Located in one of the fastest-growing communities in South King County, the Auburn School District is seeing the results of several construction projects that will help it keep pace with that growth.

The district's third comprehensive high school, Auburn Mountainview, opened its doors in 2005 and graduated its first senior class in 2007. A 13th elementary, Lakeland Hills, opened in September 2006. The 14th elementary school, Lea Hill, opened in September 2007.

Superintendent: Dennis "Kip" Herren took over the district in 2008 after long-time superintendent Linda Cowan retired.

Alternative programs: West Auburn Senior High, the Virginia Cross Native American Center.

The numbers: 5.7% African-American, 8.5% Asian-American, 11.6% Hispanic, 4.4% Native American, 69.8% White, 36.6% low-income, 10.4% special-education, 7.4% ESL.

Funding: A $32.6 million bond measure and a six-year, $12 million technology levy passed in 2005. A four-year, $113.7 million operations levy was approved in March 2008.