WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Interested in Highly Capable program’s new Alki Elementary site? Meeting set

(Recent WSB photo, 59th SW side of under-construction Alki Elementary)

As first reported here in January, newly expanded Alki Elementary – still under construction – will open this fall as a new site for the district’s Highly Capable (gifted) program. West Seattle/South Park families interested in sending their HC-eligible children there have until March 31 to sign up, and before then, an informational meeting is set for two weeks from tonight: Wednesday, March 18, 5-6 p.m. at Alki Elementary’s current interim site at the former Schmitz Park Elementary (5000 SW Spokane). Currently the nearest site for HC programming is at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, across the bridge and I-5; families who want to keep current students there can stay through 5th grade.

SPS parent March 4, 2026 (10:12 pm)

Thanks for sharing! As a parent with kids currently making the long commute every day to Thurgood Marshall for the Highly Capable program, I am excited to bring my kids back home to West Seattle and to be part of the awesome Alki Elementary community. Looking forward to touring the new building when it’s done too.

NorthAdmiralNeighbor March 4, 2026 (10:29 pm)

Huge thanks to Gina Topp for getting this accomplished. Having a school board president who lives in the neighborhood is really showing it’s benefits between Lafayette being saved and Alki getting the HCC program. While it certainly benefits her it’s great for all of us in North Admiral who benefit from her power.

Anne March 5, 2026 (8:15 am)

I wouldn’t stay too excited about Lafayette being saved- it might be safe-for now-but given the state of the building -when SPS gets desperate for $$ it will be on the chopping block again. Given the overall size of the property -Lafayette is the school that should have been rebuilt-not Alki. I’m sure there’s a developer out there just waiting & drooling for SPS to close Lafayette & sell the property.

Conjunction Junction March 5, 2026 (8:14 am)

Great that West Seattle is back to having an HCC elementary site. And yes, the Alki site will be a great option. However, the equity score on this is a little sus. The whole reason HCC (nee APP) has been at Thurgood Marshall was to place the program close to those that are marginalized, removing at least one barrier. Not placing the West Seattle site in the Denny service area, and in fact, in one of the furthest schools from…everyone else…makes this triumph a little sour.

gh March 5, 2026 (9:22 am)

I share your thoughts on this, but I’ve come down on the side of “it’s an improvement” in a time when not that many things are improving.

Glad the district is also expanding HC access to Rainier View, but that’s sort of out of scope for this webblog.
SPS parent March 5, 2026 (10:06 am)

We all know SPS needed to fill an overbuilt school (Alki) and when closing Lafayette was off the table (for now), HCC provided the perfect opportunity. If there weren’t a big new school on Alki, HCC would probably be at Highland Park, West Seattle Elem, Arbor Heights or Genesee Hill (other existing elementary schools with possible space). Regarding travel distance, going anywhere in West Seattle from any where in West Seattle is orders of magnitude better than going from West Seattle to Thurgood Marshall.

SPS parent March 5, 2026 (10:16 am)

It’s unfortunate that SPS did not mention this but a BUS WILL be provided for HC students from anywhere in West Seattle to Alki. Also not mentioned: non-HC siblings can apply to go to Alki with their HC siblings by filing out a School Choice Form: https://www.seattleschools.org/enroll/find-your-school/school-choice/  This is subject to space available but since Alki has so much capacity right now, it’s worth trying because it’s just easier for families to send all of their kids to the same school.

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