Strengthening Highline’s Middle and High Schools
We are working to improve our middle and high schools so they can better meet the needs of every student. This effort is called Secondary Redesign, and it supports our commitment to the Highline Promise of knowing every student by name, strength, and need so that they graduate prepared for the future they choose.
Last school year, our comprehensive secondary schools held extensive listening sessions with students, families, and educators to explore how schools can better prepare our students for their future after high school.
We heard a clear need to focus on two areas:
- Real-world relevance: Helping students connect what they learn in school to real-life.
- Instructional rigor: Challenging students to meet higher expectations and achieve their full potential.
Our comprehensive high school piloted new experiences for students in spring 2024 and collected data to determine whether to continue, adjust, or expand next school year. Read on to see what each school is focusing on moving forward.
High School Redesign
Evergreen High School
Evergreen High School is expanding daily community circles as a way to build community and improve instruction. These circles create a space where everyone can share their thoughts, address challenges, and celebrate successes in a respectful and inclusive setting. By building trust and understanding within the classroom, community circles help students feel valued and heard, which in turn creates a stronger foundation for learning and academic success.
In addition to enhancing community, Evergreen is exploring the option of expanding dual credit college courses. These courses allow students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously, giving them a head start on their higher education journey. The school’s goal is to eventually make it possible for students to graduate from high school with an Associate of Arts degree, significantly reducing the time and cost of pursuing a college degree after high school.
Tyee High School
Tyee High School is continuing project-based learning experiences and launching a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science pathway that gives students a head start on careers in healthcare. Students in the pathway can choose from three areas: training to become a certified nursing assistant, preparing for careers like radiology technician or sonographer through pre-allied health, or earning college credit through health-focused courses while still in high school.
Mount Rainier High School
Mount Rainier High School is expanding its pilot program to offer more students the full International Baccalaureate (IB) experience. The IB program helps students think deeply, understand different perspectives, and improve their research and writing skills.
In 2023-2024, the number of students taking IB courses and exams tripled. By broadening access, Mount Rainier aims to prepare students for college and beyond while ensuring all students can benefit from this rigorous, college-preparatory program.
Highline High School
Highline High School started the year by hosting a three-day workshop to train teachers in project-based learning. In this teaching approach, students learn through hands-on projects that relate to real-life scenarios.
The school is also exploring the possibility of transitioning to a four-period block schedule in 2025-2026. Under this schedule, students would have four longer classes each day instead of six shorter ones. This would give students and teachers more time to focus on projects and hands-on learning. It would also allow students to take more classes that match their interests and future goals.
Moving Forward
Each high school will continue to gather feedback from students, families, and educators to inform the next steps. All redesign efforts will help our students prepare for the future they choose.