Sylvester Middle School

16222 Sylvester Road SW
Burien, WA 98166

619 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Sylvester Middle School, located in the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien, Washington, is a core institution within the Highline Public Schools district. Serving students in grades 6 through 8, the school is well-regarded for its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. The campus emphasizes a "whole-child" approach to education, balancing rigorous academic standards with social-emotional learning to help students navigate the transitional middle school years.

Beyond the classroom, Sylvester Middle School is known for its vibrant school community and diverse student body. The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including competitive athletics, arts programs, and academic clubs, which are designed to encourage student engagement and school spirit. By prioritizing collaborative partnerships between educators, families, and the local Burien community, Sylvester strives to prepare its students for success in high school and beyond, while promoting a culture of respect, resilience, and academic curiosity.

619

Total Students

34.9

Full-Time Teachers

17.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

46.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Sylvester Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	238
Hispanic	188
Black	53
Asian	41
Two or More	73
American Indian	8
Pacific Islander	12

White
238 (38.8 %)
Hispanic
188 (30.7 %)
Two or More
73 (11.9 %)
Black
53 (8.6 %)
Asian
41 (6.7 %)
Pacific Islander
12 (2.0 %)
American Indian
8 (1.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Highline School District
Phone:	(206)631-6000
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	619
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	34.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	240
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	48

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 185

Grade 7 196

Grade 8 238