Highline Board to Vote on Maritime Closure
Highline Public Schools has proposed closing Maritime High School, with a board vote scheduled for December 9, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Highline Public Schools has proposed closing Maritime High School, which currently serves 83 students. The Highline School Board is scheduled to vote on the closure December 9, 2026.
Why it matters
District officials state the school has become too expensive to operate and has struggled to attract enough students to sustain the program. Efforts to find a permanent campus for Maritime have been unsuccessful.
Of the 57 students who graduated in 2025 and 2026, 35 went on to college and eight entered the maritime workforce, including four who took jobs with Washington State Ferries. Maritime opened in 2021 and currently includes 14 freshmen.
The players
Highline Public Schools
The Washington school district that proposed closing Maritime High School and is seeking to trim budgets across its schools. It serves the South King County area near Seattle.
Highline School Board
The elected governing body of Highline Public Schools that will consider the closure recommendation and vote on it December 9, 2026.
The details
The school board will consider the closure recommendation at its November 18 meeting, with public testimony. A formal public hearing is scheduled for December 2, followed by the board vote on December 9. If approved, the school would close in June 2027, and approximately 48 students in grades nine through 11 would be individually assisted in planning for other schools, while the Class of 2027 would be allowed to graduate from Maritime as planned.
Timeline
2021: Maritime High School opened.
November 18, 2026: Board first considers the closure recommendation with public testimony.
December 2, 2026: Formal public hearing on the closure.
December 9, 2026: Board vote on the closure.
June 2027: School would close if the closure is approved.
Roadmap
The proposed closure follows Highline's $8 million budget cut for the current school year and its targeted $5 million trim for 2027-28. It marks a shift from across-the-board reductions toward eliminating a single program that officials say costs more per student than other district high schools.
Families of current Maritime students should watch the November 18 and December 2 meetings for public testimony opportunities. If closure is approved, the approximately 48 students in grades nine through 11 will receive individual help planning for other schools.
The takeaway
Residents interested in the outcome can follow the Highline School Board's November 18, December 2 and December 9 meetings, where public input on Maritime's future will be considered before the final vote.
What happens next
The Highline School Board considers the closure recommendation November 18, 2026, holds a public hearing December 2, 2026, and votes December 9, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Secondary Education coverage for Burien families weighing school changes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Seattle Times.
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