District News

The snow make-up day for Tuesday, January 14, will be Tuesday, May 26. 

From time to time during the winter months, the weather may force a change in the normal school schedule. We want you to be prepared and know where to get information.

2019 marked a year of school construction milestones for you, our Highline community. Here are our top 12 picks in the order they happened last year.

Project Update | Highline High School
Site cameras captured construction progress at Highline High School during the first week of January 2020.

Starting in January 2020, we will offer online enrollment to new families enrolling in Highline. Online enrollment will launch on Tuesday, January 21. 

The application window for secondary schools of choice is now open. It will close January 31, 2020. Students have a lot of options when it comes to secondary schools. We encourage students and families to find the best fit.

This year the Highline Schools Foundation awarded close to $124,000 in Excel and Impact grants. Foundation members spent the last two months on Prize Patrol, visiting staff meetings to surprise staff with oversized checks.

Winter break is an opportunity to have a well-deserved break from school and work. But it doesn’t have to be a break from learning. Learning at home can be fun and easy—and a good change of pace from the classroom. Here are eight simple ideas you can do together or encourage your child to do over break.

Seniors, now is the time to apply for a Highline Schools Foundation scholarship. The Foundation is offering more than $200,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. Scholarships can be used at colleges, universities and trade schools as long as students are enrolled full-time.

This week, students dove into computer science fun with Hour of Code, a movement dedicated to introducing young people to computer programming. Students programmed robots, learned about algorithms, coded virtual dance parties and much more. See the week's highlights.  

Do you know someone who has made a significant impact on our students and schools? The Highline Schools Foundation Gold Star Award nomination process is now open.

The window for submitting an in-district transfer is now open. The window is December 9 through January 31. We will notify families of a transfer decision by March 2.

The Highline School Board has a new leader. During the December 4 board meeting, the board elected Angelica Alvarez as the new board president.

Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield is one of three superintendents who are finalists for the 2020 Women in School Leadership Award. The award is given annually by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. 

Design Update: Evergreen High School 
Bassetti Architects kicked off the initial building design process with the Evergreen design committee. Find out more.

Design Update | Tyee High School
The building design process for Tyee High School kicked off on November 20! The small, working committee includes staff, family and community representatives. Find out more.

This January we are launching ReadyK!, a transitional kindergarten program for children who have not had access to a high-quality early learning experience. If you know of a family that may benefit from the program, urge them to apply.

About 30 Highline residents and stakeholders met this week to begin planning for future school bonds and construction. The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) elected new co-chairs and brainstormed questions and information they need to make recommendations.

Want to get the most out of your student conference? Here are seven questions to ask during your conference. Use these questions to build a stronger partnership with your student’s teacher and school.

Making a decision about weather-related school closures and schedule changes is always difficult because so many different situations have to be considered. We do our very best to balance the many interests at stake, but we recognize that no matter what decision we make, it will not please everyone.

Ready for your review! You are invited to dig deep into data and track our progress using an interactive annual report.
 

We refinanced bonds sold in 2009, saving taxpayers $1.2 million in repayment costs. The savings will lower the amount of money that will be collected from taxpayers to pay off previously issued bonds. 

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington awarded us a three-year grant totaling $1.5 million to improve mental health support for students. The grant will increase our capacity to assess, implement and monitor mental health services. 

Congratulations to the nine newest members of the community-led bond planning committee. See whose names were drawn by lottery and the list of all 60 volunteers who submitted their names. In the end, the winners are... our students!

We want your feedback on how our schools are doing. Please join our online conversation to tell us what we are doing well and where we need to improve.

Our graduation rate is up for the sixth year in a row! The class of 2019 graduated at 83.3%, an increase of more than two points over last year and more than 20 points since 2013. 

Students stole the show—even from the gleaming new building—at the Glacier Middle School Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting October 24. Read more about the event and see photos.

Highline Public Schools extended the lottery deadline to November 4 for residents to land a seat on the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). Help prioritize schools Highline builds in the future!

You're invited! The Highline Indigenous Peoples Story, Film & Art Fest will take place on November 23 at the Highline Heritage Museum. 

