Highline Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran is recommending that Maritime High School close at the end of the school year, citing declining enrollment, financial pressures and the lack of a permanent campus, the district announced Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Maritime High School is located in Des Moines at 615 South 200th Street according to the school’s website, and operates at the district’s Olympic Interim Site (map below). It was awarded a Gold for “Best Trade/Technical School” in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW competition.

The school board is scheduled to vote Dec. 9 after opportunities for public testimony and a hearing on the proposed closure. If approved, the school would close at the end of June 2027, according to the district’s Oct. 28 announcement. Graduation for the class of 2027 would proceed as scheduled.

Maritime serves 83 students, including 14 ninth graders. Enrollment has declined over the past three years, falling short of the growth the district says is needed to sustain a high school serving all four grades.

The recommendation comes as Highline faces broader budget challenges. The district said it has already cut approximately $8 million this school year and anticipates another $5 million in reductions for the 2027 school year beginning in the fall.

When Maritime opened six years ago, the plan was to start small and grow. Highline said it has used additional district resources and outside funding to support the school throughout that period, an investment intended to help establish the program.

That support helped develop curriculum informed by the maritime industry, hands-on learning and career connections. But the district said it cannot bridge the continuing gap between enrollment and the resources needed to operate the school.

Because state funding and staffing allocations largely depend on student enrollment, the district said, a smaller student body leaves fewer resources to sustain the program.

Maritime also remains at an interim site. Despite efforts to find a permanent home, Highline said it has not identified one and does not expect to secure a facility in the foreseeable future, given other district facility needs and limited capital resources.

For students and families, the recommendation leaves questions about where they would continue their education.

“Students and families chose Maritime for a reason,” the district said. “We know the possibility of closure raises difficult questions about what comes next.”

If the board approves closure, Maritime and district staff would work with each student and family on an individual transition plan that supports the student’s needs and goals for graduation and beyond.

Staffing decisions would follow applicable collective bargaining agreements, according to Highline.

A workgroup convened this week is preparing a report to accompany Duran’s recommendation and help inform the board’s decision.

Public Feedback Info

Students, families, staff and community members can address the proposal before the vote:

  • Nov. 18: School board meeting with an opportunity for public testimony.
  • Dec. 2: Public hearing on the proposed closure. The district said it will announce the time, location and testimony signup details.
  • Dec. 9: School board meeting with public testimony and a scheduled vote.

Information about speaking at the Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 meetings is available on the district’s public testimony page.

Highline also acknowledged that the recommendation became public before the district could notify Maritime students, families and staff directly. Duran apologized for the rushed communication and said the community deserved more time to process the news, according to the announcement. The district said the recommendation itself was not rushed.