The growing Snohomish district opened a new elementary, Little Cedars, in 2007, and a new high school, Glacier Peak, in 2008.

Thanks to voter approval of a new bond measure the largest in Snohomish County history -- the district continues its 15-year facility renovation plan by completing work on Snohomish High, expanding Valley View and Centennial middle schools, replacing its two oldest elementaries, Machias and Riverview, upgrading district technology equipment and building a new aquatics center.

Until the new high school opened, freshmen attended classes in a building several blocks away. Opening the new high school frees the Freshman Campus for renovation as the district's third middle school.

Superintendent: William Mester, who arrived in 2002, began an extended medical leave for cancer treatment in October, 2007, and returned to work fulltime in July, 2008.

Alternative/home school programs: Aim High School, Snohomish High School Re-entry, Parent Partnership.

The numbers: 1.3% African-American, 4.8% Asian-American, 4.8% Hispanic, 1.2% Native American, 87.8% White, 12.9% low-income, 11.6% special-education, 1.3% ESL.

Funding: A four-year, $70 million operations levy and a $2.85 million transportation levy passed in 2006. The 20-year, $262 million construction bond measure was approved in May 2008.