The Northshore School District administration and the High School Grade Reconfiguration Task Force have recommended the school board open the district’s new comprehensive high school, North Creek, with students in grades 9-11 as opposed to having a seniors transition during their final year of school.
The district and the task force have found that transitioning three grade levels would better meet the needs of high school students by providing greater access to academic programs, student leadership, extra- and co-curricular opportunities and a greater variety of athletic programs and options.
Transitioning grades 9-11 would also utilize the new high school at 75 percent capacity, providing better facility flexibility with fewer temporary costs (e.g., required permits and placement of additional portables), less impact on over enrollment at the current three high schools and increased long-term flexibility to the boundary adjustment process. In addition, transitioning grades 9-11 to North Creek High School would allow greater flexibility for the district’s waiver process.
The following factors were analyzed to recommend the best grade levels to transition to the new high school:
• Grade transitions in other districts when they opened a new high school
• The district’s current and potential enrollment challenges
• Boundary adjustments and facility flexibility
• Academic programs, student leadership, extra and co-curricular activities and athletics
• The transition period
• Comparison of the current three high schools enrollment to fourth high school potential enrollment
The recommendation to transition grades 9-11 to North Creek is based on the following:
• Benefits for students at the new high school
• Academics – greater access to academic programs, including advanced courses in math, science, languages, career and college readiness, Tech Prep and a greater variety of elective courses
• Student Leadership – an upper class of 11th-graders who can be role models and peer support for 9th- and 10th-graders who will be new to the high school experience
• Athletics – greater variety of athletic programs and options to help build strong athletic programs the first year and a higher KingCo league designation
• Extra and Co-curricular Activities – more options and opportunities for students to find clubs and activities that best fit their interests and goals, such as DECA, FBLA, drama/theater, marching band and choir
District-wide benefits
• Facility Flexibility – fewer temporary infrastructure costs, such as portables, incurred at the three current high schools
• Boundary Adjustments – less impact with over enrollment at the current three high schools for a shorter period of time (one year as compared with two years), providing increased long-term flexibility to the boundary adjustment process
• District Waiver Policy and Procedure – more financially responsible use of the district waiver policy and procedure and support the implementation of critical boundary adjustments and transitions
The recommendation will be a part of an action item on the Nov. 12 Board of Directors meeting agenda.
North Creek High School is slated to open in fall 2017.
More information is available on the district website at www.nsd.org/northcreekhs.
