WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Summit Atlas closing Wednesday because of ‘possible school safety threat’

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Summit Atlas, the charter middle/high school in Arbor Heights, will be closed today (Wednesday, June 7) because of what a message to families called a “possible school safety threat.” Parents forwarded us the message late Tuesday night:

We are reaching out to you to communicate about a safety concern that was brought to the attention of our Atlas leadership team. At Summit Atlas, we take every reported matter very seriously and act immediately. Your student’s safety and the safety of the entire Atlas community is our number one priority.

This evening, June 6, we learned of an anonymous threat of a possible school safety threat for the Atlas campus for June 7. Upon learning about this possible safety threat, we immediately called local law enforcement. We are now in ongoing conversation with the Seattle Police Department regarding the credibility of the threat we received, and the police are investigating this matter. While we continue to work with law enforcement, our school will be closed for the day tomorrow, Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Due to this closure, we will be rescheduling our 8th grade promotion ceremony and will share details as soon as possible. While we are looking forward to celebrating the successes and achievements of our students, we hold their safety and that of our staff, as our top priority.

Tomorrow you can expect more communication with updates and our plan to support students when we return to campus. Please reach out with any information you or your student may know to at***@******ps.org.

In community,
The Summit Atlas Leadership Team

The Summit Atlas campus is at 35th/Roxbury. As we’ve been noting in our morning transportation-info roundups, Friday (June 9th) is the last scheduled day of school.

greenelf June 7, 2023 (5:56 am)

As a parent of teens there, I am vasilating between relief that the threat was brought forward and being digusted about the lack of surprise I feel. I should be horrified. But with so much violence and even threat of violence at our schools – I’m not surprised it could happen at this tiny. mighty, and great school too. Soemthing’s gotta shift. Now!

100 percent June 7, 2023 (7:33 am)

That is exactly how it feels. Hang in there!!
Katie June 12, 2023 (4:27 am)

My son is headed to summit atlas next year for 6th grade. I’m sad and scared to hear about this event. Is this school relatively safe or is this a common thing there?

S - In West Seattle June 7, 2023 (7:46 am)

I have a child there and I hope they provide a better idea of the threat as the first contact of this issue was very vague. I will want more information before I send my kid back on the last two days of school.

Tall Chad June 7, 2023 (9:29 am)

Agreed.

SummitMom June 7, 2023 (8:46 am)

I hope they find where this threat is coming from, and if it’s a student, that they get expelled. There should be zero tolerance, even if this (and I hope that’s what it is!) is just a bad teenage joke.

N June 7, 2023 (9:31 am)

I’m also a parent. What a choice! Do we hope a kid is pretending to bring a violent threat or someone is bringing an actual violent threat? Either one is a sign that we are way off track as a society. Hurts my heart.

Neighbor June 7, 2023 (10:48 am)

Has anyone heard any updates on the situation?

S - In West Seattle June 7, 2023 (11:39 am)

No updates yet from the school.

JulNJer June 7, 2023 (11:08 am)

My daughter shared a screenshot of the threat and it shows an anonymous comment from a middle schooler on the ‘confessions and rumors’ part of the school post/blog that says “I’m going to shoot down the school tomorrow” with a laugh/cry emoji.

Summitmama8 June 7, 2023 (11:57 am)

Was this online or on a board at school?

JulNJer June 7, 2023 (11:10 am)

Figured out how to share the screenshot:

Kerri June 7, 2023 (6:32 pm)

The school’s response to this potential threat and their follow up communication with parents and was phenomenal in my opinion.

Summit Atlas Parent June 7, 2023 (10:31 pm)

100% agree!
- Mom4 June 8, 2023 (9:59 pm)
  
  Agree.

Anon June 7, 2023 (7:32 pm)

They just had a zoom meeting with parents. School is on for tomorrow. The student(s) are banned for the rest of the school year because it’s only 2 days and most likely for the next 12 months (they were very vague on that). There will also be cops at the school tomorrow but not like stationed at the doors. There will also be guidance counselors running talking circles. It was determined by SPD to not be a credible threat (ie there was no weapon, it was most likely a joke gone bad).