News

The 2019-20 school year form is available Sept. 4 through Sept. 30, 2019.

First day of school for 1st through 12th grades is Wednesday, Sept. 4.
First day of school for kindergartners is Monday, Sept. 9. On this page we have pulled together many required documents and critical information to help staff, families and students prepare for the upcoming first day of school.

Wed., Sept. 4 is the first day of school for grades 1-12; Mon., Sept. 9 is the first day of kindergarten. Read all key dates for the 2019-20 school year.

This fall, Seattle Public Schools has made a change to the username students use to log on to district digital tools such as The Source and the student portal. This change will enable students to keep their same username until they graduate!

Seattle Public Schools is developing a slogan and logo for the new strategic plan and we want to hear from you! Our community has an opportunity to provide input through an online feedback form.

On September 3, Greg Narver will become the new Chief Legal Counsel at Seattle Public Schools, reporting directly to Superintendent Juneau.

In this cabinet-level role, Greg will lead a team of legal professionals in providing advice and representation to the District on all legal matters, and will support student learning, District efficiency, and the strategic objectives of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team. He will serve as the chief legal adviser to the Board of Directors and the Superintendent, and as Assistant Secretary to the Board.

All students, staff, families, and friends are invited to join Seattle Public Schools in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30 at 11 a.m.

Dates and locations for Seattle Public Schools high schools graduation ceremonies June 2019.

Seattle World School students, staff, families, and community partners came together on Saturday, June 8th to host a Cultural Fair celebrating the diversity and origins of the school community. Principal Bruno Cross welcomed the crowd with the affirmation that “At Seattle World School, we are each other’s people.”

When Daniel Bagley Elementary (Bagley) dismisses for the summer, students, teachers, and staff will say goodbye to the school for a year. They will be moving to an interim location at John Marshall School while Bagley is under construction. The Bagley community will be welcomed home in September 2020.

Between June 2019 and August 2020, the school will be renovated and expanded. A two-story classroom wing addition will add eight new classrooms, and a new gymnasium addition will be more than double the size of the existing gym.

Use our Assignment Lookup Tool to check your student’s school assignment for next year.

Thurs., March 7, 2019: All schools and administrative offices will be open and observe regular hours. Buses will run on regular routes.

Join us for the annual Seattle Public School College Bound Scholarship Conference on Sat., March 2, 1 - 4 p.m., at the University of Washington.

None of our drinking water sources at any Seattle Public Schools building or school have elevated levels of lead in the water. We are continuously improving these testing procedures, with funding from our local levy dollars, to ensure that our students and staff consume healthy, non-contaminated water while in our buildings.

Following a nationwide search netting many highly qualified applicants, Seattle Public Schools has hired an outstanding individual to become our chief operations officer. Fred Podesta brings years of experience to the district, having served the City of Seattle in several leadership roles including director of city operations and director of executive administration.

On Mon., Jan. 7, Dr. Diane DeBacker took the reins of Seattle Public Schools’ academic programs, and the shared responsibility of educating close to 53,000 students.

DeBacker’s passion for public education has taken her from her first high school classroom of students in Manhattan, Kansas, to advising the education system in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Authentic family engagement is critical to student success. Together, parents and classroom teachers are partners in ensuring student’s academic and social-emotional strengths and needs are supported.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community including here in Seattle, following the tragic mass murder and shooting in Pittsburgh. When one of our communities is the target of violence and hate, our grief is shared.

Seattle Public Schools serves a diverse school community. We are dedicated to creating welcoming environments where each students feel safe and their differences are celebrated. Seattle Public Schools has a long history of supporting and advocating for LGBTQ students, staff, and families.

For the fourth consecutive year, Hawthorne Elementary received the nationally prestigious John Hopkins University’s National Network of Partnerships Schools Award.

This summer, students became crew in the Skills Center course Introduction to Maritime Vessel Operation. A 25-foot vessel and the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea became their classroom as they learned to navigate currents and tides, read charts, and gain an understanding of the physics of sailing.

The week of Oct. 8, I visited several schools including Franklin High School where I had the opportunity to meet student body representatives Ashleen and Gabi, see the amazing work at Cleveland's health center, and observe students at Washington Middle School explore college and careers during Discover U week.

Under the state's 24 credit graduation requirement, students must earn three (3) science credits: at least two lab sciences, and a third credit of choice. In previous years, students were able to graduate with two (2) science credits. In addition to the course work, students will be required to pass the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science at the end of their junior year.