Election day is Tuesday, November 5. You can read about all the important issues in the voter pamphlet or online. See a list of ballot measures and candidates. Voting in this election is all by mail.
 

We're piloting a systemwide approach to instruction on race and identity at a few of our schools this year. Join us on October 30 to learn about the work to date and contribute your voice to the work moving forward.

Superintendent Susan Enfield is the inaugural winner of the Systems Changemaker award from Teach for America (TFA) Washington.

You could be one of 40 parents, staff and residents working together to identify which schools we re-build in the future. Submit your name to the lottery for open seats on the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). 

Highline School Board President Bernie Dorsey is the recipient of the 2019 Laura Smith Brown Children’s Champion Award. Parent Trust for Washington Children selected  Dorsey for the award to recognize his work as founder of the Conscious Fathering program.

The principals of Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific are forming building design committees who will work with the architects during the initial phase of design for their proposed new buildings. Application deadline is Oct. 16.

We have a new online tool and mobile app that allow families and students to check grades, attendance and other information.

Librarian Karen Smith and 5th grade student Sahiba Minhas helped Principal Rick Wisen and district leaders cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Des Moines Elementary School. 300+ community members toured the new school.

See our graduation dates for the class of 2020. Due to construction at Highline Memorial Field, graduations will be held at ShoWare Center for Highline, Evergreen and Tyee high schools. 

Highline Public Schools wants to show appreciation to our senior citizens for their longtime support of our schools. Our Highline Gold Pass provides free admission to middle and high school home games and school performances. To qualify, you must be 65 or older and live within Highline Public Schools boundaries.

Highline was selected by DonorsChoose.org as one of its first partner school districts. The official partnership between will help ensure funding goals are in sync with district strategy and operations.

Call all seniors! There’s money for college—let us help you find it.  Join us at a financial aid completion event this fall. We will walk you through the financial aid process and sit down with you to get applications DONE. 

We are launching a process to select new materials for K-12 Language Arts and want you to be part of the process. Committees will form a process for how materials are evaluated, the frequency of material updates as well as review materials (books, resources and/or guides) for teachers to use.

Highline is one of 81 districts across the nation recognized today as an Accomplished District by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

Make your voice heard! Now is the time to register to vote. September 24 is National Voter Registration Day.

High school students and families are invited to COLLEGECON—a free one, day learning experience for high school students and families. Engage in interactive workshops about college and career options, how to apply and pay for college and more. 

Please join us on September 25 at 7:00 p.m. to share your thoughts and participate in a community conversation on how to create a better future for special education in Washington state. 

Please join us for an opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, followed by a tour of the new Glacier Middle School. Save the date and RSVP!

We're back! The 2019-20 school year is officially underway.

Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college and at work. Students can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school. That's just one day every two weeks. 

The Grand Opening Celebration for your new Des Moines Elementary School is September 26. Find out more and RSVP to save a seat.

Please be advised we are closing all schools and the Family Center to allow all staff to participate in the Highline Equity Symposium.

It is almost time for school to start! Here are nine things to do as you get ready for the first day of school.

The Highline/Wesley Homes Intergenerational Montessori Preschool was recognized by District Administration magazine. The national recognition honors school districts that are leading the way with new ideas that solve challenges. 

Children turning 5 years old on or before August 31 can start kindergarten in the 2019-20 school year. Register your incoming kindergartener to have access to free kindergarten readiness programs and materials.

King County named this year’s Green Schools, and five of our schools made the list. Congratulations to North Hill Elementary School, Shorewood Elementary School, Waskowitz Outdoor School, McMicken Heights Elementary School and Sylvester Middle School.

ECEAP is free for eligible families and children that have turned 3 or 4 by August 31.

Starting in fall 2019, we are taking a new approach to middle school math to ensure students have the foundational skills necessary to be successful in algebra and beyond. We are introducing a new math curriculum, and the course sequence will be different than before.

Six community members and experts keep an eye on our 2016 school bond projects and finances. We provide quarterly reports to the Oversight Committee and the school board. Get the status on every bond project and other capital projects in this report summary. We're on target with the 2016 school bond.

The 2016 bond included funds to jumpstart the designs of Evergreen and Tyee high schools and Pacific Middle School. The first step was to select architects for each school. Done! 

