Innovation Heights Academy

142 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

New Start is an alternative high school located in the Highline Public School District in Burien, Washington (often associated with the Seattle metropolitan area). It is specifically designed for students who may have struggled in traditional high school settings or who are looking for a more personalized, flexible approach to earning their diploma. The school focuses on credit retrieval, individualized learning plans, and fostering a supportive community to help students who have fallen behind get back on track toward graduation.

The school is well-regarded for its small class sizes and a trauma-informed, student-centered culture that prioritizes social-emotional growth alongside academics. By offering a smaller, more intimate environment, New Start aims to build strong relationships between staff and students, ensuring that those who feel disconnected from the mainstream education system receive the guidance and resources necessary to successfully transition into post-secondary education, vocational training, or the workforce.

142

Total Students

9.2

Full-Time Teachers

15.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

79.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Innovation Heights Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	24
Hispanic	82
Black	15
Asian	1
Two or More	10
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
82 (59.9%)
White
24 (17.5%)
Black
15 (10.9%)
Two or More
10 (7.3%)
American Indian
3 (2.2%)
Pacific Islander
2 (1.5%)
Asian
1 (0.7%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Highline School District
Phone:	(206)631-7750
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	142
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	9.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	99
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	14

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 10 29

Grade 11 46

Grade 12 67