BACK TO SCHOOL: West Seattle Elementary returns home after ‘sorely needed’ renovation/expansion

| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

For thousands of West Seattle families, today’s biggest news is the start of the new school year. The traditional red-carpet welcome for students at West Seattle Elementary in High Point was paired today with a ribbon-cutting for the school’s newly complete expansion/renovation. Last month, we took you on a photo tour of the school. Now, principal Pamela McCowan-Conyers (above right), her staff, and their students are all back, after two years in temporary quarters at the former Schmitz Park Elementary (a “long ride” from High Point, the principal acknowledged). McCowan-Conyers hailed the project as “sorely needed” while offering a profuse round of gratitude for everyone involved, before leading the ribboncutting:

Among the dignitaries was district superintendent Dr. Brent Jones, who also enthused about the project, funded by the BEX V levy, passed by voters in 2019.

Once the ribbon was down, students headed for the entrance, under the new canopy, and were greeted by school staffers with high-fives and big smiles.

Shoutout to WSE staffer Akim Finch, who DJ’d the event, including a brisk early round of Earth Wind & Fire classics (“September” was especially appropriate):

The expansion added 12 classrooms, giving the school a capacity of more than 500 students; currently it’s around 400, assistant principal Ritchie Garcia told us when we toured for last month’s report. The school – which serves a community with a large immigrant population – is designed to support families as well as students, with areas where parents can access resources such as a job board.

P.S. With the reopening, West Seattle Elementary’s address has returned to 6760 34th SW – readers have noted that Google is still listing it with the Schmitz Park address, which is now the temporary home of Alki Elementary.

Librarian September 6, 2023 (3:05 pm)

Thank you for covering the first day of school in WSES’ beautiful building! So awesome to see excited students, smiling educators, and a DJ on the premises! :’)

Wsmom September 6, 2023 (6:27 pm)

Loved hearing recess sounds back in the neighborhood!

Me mama September 6, 2023 (4:36 pm)

So interested as to which updates were needed- it seemingly appeared newer than many SPS buildingsSanislo is a terrible building! No walls between classes (literally!) makes for really difficult instruction and tutoring. I hope this building is prioritized in the future

TJ September 6, 2023 (5:46 pm)

It was much newer than other local schools. Lafayette and Sanislo are way older and are in need of rebuilds. Sanislo’s no walls is a relic of a 1970’s program that thought it would be more conducive to learning but had the exact opposite effect as one unruly student could disrupt most classes. Lafayette looks like a old reform school, yet has sat in neglect for a long time

High Point Neighbor September 6, 2023 (8:59 pm)

The school building looks great, especially with the construction timeline! I feel like there is still a lot of work to be done in the front of the school that is a focal point for kids entering the property.

The staircase and surrounding landscaping is the responsibility of the school. I was really looking forward to a new mural that would reflect the renovation to cover up the old mural that was cut in half and left with graffiti on it.

There were also so many trees that were torn down because they were left unmanaged and now the hill has been left with stumps and just debris. Any word on plans for this area?