News

Renton Schools is helping more students be financially prepared for college. 

With hard work by school staff, 90% of the district's eligible middle school students have signed up for the state's College Bound Scholarship program, which, in combination with other state aid, will cover tuition at state public college rates. Eligible students must sign-up in middle school by June 30 of their 8th-grade year to receive this early commitment of state funding. Students who sign-up for the scholarship graduate from high school and enroll in college at higher rates than their peers. 

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has recognized Renton Schools with the Gold Star Award as one of the state's top school districts that exceeded the state average to ensure students and families are signed up for the state college funding opportunity.

The College Bound Scholarship Program is administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council. Students and families can learn more and apply College Bound Scholarship

Schools across the district are hosting events, assemblies and other celebrations of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Schools blend these activities into their existing work to teach students about history; Black scholars in math, science and other fields; segregation; race; and other topics of U.S. social and political climate.

Pictured are some of the MLK assembly activities at Benson Hill Elementary School where students reenacted lunch counter sit-ins and other civil rights actions against segregation.

Registration for new kindergarten students begins Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Parents of eligible students can visit their neighborhood school to pick-up a registration packet. A child must be five years old by August 31, 2020 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.

Parents can fill out the necessary paperwork and register their child now. Tours of schools and meetings with teachers will be conducted in mid-April during the “Ready for Kindergarten” events being held at each school where staff will share expectations for students as they enter kindergarten and provide families with some fun activities to help ensure that your child is prepared.

We offer free full‐day Kindergarten programs in all our elementary schools. Kindergartners attend school on the same schedule as students in grades 1-5:

• Core curriculum of reading; writing; mathematics; science; social studies; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); and additional experiences in art, music, PE
• Transportation is provided to students on an established bus route

Click here to find out more and register now for kindergarten spots in the 2020-2021 school year! 

There’s talk of possible snow in our area in the coming weeks, which could lead to school delays or closures.

Making a decision about weather-related school delays or closures is always difficult, because so many different situations have to be considered. We take the decision-making process very seriously. Our staff begins evaluating road conditions across the district at 3:30 a.m. to be ready for the superintendent to make the call by 5:30 a.m. Student and staff safety is always our number one priority.

If inclement weather—like snow or ice—makes a school schedule change necessary, the decision will be made by the Superintendent and communicated to families and staff by:

• Call/email/text to all families and staff (please ensure your school has your updated phone/email)
• Renton School District website and all school websites
• The district's Facebook page
• The district’s Twitter page
• The district's Instagram
• Local media outlets (TV, radio)

If road conditions warrant, we may also change some of our school bus routes and pick-up/drop-off locations. See your limited school bus route here.

Stay up to date on what happens if bad weather causes school delays or closures, and the expectations for students and staff, at this website.

Renton School District's School Board, Superintendent Pattenaude, and district staff recently met with City of Renton Mayor Denis Law and City Council members to continue working together to improve schools, communities, and the quality of life throughout the city. Topics discussed at the regular meeting included exploring joint use and upkeep of facilities and sports fields, safety, traffic, and more. The work is part of our efforts to ensure Renton remains a great place to live, learn, work, and play.

Ten Renton School District teachers recently met the rigorous requirements to renew their National Board Certification. Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. The painstaking process can take hundreds of hours of professional and personal time to attain the certification that many consider the gold standard of teacher credentials.

Additionally, two Renton School District nurses recently met the rigorous requirements to achieve National Board Certification. Kathryn Risa, school nurse at Bryn Mawr Elementary School and Leiana Smith at Risdon Middle School each completed the rigorous process to achieve National Board Certification. Nurses who achieve certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review.

Voters throughout Renton School District showed overwhelming support for students, educators and support staff in the Nov. 5 election. More than 27,000 voters cast their ballot, with more than 70% approval for the School Construction measure to build a new elementary school and make improvements at nearly every school in the district. Both of those numbers are historic firsts for Renton Schools.

Renton School District has been honored with the 2019 Valerie Logan Leadership in Science Education Award, presented by the Institute for Systems Biology. Renton Schools was recognized for its vision for high quality science education for all students which has elevated STEM education for students across the region.

