Highline School District is proposing to close Maritime High School, a small specialty school that prepares students for careers in the maritime industry. The school currently has 83 students, including 14 freshmen. The district cites low enrollment, high costs and its failure to find a permanent home for the school. The school board will make a final decision after public hearings, with a vote scheduled for Dec. 9.
The school opened in 2021 as an alternative to a traditional high school. Students learned maritime trades through hands-on work, took part in projects, studied marine science and engineering, and completed internships. Maritime industry organizations supported the program. Of the 57 students in the first two graduating classes, 35 went on to college and eight found work in the maritime sector, including four with Washington State Ferries.
Some families had previously complained about the quality of instruction in core subjects, frequent curriculum changes, teacher turnover and poor communication with school leadership. The district, however, says the proposed closure is not related to academic performance but to the financial burden: running the school costs about $10,000 more per student than at most other high schools in the district. If the board approves the closure, other schools will be found for about 48 students in grades 9–11, while the class of 2027 will be allowed to finish at Maritime.
Based on: WA’s Maritime High School could close at end of school year