Students at Middle College High School's Seattle Central College campus will not be returning next fall.

Many of them are first-generation college students, students of color, and students from low-income families. The Seattle School Board approved closing Middle on May 13 without holding a public hearing.

At the board's Wednesday, June 3, regular meeting, community member Chris Jackins testified that the closure was rushed through without the public input process families expect.

"On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, without a hearing, the Board approved the closure of Middle College High School at Seattle Central," Jackins said. "Any District decision can be appealed to King County Superior Court within 30 days. Perhaps there are those reading this agenda who would like to help do that."

The 30-day appeal window closed June 12. No appeal has been identified in available King County Superior Court records.

Middle College High School is the only Pacific Northwest member of the Middle College National Consortium and the only SPS high school offering Enhanced Running Start, where on-site staff support students taking college courses. Students who complete full-time Running Start starting in 11th grade can graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree.

The school serves approximately 95 students across two campuses. Its student body is 41% economically disadvantaged, 28.4% Black, 13.7% Hispanic, and 12.6% Asian. Its graduation rate is 92%.

The district clarified that the full Middle College program is not closing. The North Seattle College campus at 9600 College Way N. continues to operate. But the Seattle Central site on Capitol Hill had only reopened for the 2025-26 school year after Principal Keven Wynkoop spent three years working to restore it.

The south campus previously operated at Seattle University for 12 years before a temporary move to Rainier Beach's Alan T. Sugiyama High School caused enrollment to dip, severing feeder connections with Washington Middle School, Meany Middle School, and Mercer Middle School in the Central District.

The Capitol Hill location restored geographic access for Central District families. Its closure again removes a pathway for students in neighborhoods historically underserved by SPS college-readiness programming.

SPS has not publicly released a transition plan for students affected by the Seattle Central site closure. Individual board director vote tallies for the May 13 decision are not available in public records reviewed for this article. No board director or Superintendent Ben Shuldiner's office has publicly addressed whether a transition plan will be presented at the July 8 meeting.

Special education contracts: The board approved amendments totaling $843,603 across three providers serving students with IEPs: Brightmont Academy ($86,201 amendment), Dartmoor Learning ($177,402), and Sum of Learning ($580,000 for behavior technicians and Board Certified Behavior Analysts). Directors raised concerns during discussion that the board is often asked to approve contracts after services have already been delivered.

B.F. Day PTSA grant: The board accepted a $92,500 grant from the B.F. Day Elementary School PTSA for 2026-27. Principal Kristin Eckert shared data on student dysregulation and restraint incidents, particularly affecting students with disabilities and students of color.

Aki Kurose roofing: A $14.3 million contract with Wayne's Roofing, Inc. was approved for the Aki Kurose Middle School Modernization and Addition Roofing Project at 3928 S. Graham St. in Southeast Seattle.

John Marshall School: The board introduced a resolution for interim site modernization, certifying new facilities will be built and a portion of the existing building demolished. No vote was taken June 3.

The next regular Seattle School Board meeting is Wednesday, July 8, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was moved from July 1 because of expected FIFA World Cup traffic in Seattle. A public hearing on the 2026-27 budget is also scheduled for July 8.