Our community-led bond planning committee recommended the next school bond to the school board in a June 26 work session.

Check out the modified summer hours for Central Office.

Four of our seniors took a step back before they walked across the graduation stage. Each visited their elementary school to surprise a teacher and say thank you for the lasting impact they made. We captured these special and heartfelt moments on video to share with you. 

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) members plan to recommend to the school board on June 26 that the next school bond include rebuilding Evergreen and Tyee high schools and Pacific Middle School.

Chinook Middle School physical education teacher Reid Sundblad is the 2019 Regional Teacher of the Year, representing King and Pierce counties. This honor makes Sundblad a candidate for the Washington State Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced this fall.

Highline children can eat free breakfast, lunch, and snacks during the summer through the federally funded Simplified Summer Food Program. The program provides funding for several of our schools to serve children living in South King County. 
 

You know your child best! Please help us support your student by completing our online survey for middle and high school families.

We are honoring and celebrating our retiring employees. Forty-four Highline staff members are retiring (or have already retired) this school year. 

The Board of Directors will hold a public budget hearing on Wednesday, June 19 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

With the close of the legislative session, we now have a clearer budget picture for 2019-20. State lawmakers made some modifications to the McCleary funding plan that help us. However, enrollment is still declining, and that means a decline in state funding.

Our strategic plan names ambitious academic goals, including a goal for at least 19 out of 20 students to graduate prepared to choose their future. Why aim so high? Because our students are worth it, and they are capable of it.

This summer, North Hill Elementary and White Center Heights Elementary schools each will get an additional permanent building housing new classrooms and restrooms. Early site work began in late May.

Ongoing hard work and dedication are paying off at Hilltop Elementary and Raisbeck Aviation High School. The schools have been honored as State-Recognized Schools for 2017-18 through Washington State's new school recognition program.

On Wednesday, May 15 the Highline School Board approved the adoption of new social studies and math curricula. Students will begin using the new instructional materials in fall 2019.

You are invited for a last tour and celebration of the old Highline High School at HHS Alumni & Community Day from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Due to snow days, the schedule for the last week of school has changed.

To give families what they need to support their children, Highline will launch a new mobile app and online family portal in fall 2019. Highline’s current mobile app will discontinue on June 30. 

In a place where so many teachers are rockstars, it's hard to pick out just a few. We want you to meet some of our teachers who earned extra star status this year from someone who especially admires their commitment to know every student by name, strength and need. 
 

Each day, Nicole Jones strives to be the best role model possible for her students by setting high standards and being an advocate for both students and families. Nicole is also a role model for her teaching peers. This is one of the many reasons why Nicole is our Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Kelly Morris' dedication to high standards, the education profession and unconditional love for her students are just some of the many reasons she is our Rookie Teacher of the Year. 

Highline families and staff expect high standards for school communications. Superintendent Susan Enfield shares those high expectations and has invested in a strong communications program for engaging our diverse community.

Because of her leadership in strategic and innovative school communications, Dr. Enfield is the recipient of the 2019 Crystal Apple Award from the Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA).

You may have seen in the news that state lawmakers raised the cap on local levies, which was lowered as part of the McCleary school funding plan.The increase in levy dollars will reduce--but not eliminate--the budget shortfall we face for 2019-20.

Members of the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) are close to recommending a dollar amount for the next school construction bond. Read about their April 24 meeting and find out when the next meeting is.

Thank you to all who participated in this conversation. We invite everyone to explore the priorities and ideas provided about our upcoming high school schedule change.

We invite staff, students and community members to submit proposals to present sessions at our 2019 Equity Symposium.

We want all students to graduate bilingual and biliterate. What does that mean? And why is it important? Mastering more than one language is a tremendous advantage in today’s world.

A new series from national nonprofit Education Resource Strategies (ERS) profiles eight school systems serving high populations of low-income, black and Latinx students–including Highline Public Schools–that are gaining traction across a variety of measures, including student performance, graduation rates, and support for teachers and school leader

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee (FAC) has been active for 6 years and is highly regarded as a committee that brings the parent/family voice to a variety of district strategies and practices.  

See views of the exterior of the new Glacier Middle School--from every side.

