News

Under a sunny June sky, gold shovels tied with green ribbons broke ground in front of Pacific Middle School — symbolizing the start of a long-awaited new chapter. More than 200 students, families, alumni, elected officials and community members gathered to celebrate the future and say goodbye. 

Learn about Highline’s proposed 2025–26 budget and share your input during an upcoming public hearing. While our financial outlook remains stable, key areas of state underfunding continue to present challenges. Join us at the budget work session and public hearing to stay informed and get involved.

Highline’s financial outlook for the 2025-26 school year remains stable, thanks to steady student enrollment and past budget adjustments. However, key areas of underfunding from the state continue. 

This month, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s new two-year state budget into law. While the budget includes some increased investments in areas like special education and operational costs, we continue to face substantial funding gaps from the state that impact our ability to fully support all students.  

With limited relief from the state legislature, we anticipate additional budget reductions will need to take place in future years.  

Literacy is one of Highline’s four big priorities this year—because reading is the foundation for success in every subject and every grade. Our approach to reading is grounded in decades of research, known as the science of reading, a large body of research on how children learn to read and write.

The State Auditor’s Office gave Highline Public Schools a clean audit in its most recent review of the district’s financial operations and federal grant programming.    

We’re standing strong in our values—belonging, inclusion and safety for every student and staff member. Read how we’re moving forward, together.

At Highline, we are committed to ensuring all students, families, and staff feel welcomed, valued, and safe. As part of this commitment, we have security procedures in place to protect everyone in our buildings. Always use the main entrance to enter the school.

Meet Jill Wilson, a Highline social worker helping students feel safe, seen and supported—one conversation at a time.

Highline students are gaining real-world skills through hands-on programs in construction and health care. Core Plus Construction trains students in building trades with industry certifications, while Tyee High School’s new Health Sciences Program, launching fall 2025, prepares students for medical careers with clinical training and mentorship.

Pacific Middle School will host a groundbreaking ceremony and a last walk through the existing school on Tuesday, June 3 at 4:00 p.m.

In a fifth-grade classroom at Bow Lake Elementary, students are writing more, reading more and making stronger academic gains—thanks to a co-teaching model. At Bow Lake, two teachers share the front of the classroom during the language arts: general education teacher and a special education teacher.

Students must be registered and cleared in FinalForms before the first day of practice. Tryouts begin on day one for many sports, so don’t miss your chance to join a team. Physicals are required and must be current within the last two years.

Classrooms turned into career hubs during Chinook Middle School’s 7th-Grade Career Expo. Representatives from the FAA, Port of Seattle, City of Burien, and more shared what it’s like to work in their industries.

Highline Schools Foundation is investing in the future of our students. Forty-two graduating seniors across Highline received scholarships totaling $349,750. 

We want to hear from you! Please take 10 to 20 minutes to complete our Family Engagement Survey, open now through May 30.

Highline teachers do more than teach—they build trust, spark learning and help students believe in themselves. This week, we honor all Highline educators and extend a heartfelt thank you for bringing our promise to life each day—in every school, every classroom and every lesson.  

Click, drag, and imagine what it’ll feel like to walk through the future Pacific Middle School. Explore 360-degree renderings of interior spaces.

Before the first math problem is solved, before the first lesson begins, Aimee Olson makes sure her students know they belong. In her classroom at Pacific Middle School, Aimee Olson weaves in daily check-ins and small moments of connection to help every student feel welcome, valued, and safe. Now in her third year of teaching, Aimee’s commitment to building trust and confidence has earned her the title of Highline’s Rookie Teacher of the Year. 

Step into the Chinook Middle School library and discover a vibrant hub of curiosity and connection. At the heart is librarian Josi Hodge, whose passion for reading drives a bold vision for literacy. Students tell the story best. See how the Chinook library is shaping how students read and grow.

Spring brings warmer weather but also seasonal allergies and colds. Knowing when to keep your child home — and when they’re okay to attend — helps protect learning time. Missing just two days a month adds up! Whether excused or unexcused, absences can impact progress. 

ParentVUE and ParentSquare are two important tools families can use to support their student’s success in school. Each one has a different purpose—and both are helpful

We are launching the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) on April 14 to ensure clear, consistent safety communication. SRP outlines five actions—Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter—and replaces vague terms with precise steps. Families will receive timely updates and instructions through email, text, phone, or app.

In March, Pacific Middle School teachers and staff got a close-up look at materials selected for the new school building. They also received detailed information about packing and moving to the Olympic Interim Site at the end of the school year. 

We are launching the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) on April 14 to improve school safety and emergency communication. The SRP includes five clear actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. Watch the student training video to learn how we respond in each situation.

We want to provide an update to the ransomware attack we experienced last fall. After a thorough forensic investigation and a labor-intensive review, we have determined that certain files containing personal information were accessed by an unauthorized actor. The forensic investigation was conducted by a third-party expert and took several months to complete.