Academic Programs

A number of variables make Highline's academic program unique and successful.

Skilled Faculty:  The success of Highline Academy's academic program is a result of the passion, expertise and dedication of our teaching corps.   Nearly 70% of our teachers possess graduate degrees.  Combined, our teachers average 10 years of classroom experience, with our range running from 3 years of experience to 37 years of experience. 

Performance Grouping:  In math, literacy, and middle school language arts, students are placed in classes that appropriately challenge and support them.  Based on test results and teacher input, students are placed in performance groups.  Performance grouping allows us to better tailor our classrooms to meet individual student needs.

Small Classes:  Our largest classes average 26 students, with our smallest being 5.  Students in our middle school enjoy language arts classes that average 15-17.  Smaller classes allow us to spend more time working with students to meet their individual needs.

Spanish in All Grades Levels:    All Highline students take Spanish begining in kindergarten.

Curriculum:  Our skilled teachers offer a standards-based educational program to all students.  We begin with the end in mind--what should students know, understand, and be able to do.  We then draw upon a variety of curricular resources to meet the end goal.   These include:

Core Knowledge" The Core Knowledge scope and sequence creates a foundation for the content we deliver to our students in science, social studies, and language arts.  Founded by E.D. Hirsch, Core Knowledge outlines a body of content deemed important for students to know in order to be considered culturally literate.  The Core Knowledge sequence provides students with challenging content.  Students in 6th grade, for instance, read The Odyssey, while those in 8th read Twelfth Night.  Highline supplements  the recommened Core Knowledge content with a additional books in order to fulfill our mission of being culturally responsive to our diverse student population.   To learn more, please visit www.coreknowledge.org

Open Court Reading:  Our kindergarten through fifth graders learn to become excellent readers using Open Court.  The program provides a sequential, scaffolded approach that emphasizes both fluency and comprehension.

Saxon Math:  Saxon math challenges students to become excellent mathmeticians through its sprilling approach.  Students do daily practice in math facts while also exploring higher order thinking.