At their June 6 School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration (SCRCC) meeting, task force members continued evaluating the remaining 6 elementary schools on the list to be considered for possible closure, with the goal of recommending 2-3 additional schools to remove from further consideration. This evaluation work began at the May 30 meeting, and the task force members agreed that they needed another session to thoroughly and thoughtfully review data, discuss, and narrow down the list of schools.

 

Schools previously removed from closure consideration:

• Briarcrest Elementary School

• Cascade K-8 Community School

• Meridian Park Elementary School

• Parkwood Elementary School

At the June 6 meeting task force members revisited the task force’s school closure consideration criteria, data provided at previous SCRCC meetings, and the group’s scoring from the prior meeting. The task force members used this information and  group discussion to inform their votes for which schools to remove from closure consideration.

 

Schools removed from closure consideration on June 6:

• Lake Forest Park Elementary School: Lake Forest Park serves a relatively diverse population and a large number of families supported by subsidized housing, including families who speak English as a second language. Closure of this school would also have a relatively greater impact on middle school enrollment patterns and other schools during a boundary process.

• Ridgecrest Elementary School: Ridgecrest serves a diverse population of students and receives federal funding to allow all students to receive free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision. Closure of this school would also have a relatively greater impact on middle school enrollment patterns and other schools during a boundary process.

 

The remaining 4 schools will be carried forward to the fall for further consideration for and analysis of possible school closure for the 2025-26 school year, with the goal of recommending 1 elementary school to the School Board for possible closure:

• Brookside Elementary School

• Echo Lake Elementary School

• Highland Terrace Elementary School

• Syre Elementary School

 

SCRCC task force process for fall 2024 (meeting dates TBD):

• Review back-to-school enrollment data

• Consider existing and additional data requested by the task force

• Recommend 1 school to the School Board for possible closure

• Public hearings during the 90 days before a school district’s final decision 

• Begin boundary process if School Board acts on recommendation

 

We would like to acknowledge the thoughtful, serious, and considerate nature with which the task force members have approached this important work. The members have shared conflicting opinions with grace and understanding for each other, and their in-depth understanding and analysis of the complex data behind their considerations is impressive and valuable for our Shoreline School District community.

See presentation materials and meeting recaps, find background information, and submit a question for an upcoming FAQ: School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration