Nathan Eckstein Middle School 4.05

Nathan Eckstein Middle School is located in Seattle, Washington and is part of Seattle Public Schools.HistoryEckstein Middle School is part of the Seattle Public School District and located on the border of the Wedgwood and Bryant neighborhoods. It was named after Nathan Eckstein, a Seattle businessman, Seattle School Board member, and onetime director of Seattle Public Schools.The school originally opened as a junior high school in 1950 to 790 students. In 1971, it was changed into a middle school, teaching students in grades six through eight. For many years leading up to 2014, when school boundaries changed, Eckstein's student enrollment was about 1300 students. It now serves about 950 students, over 90 of whom are enrolled in the special education program, and employs 44 certificated teachers.Eckstein is known for its academic program, elective offerings, and award-winning music and technology education programs.In 1998, Richard Riley, the U.S. Secretary of Education, chose to deliver the State of Education address in the school's auditorium.The building is a designated city landmark.Music ProgramOrchestraEckstein has five orchestras. They are the Beginning, Junior, Intermediate, Senior, and Chamber Orchestras, taught by Brad Smith. The Beginning, Junior, and Intermediate Orchestras are string ensembles, and the Senior Orchestra is a symphony orchestra. Every year the orchestras perform at the Western Washington University Music Festival, in addition to many other festivals. The Senior Orchestra goes on an annual retreat to Icicle Creek Music Center for four days at the beginning of February. The Eckstein orchestra program has won a notable amount of awards.