Strategic Plan

We are refining how we implement and measure progress on our strategic plan while developing the 2026–27 budget, which includes $8 million in reductions. Share your input through ThoughtExchange by February 13 to help clarify priorities, guide implementation, and align resources. Join online or at in-person sessions.
 

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.

Through hands-on learning and career-focused pathways, our Schools and Programs of Choice empower students to explore their passions and opt for learning communities that work for them. Whether it's exploring technology, healthcare, or internships, these programs are designed to give students the tools they need to thrive in the future they choose. 

Preparing students for the future means creating opportunities for them to explore, dream, and plan for success. This fall, Future Ready Fest, CollegeCON, and 8th-grade college visits brought this vision to life in Highline.

Our Highline Dual Language program is about more than language learning. It celebrates the rich cultures students bring to the classroom and helps them excel in school. Multicultural skills enable students to live, work, and communicate across cultures. For many family members, the program is a way for their children to stay connected to their heritage. For others, the program opens doors to different cultures and broadens their children’s own worldview and opportunities. Highline’s Dual Language program is innovative, inclusive and free.

At Highline High School, the Unified Physical Education program creates more than just a space for relay races and basketball games. The class is building a community where students of all abilities come together to move their bodies, form friendships, and break down barriers. This is one of many examples of Highline's inclusive education efforts. Students get the support and resources they need in the same spaces rather than in segregated classrooms or gyms. Now in its third year, this program is transforming the school culture.

Meet Yeiri Lopez, a Tyee High School senior who turned her multilingual talents into stepping stones and excelled academically to earn the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy. Yeiri's journey to master English showcases her hard work and the support of her teachers and peers.  

At Evergreen High School, students are connecting deeply with their culture and school through music. New this year are Mariachi classes at Cascade Middle School and Evergreen and Highline high schools. Experience the vibrant sounds, feel the rhythm and see the impact.

In the welcoming classrooms of Gregory Heights Elementary, Kristen O'Connor teaches students of all levels of need and ability. This approach cultivates compassion, respect, and friendship, supports all students’ academic growth and ensures that every student feels they belong.

Erin's philosophy is simple: every student deserves to feel valued. Each day, she begins her classes at Mount View Elementary with intention and dedication. Following a terminal diagnosis, her commitment to making an impact and creating a haven of belonging and learning has only deepened.

Classrooms at Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) mirror real-world workplaces—be it repairing cars in an auto body shop, serving guests at the Class Act Restaurant, or seeing patients in a state-of-the-art dental clinic. With 19 diverse programs, PSSC prepares high school juniors and seniors for their chosen futures through specialized career and technical training.  Students can earn industry certifications and college credits while they’re in high school. Here’s a look at two of PSSC’s popular programs, Dental Assisting and Culinary Arts & Sciences.

Innovation Heights Academy is transforming student lives with a new program model that emphasizes credit recovery, wellness, and interest-driven learning.  In the first year of the new school, students and staff are already seeing the results. See how the school ensures its students are seen, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.

If you spend time at McMicken Heights Elementary, chances are you will meet fourth-grader Seth Bobbitt. His laugh is contagious. His curiosity is infectious. School is his happy place. Seth was born with Down syndrome. His family wanted a school experience where Seth could learn, play and grow alongside his peers. That's exactly what they found at McMicken Heights.

Do you know a young person who wants to become a firefighter? They can start their journey at Puget Sound Skills Center. Students in the PSSC Fire & Emergency Services program practiced their skills this month in this controlled Christmas tree burn.

At Maritime High School, students don't just learn about the sea, they learn on it. From fighting simulated fires in full gear to navigating the waves aboard the Admiral Jack ferry, this school merges classroom learning with hands-on experience. Maritime High School prepares students for a future in a vital industry facing a workforce shortage. Open to all, this school is a beacon for those drawn to maritime careers, providing not just education but a direct route to meaningful, well-paying jobs.