High Point Elementary will soon be history (in a way)

| High Point | West Seattle schools

The (unofficial) Seattle Public Schools Blog points out that the agenda for this Wednesday’s school board meeting includes a proposal to rename High Point Elementary (photo below) “West Seattle Elementary.” According to the agenda item, this name-changing is by “request of the High Point and Fairmount Park merged elementary schools.” (If you’re just coming in on this saga, the district closed several schools at the end of this past school year, including Fairmount Park, to save $; the students of FP are “merging” into HP.) Historical datapoint: This won’t be the first “West Seattle Elementary School”; the district’s thumbnail history of Lafayette Elementary says it briefly held that name about 90 years ago!

Forest July 9, 2007 (12:16 am)

I can think of absolutely no compelling reason to change the name of High Point Elementary. I mean, High Point IS the neighborhood’s name. It IS the name of the public library that opened only a few years ago, and it IS the name that has carefully been retained–and has been widely marketed–to designate the hundreds of millions of dollars in award-winning housing upgrades and infrastructure improvements to the area.

WSB July 9, 2007 (12:27 am)

The whole idea kind of strikes us as odd too, especially because of the last reason you list.

Eric B July 9, 2007 (8:08 am)

I believe (but do not know) that a new name was desired because the schools are supposed to merge – not that Fairmount Park be closed and High Point take their students. Indeed, Fairmount Park had more students. Besides, the High Point neighborhood doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge the school. The schools menu on their web-site doesn’t even mention High Point Elementary!

eric July 9, 2007 (10:29 am)

Was it a merger? Was it an “acquisition”? Who cares! This is all about trying to make people feel good about it. Tough cookies, kids/parents! This is a public education. Who gives a rat’s behind what the school is called.

What a waste of time and money.