Culture of Belonging
A culture where all are welcome, valued, and safe.
Living Our Promise
2023-24 Annual Report
Our Promise
Every student in Highline Public Schools is known by
Name, Strength and Need,
and graduates prepared for the future they choose.
In spring 2023, the school board adopted four new strategic goals, grounded in Our Promise to know every student by name, strength and need. This year's annual report moves beyond numbers to share personal stories and real-world impacts from the 2023-24 school year.Along with the Strategic Plan Dashboard, which tracks our progress through data, these stories show how we are achieving our four goals: creating a culture of belonging, prioritizing innovative learning, focusing on bilingual and biliterate skills, and preparing students to be future ready.
Our Goals
Select an Icon Below to Learn More About Each Goal
Innovative Learning
Academic experiences that engage, empower, and challenge every student.
Bilingual & Biliterate
Multicultural skills that enable students to live, work, and communicate across cultures.
Future Ready
Students explore possibilities and develop mindsets that prepare them for a changing future.
Annual Report
at a Glance
Student Sense of Belonging
3% Increase
Student Sense of Belonging
We track student survey data to measure progress in students' sense of belonging. Students' sense of belonging in grades 6-12 increased from 36% to 39%.
Staff Sense of Belonging
2% Increase
Staff Sense of Belonging
We track staff perspectives from staff survey data and measure progress in staff’s sense of belonging. District staff's sense of belonging increased from 56% to 58%.
Â
College and Career Readiness
5% Increase
College and Career Readiness
We track 11th-grade student survey data to measure progress in students' college and career readiness. Students' confidence for college and career readiness increased from 81% to 86%.
Industry Recognized Credentials
14% Increase
Industry Recognized Credentials
The percentage of Industry Recognized Credentials awarded increased significantly, rising from 16% to 30%.
Dual Language
13% Increase
Dual Language Program
Enrollment in the Dual Language Program increased by 454 students.
Culture of Belonging
Innovative Learning
Academic experiences that engage, empower, and challenge every student.
Student Experiences Leadership in Sustainability
Setalina Whiteley shares how the Waskowitz Environmental Leadership & Service program has shaped her passion for the environment. Her experiences—from clean-up initiatives to summits—are preparing her for a future in environmental leadership.
Life and Learning at Highline Virtual Academy
Sarah Huo, a seventh-grade student in the 2023-24 school year, shares her unique experience at Highline Virtual Academy (HVA), where she enjoys live classes, connecting with classmates, and supportive teachers. HVA builds independence and community, all in a virtual setting.
Why GROWTH Matters
Proficiency shows if a student meets grade-level standards, while growth shows progress over time.
We track student growth to see how much progress each student makes during the school year. Tools like i-Ready show us where students are and how they’re moving toward grade-level goals. Growth data helps us see if students are catching up, staying on track, or need extra support.
For example, a student who recently moved to the United States and does not yet know English might start out behind in reading and writing compared to their peers. However, as they work on their language and reading skills, they can make a lot of progress, even if they haven’t caught up to their grade level yet. By measuring both growth and proficiency, we can celebrate their progress while creating plans to ensure they continue moving forward.
Bilingual & Biliterate
Multicultural skills that enable students to live, work, and communicate across cultures.
Understanding How Schools Get the Support They Need
![Megaphone icon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733862225/highlineschoolsorg/jht0zvb5lu3yljkgqd4q/AnnualReportPhotos5.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733862225/highlineschoolsorg/jht0zvb5lu3yljkgqd4q/AnnualReportPhotos5.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733862225/highlineschoolsorg/jht0zvb5lu3yljkgqd4q/AnnualReportPhotos5.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733862225/highlineschoolsorg/jht0zvb5lu3yljkgqd4q/AnnualReportPhotos5.png","width":1080}])
We also monitor the Washington School Improvement Framework Indicators developed by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction which aims to identify how schools can improve the education of all students
The Washington School Improvement Framework helps schools enhance education for all students. It uses up to nine indicators—like graduation rates, attendance, and state test performance in math and English language arts—to calculate a 1-10 score. This score determines the level of state support the school receives to improve.