Imagine a 6th grade history teacher instructing a class where most students only read at 3rd grade reading level… Welcome to Highline Schools.
On November 29, 2023, Highline School Board Directors were informed that 80% of Highline students were currently one to three (or more) grade levels below standard.
Here is a graph of the 6th grade student 2023 Proficiency Data (part of a larger K-8 graph given to Highline Board):
As you can imagine, the directors were taken aback at the news, especially since it showed that by 6th grade, nearly 50% of students were “3 or more grade levels below” standard. And the successes slid even further by 7th and 8th grades.
The directors agreed that the district needed to measure for success and growth, asking for data, metrics, and additional opportunities to be involved with the process of reversing this trend.
In November, the directors asked for further – and more – discussion time, however, at the Literacy Work Session on October 16, 2024, directors only had 15 minutes to ask their questions after the 40 minute formal presentation.
Here is the full chart from the Highline Schools website – work session dated 11/29/23 (link):
