Inclusion meets innovation at Bow Lake where no one learns alone.
In a fifth-grade classroom at Bow Lake Elementary, students are writing more, reading more and making stronger academic gains — thanks to a co-teaching model.
At Bow Lake, two teachers share the front of the classroom during the language arts: a general education teacher and a special education teacher. They plan lessons together, teach together and support students side by side. This is called co-teaching. They're finding it is helping more students stay on track with grade-level reading and writing.
Co-teaching is one way Bow Lake is putting inclusive education into practice. Inclusion means students of all abilities and needs learn together in the same classroom—with the support they need to succeed. By teaming up, teachers at Bow Lake can reach more learners—and more students are making meaningful progress.
Literacy is a top priority across Highline. The results are showing at Bow Lake. Students receiving special education services more than doubled their growth last year, climbing from 40% to 84% of expected annual progress based on national benchmarks. Students not receiving special education services also made gains, from 76% to 90%.
More students are also reading at grade level. For students receiving special education services, that number nearly doubled from 6% in 2022-23 to 11% in 2023-24. For students not receiving special education services, it rose from 32% to 36%.
This progress reflects Highline’s Promise — to know every student by name, strength and need. Every student deserves access to challenging instruction, and no one learns alone. There is still work to do — but the progress at Bow Lake shows our focus on literacy and inclusion is working.
See what’s possible when two teachers team up to support every learner.