Mission

Our mission is to provide a safe, constructive learning environment that honors the dignity and worth of every individual in the school community, while maintaining high standards and fostering the development of our students to achieve their highest potential.

West Seattle 4-Period Day Audit

The results are in. Click here for a .pdf file of this final report.

Credits and Graduation
To be a proud graduate of Westside, you must earn a minimum of 27 credits and have completed the following required courses: (1 semester class = 1 credit)

• 2 credits of Humanities
• 3 credits of Social Studies
• 3 credits of Language Arts
• 2 credits of Science
• 2 credits of Mathematics
• 2 credits of P.E.
• 2 credits of Occupational Education
• 1 credit of Fines Arts
• 0.5 credits of Health Education
• 9.5 elective credits

Additionally, Students must meet the following requirements:

• Successful Completion of Senior Project
• Minimum Overall 2.0 GPA in Core Classes (Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Science)
• Reading requirement of 20 total books
• 60 hours of service learning completed by the end of the Senior year (get the form here)

Normal progress toward credits for graduation is as follows:

• Freshman: 0.00 - 7.00 credits
• Sophomore: 7.10 - 14.00 credits
• Junior: 14.10 - 21.00 credits
• Senior: 21.10 - 27.00 or more credits

The West Seattle High School community has a proud tradition of supporting the school staff and in our classrooms: WSHS Alumni Association, PTSA, WSHS Foundation, community service groups, and local businesses. In addition, Immunex, Boeing, Microsoft, and others have been supportive of our educational reform efforts. We include this in our vision because we know that the involvement of the entire school community will make a difference in the lives of our students.

Academic Rigor and Personalization
Academic rigor and personalizing education is at the core of transformation. Clear communication, respect for all, and an environment that is non-judgmental and supportive of student achievement are critical to success. A common code of conduct for students and professional standards for staff underscore the importance of providing a healthy, supportive school culture.

Our vision of providing a more rigorous program begins with high expectations in all classes where:

Learning is highly valued
Both teachers and students seek new challenges on a daily basis and are engaged in a "culture of excellence."
Students will be active learners and choose challenging classes
Syllabi are aligned to district standards
Relevant effective curriculum and instruction is the norm
All curriculum is both vertically and horizontally aligned and truly becomes interdisciplinary
We will personalize the education process by creating small learning communities, continuing our flexible structure, developing pathways to success, and providing opportunities for staff to get to know students on a positive level.

This is an exciting time to be a part of West Seattle High School. We have new student-centered programs. We have strong academic programs, increased test scores and a positive community image to continue the proud traditions of West Seattle High School.

Goals

• To increase academic success for all students.
• To decrease disproportionality in our school.
• To increase academic rigor and personalize the learning environment for every student.

Beliefs

• All students can learn.
• Each student is a valued individual with unique intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
• Student learning is the priority for our school.
• Clear goals and high expectations for student achievement guide classroom instruction.
• Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instruction.
• A commitment to continuous improvement enables students to become confident, self-directed, lifelong learners.

Partnerships

West Seattle High School wants to partner with our parents, community, businesses, and corporations so that we can better help each student achieve maximum academic success, attain a quality education, and prepare for today's ever-changing technological society.

Together, Everyone Achieves More.

To better develop all students' artistic, academic, athletic and social capabilities, we:

• Provide a safe, stable learning environment,
• Enhance self-esteem,
• Increase motivation to reach short and long-range goals,
• Teach, counsel and educate all students,
• Maintain high academic standards,
• Honor, celebrate and respect all members of our diverse community,
• Offer curricula which encourage student success in a technologi cally rich world,
• Help children develop and achieve.