Ensuring Inclusive Education Every Step of the Way
Marvista Elementary students, part of Highline’s first inclusion cohort, will transition to Sylvester Middle School. Since fall 2022, they have learned in an inclusive environment where services are provided within the general classroom.
Imagine a school where every student feels a deep sense of belonging and has the support to thrive academically—right in their neighborhood. Picture classrooms where all students learn side by side, with the services and resources they need brought to them, rather than being placed in separate programs.
At Highline Public Schools, we are committed to making this vision a reality. Through our inclusion cohort model, schools across Highline are shifting from traditional models—where students with additional support needs were often placed in separate programs or schools—to a model where services come to the student in the general education classroom.
With more schools adopting this approach, we see:
- Improved staff collaboration
- Increased student engagement
- Enhanced classroom belonging
We are working toward a districtwide system where all students, regardless of ability, background, or learning needs, receive the support they need without being separated from their peers.
Now, we are focused on the next critical step: ensuring students experience a smooth transition from elementary to middle school while maintaining the inclusive support they’ve come to rely on.
Transition to Inclusive Middle Schools
The Sylvester Middle School team is welcoming students and staff from its three feeder elementary schools—Gregory Heights, North Hill and Marvista—as they transition to middle school. These schools are part Highline’s inclusion cohort, committed to providing services within the general education rather than separating students based on learning differences.
Sylvester staff are conducting walkthroughs and planning sessions with elementary teams to support a smooth transition. Looking ahead, they are redesigning programming to align with the elementary inclusion model, ensuring students experience consistent support from 5th to 6th grade. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive learning environment for every student.
Student Leadership & Inclusive Learning at Innovation Heights
At Innovation Heights Academy, students are leading a community garden project designed with Universal Design for Learning principles. This ensures all learners can engage, express ideas and contribute meaningfully.
Challenged to explore gardening concepts and sustainable growing methods, students designed hydroponic systems that replace soil with a nutrient-rich water solution. With UDL embedded throughout, they showcased their ideas in diverse ways—technical drawings, digital presentations, physical models, and written proposals.
The excitement is growing (literally!) as seedlings sprout in their custom-built hydroponic systems. Beyond science, students are building problem-solving, teamwork and environmental responsibility skills that will serve them beyond the classroom.
Our Cohort Model
Creating an inclusive learning environment takes time, planning, and support. That’s why Highline is rolling out inclusive education in phases through a cohort model, giving schools the resources and time to make lasting change.
Each cohort receives training, coaching and ongoing support from inclusion specialists, ensuring strong, sustainable practices before the next group joins.
Current Inclusion Cohort Schools
- Cohort 1 (2022): Bow Lake Elementary, Des Moines Elementary, Gregory Heights Elementary, Hilltop Elementary, Marvista Elementary, McMicken Heights Elementary and Highline High School
- Cohort 2 (2023): Cedarhurst Elementary, Hazel Valley Elementary, North Hill Elementary, Parkside Elementary, Shorewood Elementary, Sylvester Middle School, Tyee High School
- Cohort 3 (2024): Beverly Park Elementary, Mount View Elementary, Seahurst Elementary, Big Picture Middle and High School, Chinook Middle School, Highline Virtual Academy, Innovation Heights, Maritime High School
Our final cohort will launch later this spring, bringing us closer to districtwide inclusion—where every student in every school receives the support they need without being separated from their peers.