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About Our Schools
Vashon Island School District (VISD) offers a rich and varied academic and extracurricular program. The district serves about 1500 students at three schools: Chautauqua (pre-primary through grade 5); McMurray (grades 6-8); and Vashon High School (grades 9-12). In addition, FamilyLink and StudentLink, provide alternative learning programs for students.
Today, the district has a balanced budget, a five-year strategic plan and strong instructional leadership. In a recent random phone survey, the community gave VISD a 70-plus percent approval rating for fiscal management and educational programs; scores that are well above state averages.
In 2008, Vashon Island High School was one of two schools in Washington State to receive both a national No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon award and a School of Distinction Learning Improvement award from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A major reason for these accolades is Vashon’s staff. Teachers are renowned throughout the district – and in many cases beyond – for knowledge of their subjects and dedication to their students. They work together both within their departments and across departments to ensure continuity of instruction and support for students. Also, classes tend to be small, ranging from 16-27 students, depending on the age and the subject.
VISD’s five-year strategic plan calls for curricula alignment in all major subject areas. This school year, the focus is on aligning reading and writing and the first phase of science. Next year, it will be phase two of science and an evaluation of the current math curriculum. After that will be social studies.
While many school districts have cut arts, Vashon is holding firm on its commitment to supporting one of the best arts-in-education programs in the nation. Vashon Artists in Schools (VAIS), now in its 20th year, seeks artists from this island’s rich and diverse talent pool to teach teachers and students about their work as it relates to a variety of subject areas.
The community has high academic expectations for the school district and has supported all maintenance and operations levies over the last twenty years, as well as a capital bond of $20.1 million in 1990.
Several local organizations, including Partners in Education, a Parent Teacher Student Association, Vashon Allied Arts and the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation contribute generously to support students and the schools.