Highline School District

BURIEN, Washington — 36 schools

18,048
Total Enrollment
36
Schools
$22,200
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Highline School District operates 36 public schools serving 18,048 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 22 other, 9 high, 5 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 18,072 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in King County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,200 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 29.7% local, 55.7% state, and 14.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $104,310 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 52/100, ranked #104 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 36 schools offering Advanced Placement (29 AP courses district-wide), a 353.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 19.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 38.8% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% White, 13.8% African American across the district's schools.

Highline School District school enrollment varies 615× across entities

Highline School District school enrollment ranges from 3 students (lowest) to 1,846 students (highest), a spread of 1,843 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Highline School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 57.6% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Highline School District student-counselor ratio is 354:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Highline School District chronic absenteeism rate is 19.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Highline School District is typically wider than the Highline School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.6%
Federal
55.7%
State
29.7%
Local

Funding Equity

52
Equity Score
104 / 240
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in King County county, where this district is located.

$2,074
Studio/mo
$2,146
1 BR/mo
$2,501
2 BR/mo
$3,272
3 BR/mo
$3,847
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$104,310
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 36 schools in Highline School District.

White 22.0%
Hispanic or Latino 38.8%
African American 13.8%
Asian 12.9%
Multiracial 8.6%
Other 3.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 36
Schools with AP
29 AP courses total
353.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Highline School District

School Enrollment
Mount Rainier High School
1,846
Highline High School
1,423
Evergreen High School
1,080
Glacier Middle School
803
Cascade Middle School
671
Tyee High School
644
Chinook Middle School
620
Pacific Middle School
604
Sylvester Middle School
582
Midway Elementary
548
Parkside Elementary
535
Marvista Elementary
532
White Center Heights Elementary
527
Bow Lake Elementary
524
Hilltop Elementary
519
North Hill Elementary
518
Des Moines Elementary
500
Gregory Heights Elementary
488
Mcmicken Heights Elementary
484
Hazel Valley Elementary
469
Mount View Elementary
460
Beverly Park Elem at Glendale
411
Seahurst Elementary School
405
Shorewood Elementary
400
Raisbeck Aviation High School
400
Cedarhurst Elementary
399
Madrona Elementary
317
Highline Open Doors 1418
240
Big Picture School
233
Valley View Early Childhood Center
225
Highline Public Schools Virtual Academy
208
Choice Academy
176
New Start
142
Maritime High School
126
Highline Home School Center
10
Puget Sound Skills Center
3

Nearby Districts in Washington

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Seattle School District No. 1
51,238 students · 109 schools · $25,927/pupil
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Lake Washington School District
30,991 students · 58 schools · $19,952/pupil
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Spokane School District
28,714 students · 68 schools · $24,487/pupil
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Tacoma School District
28,311 students · 69 schools · $23,190/pupil
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Kent School District
25,586 students · 45 schools · $19,780/pupil
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Compare Highline School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Highline School District?

Highline School District has 36 schools, including 9 high, 5 middle, 22 other. Total enrollment is 18,048 students.

How much does Highline School District spend per student?

Highline School District spends $22,200 per student. The district has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #104 in Washington.

What is the average teacher salary in Highline School District?

The average teacher salary in Highline School District is $104,310 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Highline School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in King County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Highline School District?

Highline School District students are 38.8% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% White, 13.8% African American, 12.9% Asian, averaged across 36 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Highline School District?

Highline School District has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #104 out of 240 districts in Washington. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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