Frequently Asked Questions

Our Schools | Student Needs | Our Community

Our Schools

1. How can I find out the dates and times for different school activities? Check with your school's office or go to the school website for school activities
2. How do I find directions to different schools and school district offices?  On the Federal Way Public Schools web site at http://www.fwps.org/info/schools/directions/, driving directions are listed for all our schools and administrative offices.
3. What school will my child attend next year? During the school year, student  registration occurs at the school your child will be attending. If you do not know which school yet, you can consult our apartment to school list or contact Tanya Nascimento at (253) 945-2071 to find out.
4. What Before and After School programs does the district offer? There are a variety of clubs and activities to meet the needs and interests of our students. Many elementary schools have on-site daycares before and after school, and offer activities like track and honor choir. Secondary schools offer homework and competitive math clubs, and activities such as dance, drill team, chess, Habitat for Humanity chapters, debate, orienteering and much, much more. Overviews for secondary and elementary programs are available online. Please check with your child’s individual school for more specific information.
5. Where and when are this year's graduation ceremonies? All of Federal Way's graduation ceremonies are held in the Tacoma Dome and occur in June, with the exception of Truman's which is held at a site in Federal Way in July. Specific dates and times are generally announced mid-year.

Student Needs

1. When is Kindergarten registration held? Most elementary schools have Kindergarten “Roundups” in May, where parents and children come to learn about the school and register.You can call your local school for the dates and time of their Kindergarten information session, or view basic information online. Registration continues through the spring and summer months. Bus schedules are posted on the district website and are included in a back to school issue published by a local newspaper.
2. What is all day Kindergarten?  Which schools offer it?  Is there a charge? Students continue through the second part of the school day instead of only spending half a day in school.  Most elementary schools in district offer it for a $230 per month tuition.
3. What does my child need to get into school?  Your child must be five years old by August 31 in order to start Kindergarten in September. For a full list of requirements for school registration, go to http://www.fwps.org/info/enrollment/
4. Will my son or daughter have to wear a uniform at school? Federal Way Public Schools currently has seven schools that require their students to wear uniforms:  Mark Twain Elementary, Sunnycrest Elementary, Valhalla Elementary, Wildwood Elementary, Sacajawea Middle School, Lakota Middle School and Totem Middle School.
5. What if I can’t afford the cost of the uniforms ?There are several resources for those who need help purchasing uniforms. The school’s office often has a supply of uniform items that they can pull from. Federal Way MultiService Center has both a clothing and food bank; call 253-838-6810 for hours and location. The Federal Way PTA Clothing Bank, located at 30819 -14th Ave. South, is open Tuesdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m. The clothing bank serves students in the Federal Way School District, Kindergarten through 12th grade. Volunteers and donations of new clothing are always needed. Call 206-658-3409.
6. What are my options if I’d like to enroll my child in a school outside of my neighborhood?
   1. Federal Way Public Schools offers the Choice program, which allows a student to attend a school located outside of a student’s resident service area on a space-available basis. The necessary paperwork must be completed and submitted by the spring deadline, after which the child’s name is entered in a lottery for the school they have requested. Students from out of district cannot be part of the lottery, but can be placed in a district school after requests from in-district students are accommodated. Parents are responsible for transportation for students attending schools outside of their service areas. For more information on the choice program, go to http://www.fwps.org/info/choice/. Choice applications are available at the schools and at the Educational Service Center (ESC), 31405 18 th Ave. South , in Federal Way .
   2. After the Choice session has passed, decisions about admitting students from outside the service area are up to the school’s administrators. Please go to the school to make your request.
   3. Students living inside Federal Way ’s boundaries who wish to attend school in another district must request a release of attendance form from our district. Call 253-945-2000 for Student Placement information.
7. My child is not reading at grade level.  What can I do to help?  Please contact your child’s teacher and discuss your options for additional help.
8. How can I get my GED? To get your GED, you must be at least 16 years old. If you are between the ages of 16 and 18, you must bring a guardian or parent to the school last attended or your resident school for approval of the necessary form by a school administrator. You should also bring your photo identification.
9. My student has not been successful in traditional high schools … or my student isn’t particularly interested in sports and the usual large high school extracurricular activities. What is Federal Way ’s alternative high school like? The Truman Center (which used to be known as Truman High School ) now offers a true alternative to students who would like to experience a smaller, more personal learning environment that emphasizes finding your “true calling” and learning through real-world job opportunities. Funding by a Gates Foundation grant, the school has been transformed into a program that is allowing students to excel academically, to pursue their passions and to continue their educations beyond high school, many with substantial Gates Achievers’ Grants. For more information, go to http://schools.fwps.org/truman/ or call 253- 945-5800.
10. What are multi-age classes? These are classes in which a teacher or team of teachers has students from up to 3 grades in the same room and class. These are present in both elementary and secondary classes and have a variety of benefits, including instruction more closely tailored to the students’ individual skills and knowledge. Green Gables Elementary offers only multi-age classes. The Gifted and Talented classes in the elementaries also are multi-age classes. More information on the benefits of multi-age classes (80K PDF).
11. What are Student Led Conferences (SLCs)? Several years ago, a district-wide decision was made to replace the traditional parent-teacher conference with Student Led Conferences, in which the student presents a portfolio of his or her work with his parents or guardians. Students share and discuss work they have done, and report on their progress in reaching the grade level standards. Teachers are present to answer questions and help direct the student’s presentation. The conferences have been greeted with enthusiastic responses from parents, teachers and students, and parent attendance at conferences increased significantly with the adoption of SLCs. Parents who wish to meet with teachers without the student present are able to schedule those meetings at any time during the year.
12. Does the school district offer English Language Learners (ELL) classes? Federal Way Public Schools offers ELL services to over 2,300 students, slightly over 10% of our student population. In the district, however, nearly three times that number of students have family members who speak a language other than English - 105 languages to be exact - at home. These parents are provided interpreters for Student Led Conferences and during other interactions with school staff. Testing is provided to determine if students qualify for ELL services. For more information, go to http://www.fwps.org/dept/ell/.
13. Who handles school lunch concerns and menu questions?  Nutrition services posts the monthly lunch menus, prices, and other information on their web site at: http://www.fwps.org/dept/nutrition/
14. Who handles health issues at school, like head lice, pink eye, and other contagious conditions? The Health Services Department works with students, parents, and teachers to help make each student a healthier learner. Our district employs 16 certificated School Nurses who assess student health needs; provide in-service training for staff and students; conduct health screenings; oversee maintenance of student health and immunization records; administer medication; provide emergency first aid and CPR to students and staff; and work with the Health Department in the control of communicable diseases. Sue Overton, RN, BS, is the Health Services Coordinator and can be reached at (253) 945-2095 or at soverton@fwps.org. DeAnn Kachman is the Health Services Secretary and can be contacted by calling (253) 945-2096 or at: dkachman@fwps.org.