The award is presented to community leaders and organizations committed to an educational practice grounded in research, who build networks among teachers, principals and STEM professionals, and who share ISB’s bold vision that all children and youth should have the opportunity to learn science as a gateway for their future.

Two additional Renton School District nurses recently met the rigorous requirements to achieve National Board Certification.

Kathryn Risa, school nurse at Bryn Mawr Elementary School and Leiana Smith at Risdon Middle School each completed the rigorous process to achieve National Board Certification. Like board-certified doctors and accountants, nurses who achieve certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. The painstaking process can take hundreds of hours of professional and personal time to attain the certification that many consider the gold standard of nursing credentials.

Lindbergh High School senior Priti Ahya is a 2019 National Merit Scholar semifinalist, a distinction that places her in the top 1 percent of the 1.5 million high school students who took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) National Merit Qualifying Test in the fall of 2018.

After high school, Priti plans to study computer science or computer engineering at either Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or the University of Washington. Her love for computer science comes from having access to hands-on computer science classes offered at Lindbergh High and has helped shape what Priti hopes to become in the future.

Renton School District's mission is to provide all students with meaningful classroom experiences that affords them many options after graduation.

A new state law takes effect on January 1, 2020, and all existing health, life, and disability plans through Renton School District will terminate effective December 31, 2019.

Starting in 2020, all Washington State school districts will receive benefits for their eligible employees through the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) program. These will replace the health and insurance benefits we currently provide to all of our staff. The first SEBB program open enrollment is October 1–November 15, 2019. Benefits begin January 1, 2020.

This change is due to a new state law that mandates starting on January 1, 2020, all Washington State K-12 school employees are to begin receiving health insurance and benefits through the statewide SEBB program which is part of the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). SEBB was created to standardize benefit plans, rules, and costs throughout districts, ESDs and charter schools across the state.

Benefit Plans

Renton Schools offers benefits, including medical, life and AD&D, long-term disability, vision, and dental. Current voluntary benefits include short term disability, additional life insurance, and flexible spending plans. These benefits will also be offered through the SEBB. While vision, life, long-term disability and dental will be covered 100%, the monthly premium costs for SEBB medical plans will be based on the plan you choose and whether you enroll eligible family members.

For more information visit the district's SEBB wepage or contact Danese Thaidigsman, Benefits Coordinator, at 204-2372 or RSD.Benefits@rentonschools.us.

Hazen High School senior Arnav Thareja is a 2019 National Merit semifinalist, a distinction that places him in the top 1% of the 1.5 million high school students who took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) National Merit Qualifying Test in the fall of 2018.

After high school, Arnav plans to study computer science and artificial intelligence at either Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, or University of Washington. His love for computer science comes from his family: his father is an information technology architect and developer. But classes and clubs offered at his high school also have helped shape what Arnav hopes to become in the future.

“Being able to study Advanced Placement (AP) computer science along with having a Robotics Club at Hazen High School has really helped spark my interest in computer science,” Arnav said. “Having these high-level, hands-on programs offered in school are important to a student’s development and in helping guide them to a successful future.”

Arnav will now compete with 16,000 other high school seniors nationwide for more than $33 million in scholarships offered next spring from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., colleges and universities, and corporate sponsors. Scholarship winners will be selected from the finalists after a review of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

August 29, 2019—Renton School Board last night approved a three-year agreement between the district and the Renton Education Association (REA—our teacher/certificated staff union). The agreement, which was ratified by more than 82% of certificated staff, is the culmination of months of hard work by a joint bargaining team of teachers and district staff to create a contract that honors the great work being done by our educators in classrooms across the district.

Highlights of the three-year agreement include:

• 3 years of school calendars (which helps our families, staff, and community plan for breaks, teacher-training days, and more)
• Additional 10.5% pay increase over the three-year period
• Increased certificated staff voice and accountability
• Stability in our workforce

“We’re delighted that we can come to such a great agreement with our wonderful teachers and educators,” said Board President Pam Teal. “This agreement honors their work to educate our 16,000 students, while also providing our families and communities with the stability of three years of school calendars.”

