We are seeing an encouraging trend in student enrollment. After several years of declines, this school year marks the first time since 2018 that enrollment has not decreased.
This unexpected stability is partly attributed to the completion of two apartment complexes with affordable family units, which brought new families into our district. We also did not see families leaving Highline at the same rate as previous years.
Our October student count is nearly 500 students above projections, although the total number of students remains similar to last year.
Looking ahead, we anticipate a slight enrollment decline over the next two years, followed by growth as more housing developments, including affordable apartments, are completed in our community. Over the next decade, approximately 5,500 new housing units are expected to be added within Highline boundaries, many designed for families with children.
We anticipate enrollment to be around 16,806 FTE next school year, down about 50 FTE from this year.
Our enrollment projections are critical in budget development, as state funding is tied to student counts. Like many districts in the region, we are also managing rising costs of salaries, utilities, insurance and other necessary expenditures. Thanks to steady enrollment and previous budget reductions, we do not anticipate the need for additional reductions in the 2025-26 budget.
Budget Development Feedback
We are seeking feedback on the most important considerations Highline should prioritize during budget development to support all students.
We invite staff, families, and students to share their thoughts in a ThoughtExchange. This is just one of many ways we’re collecting feedback during the budget development process. The exchange is open until February 2, 2025.
It takes just three minutes to share your thoughts and rate others' ideas. Your feedback will help us better understand our community's priorities and help guide decisions about how we allocate resources to ensure equity, meet the needs of all students, and maintain long-term financial health.
Participate in the ThoughtExchange
More Budget Information
- In October, we shared that student enrollment is higher than projected—marking the first time since 2018 that enrollment has not decreased. Enrollment numbers are a critical factor in state funding and play a key role in our budget planning.
- In November, we highlighted Highline’s advocacy for increased state funding in three areas. Our 2025 legislative priorities focus on securing essential resources for students and schools.
- The School Board held a work session on the budget development process on Wednesday, December 11.
- In December, we shared that we do not anticipate additional reductions in the 2025-26 budget after eliminating $8 million from our district budget for the 2024-25 school year and steady enrollment.
- Earlier this month, Superintendent Ivan Duran co-authored an editorial in The Seattle Times urging lawmakers to address Washington’s K-12 education funding crisis.