We continue to make changes at our secondary schools to help prepare all students to be Future Ready. This work is part of Secondary Redesign—our effort to make learning more meaningful and challenging in ways that support every student’s success.
So far, this work is most visible at the high school level, where schools have built new programs and reimagine student experiences. As the work continues, we are placing a stronger focus on how middle schools help students build confidence, explore interests and prepare for high school and beyond.
This year, our middle schools are exploring stronger career-connected learning and student experiences that support future success. For example, Sylvester and Cascade are rethinking how they teach science by adopting a career-focused course through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Middle schools are also exploring new Career Pathways courses, so students are exposed to a variety of real-world options that connect with their learning.
Building on Strong Foundations
Our comprehensive middle and high schools began their redesign journeys in 2023-24 by seeking feedback from their students, educators, and families. Through those conversations, two priorities rose to the top:
- 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.
Since then, our high schools have taken the lead by designing new programs and experiences that better prepare students for the futures they choose:
- Tyee High School launched the Health Professionals Pathway, a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science pathway that gives students a head start on careers in healthcare.
- Highline High School moved to a four-period block schedule this school year. The schedule allows students to take four longer classes each day instead of six shorter ones and has opened up more course options related to engineering, coding, applied sciences, and paraeducator preparation.
- Mount Rainier High School tripled International Baccalaureate (IB) enrollment in 2023-24. They continue to expand access to the IB experience, which helps students think deeply, understand different perspectives, and improve their research and writing skills.
- Evergreen High School is working toward a bold goal: helping students graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree. To make that possible, they’re expanding dual credit options and developing ways to provide students with targeted help during the school day.
Strengthening and Extending the Work
Moving forward, all our secondary schools will be focusing on school design elements that help prepare students for their future.
In addition to new or strengthened programs that expose students to potential career paths, schools will also prioritize foundational support to ensure that students have a seamless transition from middle school to high school.
Building on the findings from The Commission on Purposeful Pathways, our goal is to ensure that every Highline Public Schools graduate can say with confidence: “I know who I am, I know where I’m going, and I know who can help me get there.”
We will also continue to consider additional opportunities to design experiences across the K-12 system to ensure that each student is Future Ready.