Six Highline public schools did not make "adequate yearly progress" during the last school year as defined by federal standard..

The designation is based on test scores from the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) taken by fourth, seventh and tenth-graders last spring.

However three of the schools do not receive Title I federal funds so are not subject to federal sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act. Highline receives $3.3 million in Title I funds yearly.

[Note: An article in the Sept. 7 issue of the Times/News mistakenly stated all six schools faced the penalties. The Times/News apologizes for the error.]

Chinook Middle in SeaTac, Cascade Middle in North Highline and Midway Elementary in Des Moines face the sanctions.

Although they did not earn adequate progress, Mt. Rainier High and Pacific in Des Moines, and Tyee in SeaTac are not subject to the federal rules.

The Highline district also was among 23 districts state wide that missed "adequate yearly progress" overall for a second year and remain in Step 1 of federal district improvement status.

According to Highline officials, the district would not have entered improvement status the first year under new less stringent rules.

The designation means the district must develop a plan and focus on changes in curriculum and teaching.

Chinook Middle is in step 3 of the federal sanctions. The school must offer tranfers to Sylvester Middle and offer private tutoring to low-income students as well as make curriculum and instructional changes.

In step 2, Cascade is required to allow transfers and private tutoring.

On the first step, Midway must allow transfers to another school

According to district Title I Director Susanne Jerde, 62 students asked for "school choice" transfers from the three schools for this school year.

On the controversial WASL tests, 32.6 percent of fourth-graders met state standards in all three subjects.

On the individual subjects, 45. 2 percent met state standards in math, 69.2 percent in reading, and 47.9 percent in writing.

On a WASL science test given to fifth-graders, 21.9 percent met state standards.

For seventh-graders, 29.3 percent made the state standards in all three subjects.

In math, 37.8 percent made state standards, 61.2 percent reading and 51.5 percent in writing.

Eighth-graders were tested in science with 24.4 percent meeting state standards.

Among 10th-graders, 34.7 percent met state standards in all three subjects. In math, 38.2 percent made state standards, 66.6 percent in reading and 57 percent in writing.

Tenth-graders also took the science portion with 28.4 percent meeting state standards.

Superintendent John Welch has announced six "superintendent focus schools." They will receive customized support and be given performance targets.

Besides Midway, Cascade, Chinook and Tyee, the schools are Beverly Park Elementary in North Highline and Bow Lake Elementary in SeaTac.

The district also plans a math initiative in grades four through 10.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com, or 206-444-4873.