You are invited to be part of the ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of our Olympic Interim site on Thursday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m. Or drop by from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. for the open house.

You are invited to a farewell open house June 1 for the current Des Moines Elementary building, which has been a school since 1925.

Take a photo tour of the new Des Moines Elementary with Principal Rick Wisen.

This week, nearly 250 education leaders from across the country toured our schools as part of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools.

You are invited to tour the renovated Olympic Interim Site on Thursday, May 2, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines. A family meeting for incoming HHS 9th-grade students and families begins at 6:00 p.m.

Technology plays a huge role in the lives of our students–and we believe students should have equitable opportunities to access technology. But our job as educators goes way beyond making sure students master the hardware and software of today's technology.

Bayley Construction shared this aerial photograph with us of their progress building Glacier Middle School... from a bird's eye view.

More locks are coming soon. Voters funded the 2016 school bond, which set aside money for improved security, including safer interior and exterior door locks. Here is an updated timeline and list of schools.

The Highline Schools Foundation announced the winners of the 2019 Gold Star Awards at the annual Gold Star Awards BASH on March 14. The Highline community gathered to root on the award nominees. Congratulations to all the Gold Star winners and nominees. You make us all Highline Proud! 

Staff and community members from across the district are talking and crunching numbers to finalize priorities and construction budgets for the next school bond.

Curious counselors and teachers from Highline High School checked out the Olympic Interim site in February. The renovation is almost done. Here are photos so you can preview. Watch for an Open House announcement!

We want students to receive all scheduled time for instruction, so we will not apply for a waiver for the February snow days.

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) met on February 27. They reviewed photos of the aging buildings they toured and started looking at baseline costs for replacing the three schools that will begin the design process this year. 

Highline Public Schools will adopt new materials for social studies and math--and we want your input! New instructional materials will be selected for kindergarten-8th grade math and 6th-11th grade social studies. You’re invited to drop by an open house to learn more about the instructional materials under consideration.

All 11th-grade students will participate in FutureU on Wednesday, March 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. at Green River College.

A lottery was held on March 1 to select students for our secondary schools that require an application or a program transfer. This includes CHOICE Academy, Big Picture Schools, Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Mount Rainier High School (MRHS).

We want all students to see themselves as successful learners, and we believe in their ability to be successful across every grade and subject area.

We want to know what courses and/or topics you would like to see added to high school course schedules. We have two opportunities for families to provide feedback. Your feedback will help us plan course offerings as well as consider future graduation requirements.

Wondering when summer break will start this year? Here are answers to some of the questions.

The Highline High School (HHS) project is right on schedule according to Bassetti Architects. They met with community members to share the final design and next steps. 

Community members spent four hours touring several of our older school buildings on Saturday, February 2.

Deadline extended! High school students now in 9th- and 10th-grade who are affected by boundary changes may opt to stay at their current high school through graduation.

Hundreds of 5th- and 6th-grade families in Highline learned about moving up to middle school this month at more than 10 information nights around the district. Find out what you missed and next steps for families, students and staff.

From time to time during the winter months, the weather may force a change in the normal school schedule. We want you to be prepared and know where to get information

Measles has spread in Washington, and health officials urge immunization. The Washington State Department of Health reminds people to take precautions to help stop the spread of measles.

Students are more successful when they feel welcome and happy at school. Research shows that academic achievement increases when social and emotional needs are met.

It’s a big ask, but Highline’s volunteer school bond planners are up to the task. Our Capital Facilities Advisory Committee meets each month to work on recommendations for future school construction needs in our district. Find out what they are learning and talking about.

Join Bassetti Architects and the design review committee to see the final design of the new Highline High School from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on February 7 in the HHS library.

Households of furloughed employees may be eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits.

Superintendent Susan Enfield is being recognized for engaging the community and partnering with the Highline Schools Foundation to raise financial resources for schools and students. She will receive the 2019 Superintendent of the Year award from the National School Foundation Association. 

Watch the crew from Bayley Construction and Ironworkers Local 86 raise the last piece of steel high in the air and place it with precision under the roof of Glacier Middle School in SeaTac.

To make your voice heard in next month's election, be sure to register to vote by Monday, January 14.

