News

Get financial support for college and career training. Washington’s Class of 2024 missed out on millions in financial aid because many didn’t fill it out. We don’t want that to happen to you.

We’re making changes in our middle and high schools to help students feel more connected to their learning and better prepared for life after graduation. This work is called Secondary Redesign, and it supports our Highline Promise to know every student by name, strength and need, and graduates prepared for the future they choose. This update shares how that work is taking shape as the 2024–25 school year comes to a close.

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. 

Crews are focused on finishing details as the new Tyee campus gets ready for school in September. Gym floors shine, and Tyee’s red and gold colors are proudly on display. Other updates include a newly paved parking lot on South 188th Street, outfitted science labs, performance space paneling, and rooftop solar panels.  

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.  

Tyee High School's new Health Sciences Program will offer students hands-on learning experiences and pathways into careers in the health care field—one of the region’s fastest-growing industries. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) will support the program by providing students with access to mentorships, guest speakers, field trips, and volunteer opportunities in clinical settings.

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.

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. 

Tyee High School graduate John Taitano says he’s worked on many construction projects from start to finish, but this one is different! Learn about progress, priority hiring and next steps for the new Tyee.

At Gregory Heights Elementary, fifth-grader Malachi is thriving in an inclusive classroom where students of all abilities learn together. His journey from a separate special education setting to a general education classroom has sparked remarkable academic growth, deeper friendships and a powerful sense of belonging—for him and his entire school community.

Students are stepping out of the traditional classroom and into hands-on learning where math, science and language arts are taught through the lens of the construction industry. Core Plus Construction gives students real-world experience, industry certifications and a clear path to a rewarding career after graduation.

Highline’s two newest school board directors, Dr. Damarys Espinoza and Blaine Holien, were officially sworn in during a special oath of office ceremony on March 24. The event was attended by family, friends and community members. Each new director was joined by their family as they took the oath and committed to serving the students, staff and families of Highline.

In the fall, we will enter the final year of our strategic plan. We would like to hear from you. This year, we introduced four key priority areas to guide our work and investments in alignment with our strategic plan. As we develop next year’s budget and plan for the next version of our strategic plan, we want your input on how we can build on this work and allocate resources for maximum impact.

Help us welcome our two new school board directors. Dr. Damarys Espinoza represents District 4, and Blaine Holien represents District 5. The new directors will be sworn in on Monday, March 24.

The Highline School Board will interview four candidates for two open board seats on Saturday, March 15.  

Highline Public Schools’ Board of Directors stands firm in its commitment to protecting students, staff and families regardless of background, identity or immigration status. During a standing-room-only meeting on March 5, the board unanimously approved Resolution 02-25: Our Schools, Our Promise–A Stand for Every Student. 

Highline's financial outlook remains stable due to steady student enrollment and past budget adjustments. The School Board held a work session on Wednesday, March 5 about the budget development process. The next steps for the 2025-26 budget include working with leaders on school and department budgets, additional board updates in April and May, final budget development and a public hearing in June before submission to OSPI.