Our Community

1. Where is the nearest library?  Comprehensive information about all King County libraries and homework help can be found on their web site, www.kcls.org.  The phone number for the Federal Way Regional Library, located at 34200 1^st Way in Federal Way is (253) 838-3668; the Federal Way 320^th Library, located at 848 S. 320^th St. is (253) 839-0257; the Woodmont Library, located at 26809 Pacific Highway South in Des Moines is (253) 839-0121.
2. Can I rent a room in one of your schools for a meeting?  Whom do I contact? Our schools are often used by different service organizations for evening meetings Please contact the specific school directly for more information.
3. My organization is planning event that might interest your staff.  How do I let them know about it?    Contact the Federal Way Public Schools Community Relations Department at 253-945-2270 or go to http://www.fwps.org/info/distribution/.
4. What is the Puget Sound ESD and how can I contact them?  Puget Sound Educational Service District (ESD) is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts, including Federal Way Public Schools, and state-approved private schools in Washington State. ESDs function primarily as support agencies and deliver educational services that can be more efficiently or economically performed regionally. Their web site is located at www.psesd.org or you may call them at (425) 917-7600.
5. Who handles vendor questions?  How does a vendor acquire an RFP?  Questions regarding vendors and acquiring an RFP should be directed to Dana Harris in Purchasing at (253) 945-2076 or via e-mail to dana-harris@fwps.org.
6. Can you recommend a daycare or a preschool for my child? We can’t recommend a specific daycare or preschool, but can suggest some resources to help you find a daycare or preschool. You can also call the Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network at 1-800-446-1114 or 253-383-1735, or go to their website at http://www.childcarenet.org. Also, please view the Yellow Pages Telephone Directory or perhaps try searching the internet for a location near your home.
   Depending on your family's income, your child may qualify for the HeadStart and ECEAP preschool programs offered in our district. For information, call HeadStart at 253-945-5882 or ECEAP at 253-529-9876.

Last Modified: July 17, 2008