Big Picture School

233 Students

High School 6th - 12th

School Overview

Big Picture School, located in Burien, Washington, is a unique, public "choice" school within the Highline Public Schools district. It distinguishes itself from traditional models by utilizing a personalized, project-based learning approach that centers on the interests and goals of each individual student. Rather than following a rigid, test-heavy curriculum, the school emphasizes "real-world" applications, requiring students to engage in internships and community-based projects that bridge the gap between classroom theory and professional practice.

The school is built upon the Big Picture Learning philosophy, which prioritizes strong relationships between students, teachers, and mentors. By keeping class sizes smaller and focusing on long-term advisory groups, the school creates a close-knit, supportive environment designed to foster student autonomy and critical thinking. It is an ideal setting for students who thrive in hands-on, self-directed learning environments and are looking for a high school experience that focuses heavily on career readiness and individualized academic growth.

233

Total Students

16.7

Full-Time Teachers

14.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

50.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Big Picture School
Demographic	Student Count
White	67
Hispanic	84
Black	16
Asian	20
Two or More	37
American Indian	3

Hispanic
84 (37.0%)
White
67 (29.5%)
Two or More
37 (16.3%)
Asian
20 (8.8%)
Black
16 (7.0%)
American Indian
3 (1.3%)

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)631-7700
Grade Range:	6th - 12th
Total Students:	233
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	88
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	29

* 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 6 35

Grade 7 32

Grade 8 37

Grade 9 34

Grade 10 32

Grade 11 35

Grade 12 28