Tahoma School District

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Tahoma School District serves 6,500 students in grades pre-K-12 in and around Maple Valley, Washington, a suburban community (17,800 population) in southeast King County, about 30 miles (50 km) southeast of Seattle.

There is one junior high school, two middle schools, four elementary schools and a parent-partnered school. Tahoma High School is a Class AAAA school and is a member of the South Puget Sound League for sports and other activities.

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[edit] Name

The name "Tahoma" was created by students in 1926 to name the newly built junior-senior high school that served three independent school districts: Taylor, Hobart and Maple Valley. The name is derived from the first two letters of each of those names. That school is still being used, having been remodeled for use as Tahoma Middle School in 2004.

[edit] Curriculum

The policy of the Tahoma School District is to be innovative in its development and use of curriculum. Test scores indicate that Tahoma students are among the state’s top 10 percent, on average.

The district states that it provides a quality learning environment for all students, including those with special needs and those who are qualified to participate in gifted education programs. Music, athletics and other extracurricular activities are available, too. The district has one full-service high school, Tahoma High School, and an alternative high school, Maple Valley High School.

[edit] Construction

In 2005, the district completed its construction and remodeling program that began with passage of the 1997 construction bond measure. The $45.5 million bond measure, combined with state matching funds and local construction impact fees, paid for: Tahoma High School remodeling and expansion; Tahoma Junior High construction; Shadow Lake Elementary School remodeling and expansion; Cedar River Middle School expansion; Tahoma Middle School renovation; and computer purchases.

[edit] Schools

[edit] Elementary Schools

[edit] Lake Wilderness Elementary

The school serves grades K-5 and has about 850 students. Specialty programs such as special education and gifted education classes are housed on the Lake Wilderness campus.

[edit] Glacier Park Elementary

Glacier Park Elementary School serves about 825 students in grades K-5 and is at the center of the fastest-growing part of Maple Valley.

[edit] Rock Creek Elementary

Rock Creek Elementary School serves about 790 students in grades K-5. It is located on the same site as the school district's Central Services Center and Central Kitchen. Across the street may become the City of Maple Valley's 54-acres Legacy park site.

[edit] Shadow Lake Elementary

Shadow Lake Elementary School is the district's smallest elementary school and serves about 540 students in grades K-5. The school was completely renovated and expanded in 1999.

[edit] Middle Schools

[edit] Tahoma Middle

Located in the historic 1926 TaHoMa High School building, Tahoma Middle School opened in 2004 to grades 6 and 7 following a substantial building renovation. It is one of two middle schools in the district and serves 530 students. Teachers and classes are organized as teams. 6th grade teams are Explore and Extreme, while 7th grade teams are Alpha and Omega. This school's roof collapsed today because of a burst water pipe.

[edit] Cedar River Middle

Cedar River Middle School is one of two middle schools in the district and serves 520 students in grades 6 and 7. The school originally opened in the mid-1960s as a junior high and was later used as an elementary school. It became a middle school in 2000 when a second gymnasium and two science rooms were built to serve middle-level students. Teachers and classes are organized as teams.

[edit] High Schools

[edit] Tahoma Junior High

Tahoma Junior High serves 1,150 students in grades 8 and 9 and is the district's only junior high school. The current building opened in September 2001 and is located on a 40-acre site surrounded by second-growth forest on Summit-Landsburg Road in Ravensdale, a mile east of Maple Valley's Four Corners area.

[edit] Maple Valley Alternative

As the Tahoma School District's alternative high school, Maple Valley High School serves about 90 students in grades 9-12 who need to complete credits in order to receive their high school diploma.

[edit] Tahoma Senior High

Tahoma Senior High School serves 1,520 students in grades 10-12. It is a Class AAAA school and a member of the South Puget Sound League. Tahoma High School offers students a well-balanced educational experience. The school is proud of its reputation as a comprehensive high school, including academics, fine arts, technical/vocational and co-curricular programs. A number of programs are available for qualified juniors and seniors who wish to take college courses and earn credit at both the high school and college level. Advanced Placement, College in the High School and Tech Prep classes provide students with the opportunity to get a head start on their post high school education. In addition, many vocational courses are available at the school and through the SEATAC Occupational Skills Center (OSC) for interested students. As well a booming film school program thanks to the contributions of teacher Richard Hagg. The film program is highly regarded state wide for being a key stepping stone in the lives of many adolescents who strive to be in the film making industry.

[edit] External links

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