Frequently Asked Questions

Maritime High School is open to any student who is interested in Maritime studies. We take students from anywhere in the region. The school provides Orca cards to students who need transportation to school. Fifty-one percent of seats are reserved for students who live within the boundaries of Highline Public Schools.

Students will spend time each week in the field engaged in projects with industry and community projects.  Some time will be at the school site working on projects in a classroom setting.  There may be a day or two each week that students learn from home as well.

Yes!   Students will regularly be outdoors, in all weather.  Staff will work with students and families to ensure all are well equipped for a full range of outdoor weather.

Locations will be determined based on the projects students are working on.  We anticipate many experiences will take place in and around the Duwamish Valley, as well as port and marina facilities throughout Seattle.  Additional projects may take place farther away.

Student safety is always a top priority.  Planning for safety will take place for all projects, and every effort will be made to minimize risk.

Regular updates about schedules and locations will be posted and communicated with students and families.

Students will be issued an Orca card.  Staff will support students’ orientation to use the public transit system. 

To complete projects and explore areas of interest more deeply, students will regularly engage in learning beyond the school day.  Staff will work with students and families to ensure homework beyond the school day is reasonable and relevant to mastering skills and content related to the projects.

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. PBL connects students to authentic, relevant learning experiences both in and out of the classroom that focus on deep content knowledge and mastery of skills that are applicable to both their lives and careers outside of the classroom.

The design of each project includes specific learning goals and standards in specific subject areas.  Over the course of the year, projects address a full range of learning across subject areas, and reflect students’ interests and strengths.

PE and art standards will be integrated into the projects of the course of the year.

School staff will work with individual students, families, and district staff to design supports to meet student needs.

During each project, students will have many diverse opportunities to demonstrate their learning, both throughout a project and at the end of a project.  This learning will be documented on a transcript. 

In the 9th and 10th grades, most learning will take place as a cohort.  In the 11th and 12th grade, students will begin to focus on specialty areas such as maritime construction, vessel operations, and aquaculture.  The specialization may include projects, and will definitely include internships and job-site experiences.

We are working with industry and community partners to offer a wide range of internship experiences across maritime related fields, from research, to food production, to construction and beyond.

No.  The Maritime High School program model is an integrated full-time experience

Staff will work with a student and family to address any needs or concerns that might help a student stay at Maritime High School.  If the decision is to leave, the school will support the transition to a different school by communicating with the receiving school to interpret the transcript.

Maritime High School will not have athletic teams that compete with other schools.  However, students can participate in their neighborhood high school’s athletic programs. 

Clubs and activities will be determined based on student interest.  Additionally, staff will consider student interest and integrate them into the design of projects.

Students will work with staff to identify what clubs may become part of the school experience.

Students will work with staff to identify what social events will become part of the school experience.

There are a wide range of careers in the maritime sector.  These include working on boats, building and maintaining port and marine facilities, ensuring clean and healthy marine environments, and so much more.  Check this employment guide and this apprenticeship and career guide to begin exploring the maritime careers.  Students will learn deeply about these careers throughout their time at Maritime High School.

The school is designed for students who have an interest in anything connected to the sea - boats, marine construction, or environmental and ocean sciences.  Learning will tap into this interest and inspire students to learn deeply and with purpose.  When students graduate, they will be ready to launch into a career and further study in maritime.  At the same time, they will be well-prepared to continue their education in any field of study they choose, similar to a comprehensive school.

Yes.  The Mastery Transcript will be used, which colleges and universities accept.  Staff will work with students to communicate with any institutions that need further information about the transcript.

Students will engage in rigorous college preparatory content through the program.  Additionally, in the 11th and 12th grade year, all students will engage in Advanced Placement and/or College in the High School courses.  These experiences will strengthen students' readiness for learning in college.

In the 11th and 12th grade, as students focus on a specialty area, they will work towards earning an industry certification for entry into a job or internship.

Staff will work with students to develop structures to regularly hear and incorporate student voice into various aspects of the school.  As specific structures emerge, this answer will be updated.

We are planning for a 9th grade class of about 40 students in September 2021.  Each year following that, a new 9th grade class for 100 students will enter.  The school will eventually have 400 students. 

Yes.  There are schools across the country and beyond that focus on maritime, as well as schools that project based.  As we develop the school, we are learning from and partnering with successful models.

Basic funding comes from public sources, similar to other public schools.  Additionally funding comes from grants, donations, and other sources.

Student and family feedback will play a primary role in determining success.  Data collected through the transcript will be an indicator of student learning and progress.  School staff will work regularly with district staff and partners to adjust and improve programming.

An advisory board supports the school reflecting a wide array of partners, providing a consistent connection.  The school will partner with specific organizations on projects to provide in-depth learning.