Mission

At Spanaway Lake High School our mission is to provide a safe environment that fosters student success while building a culture of rigor, relevance, relationships, and reflection.

Parent and community involvement in learning

Parents participate in PTA, Site Council, booster clubs, and are able to volunteer for various student activities.

Community Connections

Our facility is used by several community organizations including: Bethel Recreation, club sports, AAU competitions, Kiwanis (for their annual auction), blood drives, and professional development, as well as several Pierce College offerings throughout the year.

What Makes Us Special

Spanaway Lake High School has the most ethnically diverse population of any school in the district. We are committed to increasing our academic rigor at every level.

SLHS offers open enrollment to many Advanced Placement and Honors classes ranging from Honors Communication Arts to AP Calculus. Academic expectations for all general education classes continue to rise as evidenced by our standardized test scores.

SLHS takes great pride in our commitment to non-traditional learners. We offer programs for English Language Learners, at-risk students, special education students and non-traditional learners.

Spanaway Lake has instituted an Advisory program where students create a portfolio including test scores, career plans, academic records and best works. This portfolio is presented to parents at student-led conferences in May.

Our goal is to connect closely with students to help them develop their potential and maximize their learning.

Raising expectations and standards

SLHS staff members work closely with district personnel to successfully implement new textbooks that align with federal and state standards.

Our focus is to increase academic rigor and student participation. Students who need assistance in reading and math are placed in specialized classes aimed at skill building while advancing to the next level.

Summer programs in reading and math offer our transitional students a chance to hone skills prior to entering high school. Our Honors and Advanced Placement classes continue to grow.

Top-notch staff

Spanaway Lake has 70 classroom teachers. They average 10 years of teaching experience and 71 percent have a master's degree. They are joined by a wonderful support staff who have students' best interest in mind in all that they do.

WASL & AYP

In 2008, 89 percent of 10th graders met standard on the WASL writing test and 81 percent met standard on the WASL reading test. Our writing scores have increased 28 percentage points in five years.

At the same time, we know we have work to do in math and science. Among 10th graders, 34 percent met standard in math and 28 percent met standard in science. We are offering a greater selection of math courses to our students, as well as providing increased training to teachers to help them reach struggling students in math and science.

SLHS did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Of the 36 areas measured, the school met all but six of the required targets. We did not make make proficiency goals for several sub-groups in the area of math.

Each year individual schools and the school district must "raise the bar" in gradual increments so that by 2014, 100 percent of students achieve proficiency in each subject.

Bethel School District

Bethel School District serves about 17,500 students in 17 elementary schools, five junior highs (with another opening its doors in 2010), three comprehensive high schools, one alternative junior high/high school, and an online academy. The district has won national awards in technology and communications, as well as state awards in professional development, energy conservation, and the arts. In addition, five district teachers have earned "Washington State teacher of the Year" in the last 25 years - more than any district in the state.

The Bethel School District covers 202-square miles in south Pierce County. The area is one of the fastest growing in the Puget Sound region. In 2006, district voters passed both a four-year levy for operations and a $175 million bond to build new schools. As part of the first phase of the bond, two elementary schools and one junior high (temporarily housing Spanaway Lake High School) were opened in September 2009.

In 2007-2008, the district's budget was $158 million, about 80 percent of which went to salaries and benefits. About 1,050 certificated staff and about 1,000 classified (support) staff work for the district. Tom Seigel joined the district in 2001 as superintendent. He previously worked in Boulder, CO as a superintendent. Prior to his work in public education, Seigel served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, completing his military career as a Commander.