Enrollment School Capacity

Reviewing enrollment trends and future capacity needs is an important part of the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee process.

CFAC considered current enrollment, projected enrollment, school capacity and future program needs as it reviewed potential bond projects across Highline.

Districtwide Enrollment Projections

Current projections show that total middle school enrollment across Highline is expected to remain relatively stable over the next five years, increasing from about 3,331 students today to about 3,444 students by 2030-31.

These projections help CFAC understand whether recommended projects are aligned with long-term student needs across the district.

*Projected

Why Highline Has Five Middle Schools

When CFAC was first established in 2015, one of the primary challenges identified was growing enrollment and the need for additional middle school capacity. CFAC recommended construction of a fifth middle school, which led to the opening of Glacier Middle School in 2019.

Today, having five middle schools allows Highline to balance enrollment across the district and avoid overcrowding.

What Middle School Capacity Means

Highline’s middle schools are generally designed to accommodate about 950 students. Glacier Middle School was built for that capacity, and Pacific Middle School is currently being rebuilt to accommodate about 950 students. The middle school replacement projects recommended by CFAC would also be designed around this standard.

This capacity does not mean every school is expected to enroll 950 students. It provides flexibility, supports modern educational programming and helps ensure students and staff are not crowded into undersized facilities.