At least 439 Highline 10th-graders can breathe a little easier about graduation, while another 725 sophomores face an additional hurdle following the release of preliminary Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) scores.

Assessment director Becki Bouchard reported to Highline School Board members on June 14 that 439 students met state standards on all three sections (reading, writing and math) of the WASL taken this spring.

Results for other grades will be released in September.

This is the first year that a passing score for sophomores is required for graduation in 2008.

The 725 10th-graders who failed to meet state standards have four more chances to pass.

Spokeswoman Catherine Carbone Rogers said the district will provide help in summer school and during the regular school year for those who failed the WASL

After two failures, a student can use an alternative, state-approved testing method to try to meet the graduation requirement.

Results for the Highline district were more encouraging in the WASL reading section. Out of 1,147 students, 920 met or exceeded state standards. More than half scored in the highest level, Rogers noted.

The district has focused on literacy instruction.

In the writing section, 830 of 1,156 students met or exceeded state standards.

Results in the math section were the most disappointing with only 483 10th-graders passing out of 1,156 who took the test. The state standard was met by 495 sophomores last year.

"We're stepping up efforts in math, which is our greatest challenge," Rogers said.

Superintendent John Welch also reported on a survey of seniors planning to attend college.

District officials emphasize that not all seniors responded to the survey so more might be college-bound than recorded.

Welch said 70 Highline High seniors reported they would enroll in a four-year college, while 59 said they would attend a community college.

Of those headed to a university, 19 will go to the University of Washington. Twenty-six Highline High seniors plan to go to Highline College.

Highline High has 230 seniors.

Welch said the Highline High graduates include one National Merit finalist, two Washington Scholars, 16 state principals' scholars, and 37 state honors award winners.

At Mt. Rainier High, 55 students reported they will be attending a four-year college and 24 students said they are enrolling in a community college. The school has 230 seniors.

Welch noted that the 20 students graduating with an honors International Baccalaureate degree is the most ever from Mt. Rainier.

Students at the Des Moines school have received more than $2 million in college scholarships. The scholarships include a National Merit Scholar, one Washington scholar, 14 principals' scholars, 28 honors scholars, and five commended scholars.

At Evergreen, 35 students said they would go on to a four-year college, while 38 said they would enroll at a community college. Evergreen has 180 seniors.

Evergreen has nine principals scholars and 16 honors scholars.

On the Tyee High campus, 13 of the 39 seniors in the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment reported they will be enrolling in a four-year college and one will be attending a community college.

District officials did not have college plans for the 54 seniors at Global Connections School or 33 seniors at Odyssey.