Admissions

Welcome to Innovation Heights Academy

We are excited that you are considering Innovation Heights Academy for your student's educational journey. Before enrolling, Washington state requires that families understand the difference between Home-Based Instruction (homeschooling) and enrollment in a public school Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program, in accordance with WAC 392-550.

Although both options offer flexibility, they are different in several important ways.

Innovation Heights Academy – A Public School ALE

Innovation Heights Academy is a public school Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) designed for students who thrive in a flexible learning environment while remaining fully connected to public education.

When your student enrolls at Innovation Heights Academy, they become a public school student and receive the support, guidance, and accountability that come with that enrollment.

As an Innovation Heights Academy student, your child will:

• Learn through a personalized Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) developed in partnership with their teacher and family.
• Be supported by Washington-certificated teachers who provide regular guidance, monitor progress, and celebrate growth throughout the year.
• Meet Washington state and district expectations for coursework, graduation, and state assessments.
• Use instructional materials that meet district standards and are free from sectarian or religious influence.
• Experience learning that may take place on campus, at home, in the community, or through a combination of learning environments.

Home-Based Instruction (Homeschooling)

Home-Based Instruction is education that is planned and provided by a parent or guardian under Washington state law. Families who choose Home-Based Instruction:

• File an annual Declaration of Intent with their local school district.
• Take primary responsibility for planning, teaching, and overseeing their child's education.
• Are not enrolled in a public school and are not required to follow public school course, graduation, or state assessment requirements.
• May access certain ancillary services or enroll in public school courses on a part-time basis, when space is available, while remaining Home-Based Instruction students.

Partnering With Families

At Innovation Heights Academy, we believe that education is most successful when schools and families work together. We value the important role parents and guardians play in their child's learning and are committed to building strong partnerships that support every student's success.

Our team is here to answer your questions, provide guidance, and help you understand how our ALE program works so you can make the best educational choice for your family.

We look forward to partnering with you and supporting your student's unique learning journey.

Eligibility Requirements for Enrollment

Students applying to Innovation Heights Academy (IHA) must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for enrollment:

• Residency/Enrollment Status: Students must reside within Highline School District boundaries or have an approved district choice transfer already in place at the time of application.
• Grade-Level Requirement: Students must be entering or currently enrolled in at least their 10th-grade year of high school.
• Multilingual Learner (ML) Consideration: Due to limited staffing support for newcomer and beginner-level students, applicants identified as Multilingual Learners should demonstrate English language proficiency above a Level 2 (preferably Level 3) to be considered for enrollment.

Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered for admission.

Enrollment Priorities and Program Fit

As a small, relationship-centered alternative school, IHA prioritizes students for whom the program is the strongest match. Admission decisions are guided by the following considerations:

• Reengagement Need: Priority is given to students who would benefit from reengagement in their learning, including improving attendance, strengthening connection to school, and rebuilding momentum toward graduation.
• Credit Attainment and Acceleration: IHA is designed to support students who are credit-deficient and seeking an opportunity to accelerate progress toward graduation through a mastery-based model.
• Alignment with School Model: Students should demonstrate readiness to engage in a collaborative, project-based learning environment that emphasizes accountability, independent work, and strong relationships.
• Community Safety and Readiness: Admission decisions include consideration of a student’s ability to contribute positively to a safe, supportive learning environment for all students and staff.

Application Information

Innovation Heights Academy has six sessions a year with varying application dates. Please see our application dates here:

Application & Session Dates

General Lottery & Waitlist Process

Space is limited. A lottery process is used when applications exceed capacity. If there are more applications than space at any particular grade level, Highline will hold a lottery including all students with completed applications.

Learn more about the lottery and waitlist process

Program Model

Innovation Heights Academy strives to be a flexible learning option for students. We are a half day program, where students can engage in experiential learning, practice habits of life balance, and accelerate their progress toward graduation.

Schedule: To provide flexibility for our students, Innovation Heights Academy operates on a half day model. Students come to school Monday through Thursday for either the morning (8:30-11:30am) or afternoon session (12:00-3:00pm).

Accelerated Credit Earning: Students have the opportunity to progress toward graduation faster. Students can earn up to 9 credits in a year, as compared to 6 credits in a year in a traditional model.

Classes: Instruction at Innovation Heights Academy will be two hours each day. Students will engage in project-based learning through cross-curricular learning blocks. Learning will focus on developing real-world skills which will be related to students’ individual goals.

Wellness Block: In order to ensure that we are preparing students to be successful in life beyond high school, we want to allow space for students to learn about life balance and wellness. Students will spend one hour a day focusing on physical, mental, and social wellness.

Re-engagement Fridays: Fridays are required for students who are struggling with attendance, behavior, or grades each week. Weekly, students will meet with their advisor to discuss their progress toward their goals and determine if they need assistance re-engaging in their work. If students are making adequate progress on their goals, students can still come on Friday for access to clubs, community partners, and other connections.