The Price of Big Promises: Highline’s Billion-Dollar Plans Signal a Texas-Style School Funding Crisis

Highline School District is asking voters to approve nearly $1 billion in funding over four years—a $330 million levy (approved November 2025), a $615 million capital bond, and a $48 million technology levy—without clear evidence these investments improve academic outcomes. The article warns that Highline’s funding model mirrors Texas districts carrying $148 billion in bond debt while academic performance has declined, and cautions that large-scale borrowing can burden taxpayers without guaranteeing educational gains.