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Highline High seeks deeper learning with 4‑period day; board asked to raise graduation requirements
Summary
Highline High School presented a plan to move to a four‑period day to create space for deeper, career and technical and elective learning. The district recommended increasing graduation credit requirements to balance the change; students and teachers described benefits at the March 19 meeting.
Highline High School leaders and students told the board on March 19 that a move to a four‑period day would give students more time to pursue project‑based and career and technical courses, and the district asked the board to revise its high‑school graduation policy to add credits that would preserve academic breadth.
Principal Salee described a multi‑year redesign process that began after the pandemic and led the school to pilot larger blocks of instructional time and expanded electives in drama, video production, leadership and computer science. He said the four‑period schedule increases students’ ability to invest deeply in programs that build college and career skills.
Students and teachers who spoke at the meeting described personal benefits. Ninth‑grader Penny said she enrolled at Highline because of the drama program and called it “important for self expression, communication skills, memory and remembering lines.” Tenth‑grader Janie, a member of the drama program, said the class helped her make friends and “show my art in many ways.” Espin Pethel, a student in the CTE video production class, said the program has helped him prepare for a career in video production.
Amanda Stanley, the district’s computer science teacher, told the board she had nearly 100 students sign up for AP Computer Science this year and supported the schedule change. “By expanding their options and strengthening their academic foundation, we empower them to take ownership of their education,” Stanley said. She urged the board to increase graduation requirements so students graduate with a broader set of skills and coursework.
Board policy revisions presented to the board remove outdated language related to previous core‑24 transitions, add criteria for posthumous diplomas and propose the credit increase specific to Highline High to accommodate the four‑period day. District staff said any additional legislative changes at the state level could require further edits to district policy.
The board received the presentation as an introduction; a formal policy vote was scheduled as a later agenda item in the district’s policy process.
