News

Seattle Public Schools is committed to teacher diversity. The Academy of Rising Educators (ARE) is one way we are hiring and recruiting more educators of color.

ARE prepares and supports candidates that model three program goals. Candidates are rooted in our communities. They are dedicated to long-term teaching and they are committed to anti-racist teaching to support students furthest away from educational justice.

Join us for the annual Seattle Public School College Bound Scholarship Conference on March 7, 1 - 4 p.m., at the University of Washington.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to virus and germs. Everyday preventative actions can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 and other diseases.

During the December 11 meeting, the Seattle School Board welcomed returning and new members to the Board and elected board officers.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Seattle Public Schools is anticipating increased demand for world language courses in response to new graduation requirements and student and family interest. In addition to world language classes in all middle and high schools, our district offers dual language immersion program in five international elementary schools.

I am excited to be serving the families, students and staff of Seattle Public Schools. I truly believe that together we can make Seattle Public Schools the best public education system in the nation - providing every student the education and future they deserve.

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).

At the May 9, 2018, School Board meeting, the School Board Directors adopted guiding principles for the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy. These principles provide direction as staff continues work to develop a list of recommendations on what should be included in BEX V, which is a replacement for the BEX IV Capital Levy expiring in 2019.

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

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.

At the April 25 regular school board meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve the contract with Denise Juneau to become the next superintendent, her start date is July 1, 2018.

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.

Starting with the class of 2021, students will need to earn 24 credits to graduate, an increase from 21. Most high schools in our district currently offer 24 credits over the course of four years. Traditionally, SPS has offered students more courses than required by the state to provide flexibility for students to explore new electives or to recover missing credits. We are currently working with a variety of stakeholders to increase credit-earning opportunities for our students.

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.

With Loyal Heights Elementary nearing completion for opening in September 2018, nearly all of the 17 major construction projects included in the Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy have been opened and welcomed students and staff.

After a year-long adoption process, the Department of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction has identified enVisionmath2.0 from Pearson as the new middle school math textbook.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has releasing the new Washington state and federal accountability information for every school in the state as required in the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. ESSA replaced No Child Left Behind in 2015.

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.

In support of the courage and activism of students, we encourage citywide participation in the student-led March for Our Lives Seattle rally and walk at 10 a.m. on Sat., March 24. The School Board invites students, staff and families to join the district in showing our unified support for safe schools and the Seattle students who are organizing this non-school day march.

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.

This February, the Seattle community came together at New Holly Gathering Hall in Southeast Seattle to celebrate the launch of a very special children’s book. The colorful board book, titled “Baro Af-Soomaali,” is unique in several aspects.

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 high school students will see increased credit and assessment requirements with the change in state law requiring 24 credits to graduate.

The new agreement outlines how district and city will plan together to review school capacity issues, plan strategically for future school locations and address the 70-year-old Memorial Stadium.

In response to students' needs, Seattle Public Schools is introducing new state health education standards for self identity in several elementary schools this fall.

Seattle Public Schools has partnered with King County and American Traffic Solutions to deter drivers from illegally passing buses that are loading and unloading students.

Exterior cameras have been added to 120 of the 379 First Student buses that transport our students each day. The cameras capture video of vehicles that appear to be illegally passing the bus when its stop paddle is fully extended.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to educating children regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, country of origin or immigration status. We will do whatever it takes to make sure every student thrives and want to reassure you, that we will do everything within our power to make sure all of our children are safe, honored and respected while in our care.

Join us on July 13 or August 25 to celebrate the unveiling of the Andrew Morrison's murals at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, Cascadia Elementary and Licton Springs K-8.

A recent partnership between two John Muir educators, Seattle chefs, and a local nonprofit is just one of the many inspiring examples of how our teachers are changing the lives of their students.

The Changing the Narrative cooking class developed out of a larger project at the school to help work with educators, students, families, and community partners to collaboratively change perceptions and dispel negative stereotypes about black men. Now these boys are working to give back to their school community so a group of next year’s fifth graders can have the same opportunity.

Congratulations to the many schools in our district who have received the 2016 Washington Achievement Awards from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Of the 280 winners, 23 were from Seattle, and a number of our schools are repeat winners.

Please help the Superintendent and School Board in congratulating our schools for their incredible work and support of students.

Seattle Public Schools serves a rich and diverse community and we are dedicated to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive schools for all students regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, country of origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Prior to the federal guidance concerning transgender students provided in May 2016, our district established the Superintendent Procedure Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action: Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students procedure, which defines the rights that all transgender and gender nonconforming students attending Seattle Public Schools possess. It is a procedure that is here to stay.

Seattle Public Schools is in the process of changing the way we track vaccination records and will begin using an online immunization system called School Module.

This system, created by the Washington State Department of Health allows us to view your child’s immunization record quickly and determine if your child has all the required vaccines needed for school.

The Daily Journal of Commerce newspaper annually honors a regional, newly constructed building: the Hazel Wolf K-8 at Pinehurst School building is a finalist for this year’s award. Voting is open at djc.com until Feb. 28.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to educating children regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, country of origin, or a student’s immigration status. We will do whatever it takes to make sure every student thrives and I want to reassure you, we will do everything within our power to make sure that all of our children are safe, honored, and respected while in our care.

The Musical Pathways Project, active in eight Southeast and Southwest Seattle schools, augments schools’ instrumental music departments with additional music teaching artists from two Seattle orchestras.

Congratulations to all Seattle Public Schools recognized at the Puget Sound Educational Service District's 2016 School of Distinction Award ceremony.

We have 11 schools this year, with nine repeating from previous years!

On Friday, September 16, 2016, a small but mighty group of educators and a committed group of African American men demonstrated to anyone lucky enough to be John Muir Elementary School, that in our community we have enough love, enough resolve, and enough commitment to ensure that every child in Seattle thrives.

Rainier Beach High School is one of 20 schools from across the country to be named a “School of Opportunity” by the National Education Policy Center.

Seattle Public Schools is opening five school buildings for the 2016-17 school year. Seattle voters approved the Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) capital levy in 2013, which enabled the district to build or modernize 17 schools to address capacity needs.

Garfield and Roosevelt High Schools were recently ranked among Niche’s top ten “2016 Best Public High Schools in Seattle Metro.”

Working with the City of Seattle and Seattle Police Department, all of the district's 98 schools will support safe and secure places for victims of crime and discrimination directed toward the Seattle's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

The new facility for the Hazel Wolf K-8 program at the Pinehurst site garnered international attention and recognition.

The building project, designed by NAC Architects of Seattle and officially named Pinehurst School, was a finalist for the “Future Projects Education Award 2015” by World Architecture News.

School vaccination regulations in Washington state have changed for the upcoming 2016-17 school year. The Washington State Department of Health now requires two doses of chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine for all students in grades K through 12.

Students who do not have two doses of vaccine by the start of classes in September, 2016, could be excluded from school. Find out what you need to do!

Twenty three Seattle Public Schools are being recognized with Washington Achievement Awards from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

The awards acknowledge the schools for improvements in areas including reading, English, math and overall outstanding academic success.

Mercer International School has continued its success, earning the award for the past several years and  honors this year in three categories: overall excellence, reading growth and math growth.

The Creative Advantage is a partnership between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture that aims to ensure that every student at every district school has the opportunity to learn through the arts every year, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Eleven Seattle schools are among the winners of the 2014 School of Distinction award, which recognizes schools with the highest sustained improvements in reading and math over the previous five years.