Moving to Eastside WA – How safe are public middle schools in Kirkland/Redmond/Bellevue?

Hi all,
We’re planning a move from Irvine, CA to the Eastside (Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue or nearby areas) for software work. We have kids in elementary and middle school, and school quality and safety are really important to us.

I’ve heard some mixed things — that while public schools are academically strong, there are concerns about drug use and other issues, especially in middle and high schools. Some say a lot of people end up putting their kids in private schools because of this, but we’d really prefer to stick with public schools and not pay for charter/private if we can avoid it.

Can anyone share their experiences or insights about how safe public middle schools are in terms of drugs, bullying, and general environment?
Also — any specific neighborhoods or school districts you’d recommend (or avoid) for a family with kids?

Thanks so much!