We recently learned that Highline Public Schools has recommended closing Maritime High School at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, citing districtwide budget cuts and insufficient enrollment. The Highline School Board will make the final decision, with a vote scheduled for December 9, 2026.
While the future of the school is still being decided, one thing is clear: Northwest Maritime’s work of connecting young people with maritime careers is working and will continue.
For Northwest Maritime, our immediate priority is supporting current Maritime High School students and helping them find a path forward. We’re also working with partners to keep hands-on, on-the-water learning opportunities available to them as we close out the MHS school year and figure out what comes next.
What We’ve Learned
Over the past six years, we’ve seen what happens when students get out of the classroom and into the maritime world. They learn by doing, connect with people working in the industry, and get a firsthand look at careers they might not otherwise have considered.
Maritime High School has produced strong career outcomes, thanks in large part to the educators, families, industry partners, and community members who have invested their time and energy in the program.
It’s been a real collaboration, and we’ve built something valuable together.
The maritime industry needs its next generation of workers. Young people need ways to explore those careers and get the skills and experience to pursue maritime career opportunities. Bringing education and industry together is one way to make that happen, and it’s work worth continuing.
A Mission Bigger Than One Program
Maritime High School is one part of Northwest Maritime’s broader mission to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life, in a spirit of adventure and discovery.
Every day, across our programs, we’re helping people build skills, explore new opportunities, connect with the water, and discover their place in the maritime world. From students exploring maritime careers to adults learning new skills and people of all ages finding their connection to the water, this work takes many forms. We’re proud of what we’ve built with Maritime High School, and we’re continuing to move this mission forward across our programs and throughout our region.
What Comes Next
Right now, we’re focused on students and the transition ahead. At the same time, we’re looking at how our work can inform new opportunities for maritime learning and workforce development in Seattle and across our region. Maritime High is just part of all the ways our mission serves all kinds of people across the region and beyond. .
We don’t have all the answers yet. We’ve started the process of talking with our partners and supporters, cataloging lessons learned, and thinking through options . One thing is certain: we know the need for maritime workforce development isn’t going away, and neither is our commitment to it.
We’re grateful to everyone who helped build the Maritime High School idea. Whatever happens next, the relationships we’ve built and what we’ve learned together will be an important part of the work ahead.