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau is embarking on a comprehensive Listening and Learning Tour to gather an understanding of the district's strengths, challenges, and what is most important for her to consider as plans are developed for the district's future.

Getting students to and from school is top of mind for me. Like many of you, I am frustrated that the start of school hasn’t been smooth for all of our students and families. Our students deserve timely, safe, and predictable transportation to and from school.

Seattle Public Schools invites all seniors to attend one of the many upcoming college application and financial aid events.

This is an update on transportation services contracted with First Student. Anytime there is a late bus, students, families and schools are impacted. We apologize for this disruption. Getting students safely to and from school on time is a top priority.

Seattle teachers and staff recently came together plan and share how they create welcoming classroom environments that offer high-quality education and inclusive school communities through the whole-child framework—MTSS (multi-tiered system of support)

This year’s window for parent referrals for K-8 students currently enrolled at Seattle Public Schools is May 15, 2018 through September 24, 2018 to determine eligibility for school year 2019-20. Applications for students in grades 9-12 will be available in January.

Families in Seattle Public Schools can now pay student fees and other school-related bills online with the district's SchoolPay system. Beginning Fall 2018, all schools will now have access to SchoolPay.

Last year, six Seattle educators were recognized for excellence in teaching as part of a Symetra Heroes in the Classroom awards! Now it is time to nominate 2018-19 educators for this award.

Seattle Public Schools will begin evaluating instructional materials for 9-12 science. An adoption committee comprised of teachers, students, families, and community members from across the district will be formed. Their work will begin in October. Interested individuals are invited to apply.

At a recent School Board meeting, Gail Morris, Native American Education program manager and Stacia Hawkinson, Native Education consulting teacher, debuted the short film, which showcases Native Seattle Public School high school students and staff sharing their stories, hopes, and dreams for their future.

All across the district, open doors and smiling faces awaited students and their families. Sept. 5 marked the first day of school for students in grades 1-12.

The College and Career Readiness team is holding five regional information meetings to give parents and community members an opportunity to talk directly with staff about the benefits of Naviance, the district’s college and career planning tool.

Welcome to the 2018-19 school year. I'm excited to kick off the school year as your superintendent. It's going to be a great year!

Jessica Monfils, family and consumer sciences teacher at Ingraham High School was recently announced as the 2018 Nancy Johnson New Professional Teacher of the Year.

Available to next year’s 8th through 12th graders, Naviance will help students identify their strengths, interests and goals, and link them to potential college and career pathways; providing a deeper knowledge about options for the future.

Tracy Gill, a 6th grade social studies teacher at Denny International Middle School, has been awarded the Regional Teacher of the Year; representing Puget Sound Educational Service District 121.

The start of the school year is a great time to reinforce the importance of attendance with students. The first 20 days of school are particularly important for establishing good attendance habits.

Each year, the district welcomes incoming kindergarten students and their families to experience their school early through Jump Start, a free, week-long immersive experience.

Over 200 Seattle Public Schools leaders and district staff gathered at West Seattle High School for the annual Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) in preparation for the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.

The air quality forecast has improved, but is still unhealthy for sensitive groups.

It has come to our attention that some district ground crews have used Roundup which contains glyphosate a potential carcinogenic. We have halted our use of this product. We will review grounds maintenance practices to ensure we follow policy and procedure.

As part of the 24-credit graduation requirements that affects all Seattle Public Schools students beginning with the Class of 2021, students must earn at least one credit in Career and Technical Education.

Students taking career-technical education (CTE) summer courses through the Seattle Skills Center had an opportunity to meet with local chefs and employees in the restaurant industry at an event sponsored by Tom Douglas.

As we prepare for the 2018-19 school year, our district has spent time this summer looking ahead at our overall finances.

Despite our projected funding gap starting in the 2019-20 school year, Seattle Public Schools is committed to ensuring our students have the access and opportunities they need to succeed. This includes balancing paying our amazing educators a fair and competitive wage with providing the programming our students and families need and expect.

Keep your student engaged with learning throughout the summer.

In 2019-20, new high school boundaries will be implemented with the opening of Lincoln High School in north Seattle. Watch a video that highlights the changes.

The school year has ended but Seattle Public Schools will be hard at work to prepare for a great 2018-19 school year. Below is a collection of resources and helpful links that families may need during the summer

Pathfinder K-8 eighth-graders spearheaded a student service project that modernized a school mural and helped create a welcoming school environment that support the identity safety of every student.

