Hey BSD and Family! I am a student at Highland Middle School in Bellevue, WA, and I am deeply concerned about the potential closure of our school. Our school is more than just a building; it's a community where we learn, grow, and thrive. It serves over 1,000 students annually (Bellevue School District data), providing us with quality education that prepares us for our futures.

The proposed closure will not only disrupt our learning environment but also strain other schools in the district due to increased student populations. (More than it has been the past few years) This could lead to overcrowded classrooms which have been proven to negatively impact students' academic performance (National Education Policy Center findings). Our school already had a schedule change because we had too much people and my drama class is almost over (maybe already over) its maximum of students!

Our school is an integral part of Bellevue's educational landscape and its potential loss would be felt deeply within our community. We urge you to reconsider this decision for the sake of preserving quality education in Bellevue.

Our school is also a title one school, which means it gets extra funding to support the school and students. 60% of the students at Highland Middle School are below the federal government's line of poverty. Highland Middle School's extra funding helps these students. And if Highland Middle School closes, these students will start to struggle. We wouldn't want that to happen, would we?

Also, our school provides free healthcare support for students. That's something I don't think many schools have. I know that some people rely on this and it would be horrible if they couldn't access this service anymore!

Please sign this petition if you believe in protecting Highland Middle School from consolidation or closure.

We love our school and community! Please don't close Highland.

Thanks for signing, Alisa.