This ethnically diverse district students represent 80 nationalities and speak 70 languages serves Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac and White Center. It has gained national recognition for transforming its large comprehensive high schools into campuses that house several small independent high schools or small learning communities, and the district's course offerings are more rigorous and designed to prepare all students for college.

The district has forged several partnerships with businesses and institutions: the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington has helped train teachers and administrators, Microsoft helps support math instruction, a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is aimed at meeting the goal of preparing all students for college and careers.

Superintendent: John Welch, superintendent since 2005, was named Superintendent of the Year in 2007 for large districts in Washington state.

Home school program: Manhattan Home-School Resource Center.

The numbers: 13.9% African-American, 21.1% Asian-American, 25.4% Hispanic, 2.1% Native American, 37.3% White, 54% low-income, 12.6% special-education, 14.2% ESL.

Funding: A $189.5 million construction bond measure passed in 2002. A $148 million capital and technology levy was approved in 2006. A four-year, $140 million operations levy was passed in March 2007.