Moody’s Investors Service has announced an upgrade to Renton School District’s credit rating, up to Aa1, from Aa2 previously. The rating upgrade places the Renton School District as one of the nine highest rated school districts in Washington.

In its press release, Moody’s noted “remarkably strong economic growth, a diversifying tax base” and “the district’s position in the heart of the booming Seattle metro area” as key factors in its decision to upgrade. Moody’s also noted Renton’s “strong management team” and conservative approach to budgeting as critical to the financial stability of the district. 

A strong underlying credit rating generally translates into reduced borrowing costs for taxpayers.

Students enrolled in Renton High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) World School program continue to excel in the rigorous academic program. This school year, Renton High is celebrating high IB test scores and an increase in IB Diploma success rates, which requires excellence across all academic subjects. 

• More than 130 Renton High students took IB exams this year, an increase over 2018
• The highest proportion of students met all IB Diploma requirements
• The average total points for students who received an IB Diploma was 29, greater than last year
• Nine students scored 30 points or higher (the worldwide IB test score average is 31.5).

The challenging academic curriculum empowers students to be lifelong learners, interculturally aware, and have the skills to pursue future studies in colleges around the globe.

“Students who took our rigorous IB classes benefit from acquired endurance and discipline as they enter college,” said Renton High Principal Gia San Martin. “What a privilege to witness these dedicated young people transform from students to young scholars who advocate for sustainability and intercultural relations.”

Thanks to continued voter support of School Construction Bond measures on the ballot, our schools are safer for students and will withstand an earthquake much better than many other schools across the state.

According to a new Washington state analysis by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) many older schools built before 1975, and those in less repair, may not hold up in an earthquake. Of the 222 school buildings assessed as part of the analysis, most would be unsafe to occupy after a powerful quake, about a quarter would not be able to be repaired, and 43% posed a “high” or “very high” risk for loss of life, according to DNR’s report.

The assessment, which did not include our schools, found that older buildings and those constructed from unreinforced masonry or rigid, under-reinforced concrete were most vulnerable. Engineers assessed each school’s construction and design, considering factors like a structure’s ability to bend before breaking.

Washington state does not require seismic upgrades, nor does the state dedicate funding for retrofits. School districts can only rebuild schools or make much-needed large-scale repairs and improvements when voters approve school construction bond measures. Renton Schools next School Construction Bond measure is on the Nov. 5, 2019 ballot (even with approval, tax-rates for Renton School District taxpayers will continue to decline: read more here).

Thanks to voters throughout Renton School District, our schools are safe, will last for decades, and help improve home values in communities throughout the district.

Elementary and middle school families can again choose to pay a low, one-time fee for school supplies for next school year. The district implemented the program this school year as a way to reduce cost for families and make the school supply process more streamlined and economical. School supplies offered to students were selected based on input from teachers and school staff.

• The district will purchase school supplies for elementary and middle school students, and provide replacements throughout the school year.
  • Families will continue to provide students with backpacks and lunchboxes, along with school planners at middle schools.
  • High school students continue to provide their own school supplies.
• The program is voluntary: families can choose to continue to purchase their own school supplies.
• Families will pay a low, one-time fee of $30 ($10 for families on free/reduced lunch) for a school years' worth of school supplies.

Families can pay by check/cash at their school at the start of the school year, or pay online anytime at 

wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com.

Renton Schools has calendar dates for the 2019-2020 school year. The calendar is not complete; but here are key dates for holidays and breaks.

Download a printable 2019-20 student calendar.

• August 28 First day of school (except for kindergarten and preschool)
• September 2 No School - Labor Day
• September 3 - First day of school for kindergarten
• September 4 - First day of school for preschool programs
• October 11 - No School - Professional Teacher Day
• November 8 - No School - Professional Teacher Day
• November 11 No School - Veterans Day
• November 28-29 No School – Thanksgiving Break
• December 2 - No School - Professional Teacher Day
• Dec. 23-Jan. 3 No School - Winter Break
• January 20 No School - MLK Jr. Day
• February 17-21 No School - Mid-Winter Break
• March 16 - No School - Professional Teacher Day
• April 6-10 No School - Spring Break
• May 25 No School - Memorial Day
• June 17 - Last day of School