Atelier, 1316 227th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075, US

Based at Eastlake High School, Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning blends visual and performing arts, as well as science and math, together for its 7th to 9th grade students. In addition to art, the school stresses critical thinking skills and community awareness. The institution is a Choice School in the Lake Washington School District. That means it is small by design and geared to meet specific academic needs and interests. Renaissance administrators even offer advice on whether a Choice School is a good fit for a student. The school, founded in 2006, has a maximum enrollment of 90 students. During the 2009-10 school year, 61 percent of the students were girls and 39 percent were boys. The school has six teachers, with each one having an average of nearly 10 years of experience.