In the annual election of school board officers, Bernie Dorsey was elected president and Angelica Alvarez was elected vice-president.

As we begin 2019, we renew our deep commitment to our strategic plan, which challenges us to embrace bold goals for every student. The plan is centered on Our Promise, lays out five goals for students and is supported by our foundation.

More than half of Highline schools are getting recognized for healthier eating and fitness. Thirteen schools earned awards in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge this year, while four schools’ awards were renewed.

Grants totaling more than $122,000 are going to teachers this month. The Highline Schools Foundation awarded two Impact Grants and 92 Excel Grants to teachers across Highline. The Foundation gave out more dollars this year than ever before

Students have a lot of options when it comes to secondary schools. We encourage students and families to find the best fit. The application window for secondary schools of choice is January 1 - 31, 2019.

If you want your student to attend a school other than their neighborhood school, submit a transfer request by February 1

Students starting sixth and seventh grade in September 2019 will move up to middle school together because our middle schools will expand to include three years. Families with students in fifth and sixth grade now are invited to learn about middle school and ask questions at family info nights starting in January!

We plan to adopt new materials in two content areas this year, and you can be part of the process.

Ready for your review! You are invited to dig deep into the data and review our progress in our online, interactive 2017-18 Annual Report.

Highline Public Schools has changed school boundaries and feeder patterns for fall 2019. Use our on-line tool to look up your fall 2019 neighborhood schools. Learn more.

Our Arts program has launched a survey to get feedback from families, students and staff about the types of arts programming you want to see in our schools.

Native Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, languages and histories of our Native students and their families. This month, and every month, we celebrate the important contributions made by our country's first peoples that have shaped our community.

Want to get the most of out of your student conference? Here are six tips to help you build a stronger partnership with your child's school and teacher.

Future Glacier Middle School mothers and daughters form the nucleus of a Community Advisory Team for Principal Vicki Fisher. The team will invite the larger community to engage in creating a vision and culture for the new middle school.

Our graduation rate for the Class of 2018 is 81.1%, up from 78.8% in 2017. Graduation rates have risen for five consecutive years, from 62.3% in 2013.

It is our responsibility as adults is to make sure that all students are welcomed and valued. This includes the students we serve who are transgender, gender non-binary and gender non-conforming.  

Highline and Port of Seattle officials recognized U.S. Representative Adam Smith for passing federal legislation, which preserves noise mitigation funding for schools impacted by noise from SeaTac airport.

Did you know... 95% of high school students in Highline believe it is important to get permission before sexual activity with anyone. This fall, we're launching a social norms campaign focused on student safety, healthy relationships and respect. 

Sixth-grade students will take world language and arts in middle school in September. Get the early scoop on next year's program for sixth grade in middle school as details emerge. 

Student photographer Nathalie Paradise caught the Des Moines Elementary School construction site humming on October 12.

Shorewood Elementary and CHOICE Academy were recognized with the 2018 School of Distinction Award. The award is given to the top 5% of schools in Washington State that have made sustained improvement in reading and math.

Highline High School (HHS) students and staff gave feedback to Bassetti architects and the interior designer at a committee meeting in October. The group meets one more time and will hold a community meeting in the spring to celebrate the finished design for the new school. 

A new year of planning for future needs kicks off Wednesday, October 10. Community members from every high school service area in Highline Public Schools are charged with recommending a long-range capital facilities plan to the school board.

Safety is a community-wide issue. That came out loud and clear at the community safety meetings we conducted last spring in partnership with community leaders.

Glacier Middle School Planning Principal Vicki Fisher met with all students in fifth and sixth grades at five elementary schools this month. Students learned about their new middle school, discussed mascots and voted.

High school students and families are invited to COLLEGECON—a free one, day learning experience for high school students and families. Engage in interactive workshops about college and career options, how to apply and pay for college and more. 

Your feedback is helping us plan a smooth transition to a trimester system, starting in fall 2020. Check out the top-rated comments shared in our spring Thoughtexchange, and read Superintendent Enfield's reflections on the top 10 comments. 

Muddy potholes and rained-out practices may be a relic of the past at Evergreen High School. The school’s dreamed-of synthetic turf field now has the funding to become reality. 

