Superintendent Steve Marshall shared news of a big change in a letter to parents on July 28:
Dear HSD Families:
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, Hockinson Middle School will move to a grade 5-8 model.
This decision followed months of diligent work by our Citizens Advisory Committee. Parents, staff, and community members studied enrollment data, visited schools, discussed options, and reviewed community survey feedback. I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their perspectives in our two community surveys on this topic.
The school board and I expect that this decision will bring a mix of reactions. We recognize that this is not an ideal solution and does not permanently solve elementary overcrowding. At the same time, we need to address the very real challenges at HHES which, serving over 900 students, is the largest TK-5 elementary school in Washington state. That size affects students in many ways, from impacting instructional time and personalized learning support to traffic, campus safety, lunch schedules, and the reliance on aging portable classrooms.
Moving fifth grade to Hockinson Middle School will provide temporary relief while bringing HMS enrollment closer to the average for middle schools in Clark County. With this change, HHES enrollment will remain about 300 students larger than the county’s average elementary school.
As a parent myself, I know that transitions create uncertainty for everyone involved. Over the next year, our focus will be on planning a thoughtful transition that reflects the priorities we've heard from families, students, and staff.
This school year, the HSD Citizens Advisory Committee will help coordinate a transition process, including family, staff and student engagement opportunities. Families are invited to the following events to help identify student supports needed for a successful transition:
Family Information Night: Monday, October 19 at 6:30 to 8 pm; Hockinson Middle School
HSD’s Tour of Schools: Wednesday, October 21 at 8 to 11 am; begin at Hockinson Community Center
We will continue sharing updates on the 5th Grade Move page and creating opportunities for our community to provide input as this work moves forward.
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall, HSD Superintendent