Over the past year, we’ve heard clearly from students, families, staff, and our community that our strategic direction is the right one. The passage of our levy, along with recent polling and survey results, shows strong alignment around our goals and our Highline Promise.
This winter, we will begin a refinement of our strategic plan. We do not anticipate changing our four strategic goals, priority areas or our Promise. Instead, we will focus on how we implement them and how we measure progress.
At the same time, Highline, like many districts across Washington and the nation, faces funding challenges as state funding has not kept pace with rising costs. Thanks to disciplined decisions over many years, we are financially stable today and able to stay focused on students and learning. To maintain that stability, we will reduce our budget by about $8 million as we develop the 2026–27 budget.
Why This Matters
Clear goals, strategies and measures help everyone understand priorities, focus their work, and see how decisions connect to our broader direction. As part of this work, we will also seek feedback that helps inform budget development by clarifying priorities and aligning limited resources with our strategic goals and priorities.
Attend an In-Person Engagement Session
Student and family voices help us understand what success looks like—not just academically, but in day-to-day school experiences. To support this work, we are hosting in-person engagement sessions for families and students.
During the sessions, participants can expect:
- A brief overview of our strategic plan and why we are updating it.
- A brief update on our budget.
- A clear explanation of what we are seeking feedback on.
- Structured opportunities to share feedback and perspectives
Feedback from these sessions will help inform how we move forward.
Family Engagement Schedule
We will host three engagement sessions for families and students. Families from any school are invited to attend any session. Interpretation and light refreshments will be available.
January 20 | 5:45–7:15 p.m.
Cascade Middle School
11212 10th Ave SW, Seattle
February 3 | 5:45–7:15 p.m.
Sylvester Middle School
16222 Sylvester Rd SW, Burien
February 9 | 5:45–7:15 p.m.
Madrona Elementary School
20301 32nd Avenue South, SeaTac
Please note that there will be separate engagement sessions for staff.
Our Strategic Plan at a Glance
Coming Soon: Share Your Voice Online
If you’re unable to attend an engagement session, you’ll still have a chance to share your input. Next week, we’ll launch an online opportunity for staff, families, students and community members to provide feedback on our strategic plan refinement and budget priorities.
Stay tuned for the link—we look forward to hearing your thoughts.