Here is a progress report on projects big and small voters approved in the November 2016 bond.

Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond, demonstrating excellence in the classroom? If so, nominate them for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom Award.

Enter your name in our lottery. You could be one of 40 parents and residents working to recommend a long-range plan for building new schools.

Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! It is always a joy for us to welcome new and returning students, staff and families to Highline. As we begin our year together, I want to share with you some of the exciting changes that are underway across the district.

Our schools and classrooms are buzzing again. The 2018-19 school year is officially underway. Students jumped into learning and collaborating. Teachers and staff are ready to motivate and inspire. 

Under a tentative agreement reached this week, we will raise educator salaries by 13% for the 2018-19 school year. This is the latest in a multi-year effort to raise teacher pay. 

We are pleased to announce that Highline Education Association and Highline Public Schools have reached a tentative agreement.

Due to rising costs and federal regulations, the price of school meals will increase by 25¢ starting this fall. Students will pay $1.75 for breakfast, $3.00 for elementary lunch and $3.25 for lunch in middle and high school. Adults who wish to purchase lunch can do so for $4.00.

It is almost time to go back to school! The first day of school is Wednesday, September 5 for students in grades 1-12 and Monday, September 10 for kindergarten students. Here are nine things to do as you get ready for the first day of school. 

Based on input from families, students and staff, high schools will start later, starting in fall 2018. This change will also impact the start times of our middle and elementary schools.

On Wednesday, June 28, the school board adopted a new set of school boundaries within Highline Public Schools. The plan was developed by the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). The revised boundaries will take effect fall 2019.

We are thrilled to launch the new Highline website! Our new site is easier to navigate and accessible to users with disabilities. 

All Highline children can eat free breakfast, lunch and snacks during the summer through the federally-funded Summer Food Program. A child does not need to be a Highline student to participate.

The 2017-18 school year is one to remember! We raised our graduation rate, passed a levy, broke new ground and did what we do best--graduate students prepared to choose their future. Look back at what we did together.

Our graduating class of 2018 represents a richly diverse group of young people. They demonstrate perseverance, humility and excellence. Their goals are big, and their future is bright. They are determined to change the world for the better—and we wholeheartedly believe they will. These two seniors are examples of the outstanding young leaders graduating from Highline ready to choose their future.

It takes a village! And the village leaders came out to celebrate with Highline Public Schools as district officials, architects and project staff broke ground for a new Des Moines Elementary School at Zenith Park on June 8, 2018.

The community-led bond and boundary planning committee for Highline Public Schools presented a recommended set of boundary maps and a list of additional considerations at the June 6, 2018 school board meeting.

After a two year process of researching school schedule options and taking feedback from staff, students and families, we have arrived at a decision on a new high school course schedule. Highline will switch from a semester system with a six-period day to a trimester system with a five-period day, starting in fall 2020.

Following comments to a congressional committee by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal issued a statement reiterating Washington state's stance on protecting our students who are undocumented in our K-12 schools.

The new Highline High School (HHS) will reopen fall 2021 with its grand main entrance reconstructed using the original brick and terra cotta. Community members learned about this and more at the May 17 Ask-the-Architect meeting.

Members of the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) have developed a revised set of boundary maps and school feeder plan. The draft plan incorporates many of the changes suggested by community members.

What started off as a simple check-in with a few of students has turned into a movement at Chinook Middle School. Several years ago, Reid Sundblad and his teaching colleagues were analyzing data to find out what was working and what was not. They noticed something about the school’s Latino male students. As a young teacher at that time, Reid was ignited by the team’s discussion to take action. Today, hundreds of students have been impacted.

Every morning, dual language teacher Isel Betancourt Sanchez greets students as they walk through her classroom door with a high-five and “Buenos dias!” in her native Spanish. Isel hopes the Spanish skills she is teaching her students today will open doors for them tomorrow. Her dedication to language learning is one of the many reasons she is our Rookie Teacher of the year.

If you are looking for real-life superstars, look no further than Highline. All of our teachers are stars, and we want you to meet a few who earned gold stars this year from someone who especially admires their commitment to know every student by name, strength and need.

