Former Highline resident questions Maritime High School’s closure, citing Port investment, student outcomes and concerns about district recruitment, funding and its fair chance to succeed.
Former Highline resident cites Port support and presses the Highline School District on recruitment and funding.
[Editor’s note: This letter responds to Superintendent Ivan Duran’s recommendation to close Maritime High School. The writer is a former Highline resident who recently moved out of the area. Her identity is known to The Highline Journal; she submitted the letter in her individual capacity and requested anonymity. She says she followed Maritime with interest because of its innovative approach to education and maritime careers.
[The Highline Journal has asked Highline Public Schools to respond to the claims in this letter. We will update this article if the district replies.]
Dear Highline Journal,
As Highline Public Schools moves toward a critical December 9 Board vote on closing Maritime High School, major regional stakeholders, parents, and community partners are stepping forward to challenge the district’s recommendation.
The Office of the Commission at the Port of Seattle issued a statement [to the author of this letter] expressing deep disappointment in the district’s proposal. The Port confirms it has invested over $1.2 million in direct funding, staff hours, and student internships into the school, warning that shutting down this pipeline undermines regional efforts to fill a severe maritime workforce shortage where only 1 in 4 open positions is currently being filled.
While central administration frames the proposed closure around fiscal constraints, a closer look at the numbers, legal agreements, and program structures reveals a very different story:
Distorted Operating Cost Math: External grants and industry partners pay 100% of vessel time, field trip transportation, and specialized equipment costs. Furthermore, out of 9 total teaching staff, 4 are funded via Special Education and CTE categorical funding streams.
Inconsistent Small-School Standards: The district continues to protect and subsidize the small school Choice Academy that operate essentially as a comprehensive high school without specialized career pathways or industry-recognized credentials—largely because they serve politically influential neighborhood constituencies like Normandy Park. In contrast, Maritime provides specialized trade credentials and living-wage pipelines, yet faces closure despite requiring far less general-fund investment per specialized outcome.
Systemic InterLocal Agreement (ILA) Non-Compliance: Under the Amended ILA, Highline Public Schools legally bound itself to run regional middle school recruitment, equity marketing, and application/lottery infrastructure. Instead of fulfilling these mandates, the district quietly offloaded recruitment onto building-level staff without dedicated personnel or budget.
Self-Sustaining Potential via Basic Recruitment: If the district invested baseline marketing and recruitment resources into middle schools as mandated, Maritime would easily reach full enrollment capacity—turning state Basic Education Allocation (BEA) funding into a fully self-sustaining revenue model. Low enrollment is not a lack of regional demand; it is the direct result of unfulfilled district recruitment infrastructure.
Proven Student Outcomes: Despite central office neglect, Maritime High School boasts a 100% graduation rate across its first two graduating classes, with over 50% of graduates advancing to higher ed or immediate living-wage careers with Washington State Ferries and regional marine employers. The school was recently awarded the Gold Star Award for Best Trades/Technical School in the Pacific Northwest.
Thank you,
Concerned Citizen
[Note From the Editor: Letters to the Editor reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Highline Journal. Bolding, highlights, and links were provided by author. If you wish to submit a letter, please include your name and contact info, and send comments to info@thehighlinejournal.com.]
Katie Kresly
Doran, Jay
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