On June 3, Sand Point Elementary schoolwide musical production "Salmon Boy" retold a legend of Pacific Northwest native tribes and highlighted the school's and district's commitment to positive, inclusive learning environments that support belonging and identity safety for all students.

Join Seattle Public Schools staff and families at June 24 Seattle Pride Parade. Meet us at the school bus before 11 a.m. on 4th Ave. between University and Seneca.

Click the Student Portal blue icon at the top of all Seattle Public Schools websites for quick links to The Source, Schoology and other online tools to support students.

The Seattle Public Schools School Board and Facilities and Operations Department are establishing a Facilities Master Plan task force. You are invited to apply. Applications are due by Thurs., June 7.

U.S. News and World Report has recognized several Seattle Public Schools high schools as top high schools in Washington state in their annual report.

The Visual and Performing Arts Program offered a professional development session on May 2 in partnership with the Family Partnerships and the Center for Arab and Islamic Resources (CAIR).

Summer vacation is just around the corner, but the work to improve systems at the district level continues. We are committed to gathering input from families and communities during several opportunities for involvement in the coming months.

The district is piloting ethnic studies curriculum in six schools aimed at engaging students in perspectives of historically marginalized groups.

Seattle Public Schools accepts School Choice applications until May 31.

Help Seattle Public Schools rethink and re-examine our practices to ensure each and every student receives the high-quality instruction necessary to grow and achieve.

Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors honored AAMAC at the board’s April 25 meeting for AAMAC’s partnership with the district, specifically for their focus on eliminating opportunity gaps.

On the evening of April 3, Phillipa Dugaw, North Beach PTA president and Brooke Walker, North Beach auction chair, presented a $10,000 check to Northgate Elementary. Principal Dedy Fauntleroy, Family Support Worker, Guillermo Carval, and Librarian Kate Eads were present at the PTA meeting to receive the donation on behalf of Northgate.

Thanks to a partnership with Seattle Housing Authority and Seattle Public Schools, more than 100 SHA students from Aki Kurose and Asa Mercer International middle schools either had perfect or improved attendance during the month of March.

Nationally, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During the month of April, conversations are taking place across the country to raise awareness about child abuse and sexual assault prevention. We encourage families to talk with kids about these important topics as well.

Seattle Public Schools is currently testing an interim assessment tool for mathematics and English language arts (ELA) for students in grades 3- 11 and is seeking board approval for interim assessments districtwide.

Did you know that as many as 25,000 individuals volunteer in schools across our district annually? Parents, community volunteers and partners serving Seattle Public Schools students play an important role in our efforts to ensure educational excellence and eliminate opportunity gaps.

The Seattle School Board adopted the 2017-18 school calendar at the June 7, 2017, board meeting.

At the March 21 Seattle Public Schools School Board meeting, Seattle Parks and Recreation was recognized as a Premiere Partner for the My Brother’s Keeper program.

Seattle Public Schools recognizes that decades of deeply embedded bias requires more than policy to undo institutionalized and structural racism. Institutionalizing racial equity in all schools requires transforming our practices and beliefs. Racial Equity Teams are one strategy that we are using to do this critical work.

Seattle Public Schools is seeking parents, community members, and students to join district staff in the Student Assignment Plan Task Force to help review the Student Assignment Plan and most recent Student Assignment Transition Plan and develop recommendations for an equity focused enrollment and student assignment process. Apply today! The application deadline is March 19, 2018.

Seattle Public Schools prioritizes student safety. It is our goal to prevent emergencies from happening, therefore all lethal or potentially lethal statements, whether verbal or written (including electronic) are to be taken seriously and investigated.

Every March, Seattle Public Schools administers the SAT, the college admission test, to juniors during school hours. The test date for this school year is Wed., March 7, 2018.

February is Career and Technical Education month, an opportunity to highlight the achievements of programs in our district and across the country that help students prepare for the college, career and life.

February is Black History Month, a month dedicated to remembering important people and events in African American communities around the world.

With this new service you can opt-in to receive text messages on a cellular phone number that is on record with your student’s school.

Seattle Public Schools is seeking members for the Family Engagement Task Force, which will convene from February until May 2018. The application deadline is Feb. 19, 2018.

Through the event, in its third consecutive year, the district helped families register new students as well as answer questions about the registration process; school choice; option, alternative and service schools; highly capable and special education services.