What does the McCleary decision and new state funding for schools mean for Highline?

Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) members met April 25 to begin sifting through feedback, trying alternative boundary suggestions and drafting a revised plan.

What does the University of Washington president want Highline students to know? “Dream big. Our community depends on you. Our country depends on you, so dream big." UW President Ana Mari Cauce shared these words with Evergreen High School students this week when visiting campus.

Walk into a Highline elementary school and it's likely you will hear teacher after teacher ask students, "Will you check-in on the Mood Meter?" The Mood Meter is a tool to teach students how to identify and understand their feelings.

Highline school board members selected names for the two new schools on Wednesday: Glacier Middle School and Des Moines Elementary School.

Community members took a turn suggesting new school boundary lines at a Boundary Design Session on April 17.

Boundary changes are not easy. The deadline for online feedback is extended to April 20. Find out about the April 17 Boundary Design Session and next steps for the planning committee.

Did you know 96 percent of our families want their child to go to college—but only 58 percent of families feel confident they have a step-by-step plan to get there? On Saturday, April 7, eighth and ninth grade students and their families attended CollegeCon to get the plan they need.

A steady drizzle didn’t dampen enthusiasm as Highline Public Schools broke ground for a new middle school in SeaTac on April 4, 2018.

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee works to strengthen our partnerships with families. We are currently seeking nominations for this important committee.

See a list of the 2018-19 school year holidays and tentative breaks.

Two Highline seniors have been awarded the prestigious Act Six Scholarship. As Act Six Scholars, the students will each receive a four-year, full-ride scholarship to college. Congratulations to students Rahel Ambachew and Ty Shanklin.

McMicken Heights Elementary is getting national attention for its focus on social-emotional learning as one way to make schools safer. Scholastic spotlights McMicken Heights as a case study.

The Highline Schools Foundation announced the winners of the 2018 Gold Star Awards at the annual Gold Star Awards BASH on March 8. The Highline community gathered to root on the award nominees. Congratulations to all the Gold Star winners and nominees. You make us all Highline Proud! 

We are honoring the often unsung heroes of our schools, our classified employees—support staff who serve lunches, drive buses, clean schools and support our students in so many ways. We are grateful for their dedication and outstanding work on behalf of our students.

In response to recent incidents of school violence, we are initiating a conversation around school safety. Starting March 22, community meetings are being held at Evergreen, Highline, Tyee and Mount Rainier.

Families, students and community members are invited to join community conversations with Highline Public Schools Board President Joe Van and School Board Director Angelica Alvarez.  

The sessions will be open conversations. Participants can ask questions, bring up concerns and discuss possible solutions.

What if the entire community rallied around our promise to know every student by name, strength and need and our goal for every student to graduate prepared for the future they choose? 

A lottery was held on February 15 to select students for our secondary schools that require an application or a program transfer. This includes CHOICE Academy, Big Picture Schools, Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Mount Rainier High School (MRHS).

It appears our levy measure will pass, with early results showing more than 58% voting in favor of renewal.

Our schools are getting recognized for healthier eating and fitness. Four schools earned awards in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge, three gold and one silver. The three schools receiving gold improved from a silver rating in the previous challenge. We are currently the only district in Washington with any sites awarded gold status.

We are recognizing a few dozen Highline Rockstars this month. Thirty-nine teachers have earned a National Board Certification, and eight additional teachers have renewed their certification.

Thank you to our families, staff and students who gave input on when to move to a later high school start time. The overwhelming response: why wait? Most people want to make the switch this fall

It’s time to name the two new schools we are building in Highline. Our naming committees want your feedback. Pick your favorite names for the new elementary school in Des Moines and the new middle school in SeaTac. Both schools will open fall 2019.

The community is invited to meet the candidates for the open position on the Highline School Board. The school board is hosting a meet and greet on Thursday, February 8.

Highline is making waves in national and local news. Here's what everybody is talking about.

This week, 40 students at Mount View Elementary will lead their classmates and school in a one-hour introduction to computer programming, commonly called coding.

The students are members of the school's Coding Club. They spend every Thursday afternoon mastering their computer science skills. This week, they will fan out across their school to teach a coding lesson in every classroom.