 or 0.334, etc.) the math gets trickier so follow the alternate method instead.]
• Step 5: Divide your Grade Points total by total number of semester grades to get your GPA. Use this simple equation to find the average:
  • Total Grade Points/Total Number of Semester Grades = GPA
  • For example, 6 Grade Points divided by 2 semester grades = 3.0 GPA
• Alternate Method:
  • If you have credits that are less straightforward than 0.5 or 1.0 credits (i.e. 0.333 or 0.334, etc.) the math gets a little more cumbersome. Instead of adding up the Grade Points in Step 3, multiply the Grade Points for each class by the credit earned for that class.
  • For example: Your grade for 8^th-grade year Spanish I (Trimester 1) class is a B-, so this would equal 2.7 points. The credit is worth .333 credits. The grade for Trimester 2 is a B+, so this would equal to 3.3 points. The credit for Trimester 2 is 0.333. Trimester 3 is a C+ at 2.3 point and 0.334 credits. Multiply the grade points by the credits. For example:
    • 2.7 x 0.333 = 0.8991
    • 3.3 x 0.333 = 1.0989
    • 2.3 x 0.334 = 0.7682
  • Add up all the totals (0.8991+ 1.0989 + 0.7682 = 2.8009) and divide by the total credits earned (0.333 + 0.333 + 0.334 = 1.0 credit) to calculate the final GPA. For example:
    • 2.8009/1.0 = 2.8009 GPA

Applying to colleges can be an overwhelming experience. Counselors and the College and Career Center are here to help! Visit them and ask questions to get help.

How to apply to college

If you plan to compete in a sport at a Division I or II college, register at the NCAA Eligibility Center.

NCAA Eligibility Center

Washington State allows qualified high school students to take courses at local community and technical colleges during their junior and senior years of high school through the Running Start Program. Students can earn both college credit and high school credit at the same time.  

Running Start

Washington Network for Innovative Careers: WANIC Skill Center offers college and career education for juniors and seniors. These year-long, advanced-level Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs prepare students for career and college readiness. WANIC programs offer dual credit opportunities (high school and college credit) and/or lead to industry certifications. Programs are designed in three period blocks. All classes earn CTE credits and may offer other equivalencies towards graduation requirements. WANIC is a consortium of 7 school districts: Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, and Snoqualmie Valley. Students may have to travel to another school district to attend the WANIC program of their choice.

WANIC

We understand that the traditional, comprehensive high school is not always the best fit for every student. Consult with your counselor on what alternative options might be available for you.

Academics

Alternate Routes to Graduation

Confidentiality means what you talk to a counselor about is private and stays between you and the counselor unless you give us permission to share it, with a few exceptions.

• The important exception to this rule is if: 
  • Someone is hurting you…
  • You are worried about a friend’s safety…
  • You are hurting yourself… 
  • You, or someone you know, are in an unsafe situation…
• We are responsible for keeping students safe and getting help!

• Hold, at minimum, a master’s degree in school counseling.
• Meet the state certification/licensure standards.
• Fulfill continuing education requirements.
• Uphold American School Counselor Association (ASCA) ethical and professional standards.
• LHS counselors plan, organize and deliver a comprehensive school counseling program that personalizes education and supports, promotes, and enhances the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students, based on the national standards for school counseling programs of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). For more information, visit:

www.schoolcounselor.org