Shoreline Community College opens its doors to 563 students on January 6, 1964

Shoreline Community College opens its doors to 563 students on January 6, 1964
HistoryLink Essay 3359

By David Wilma, June 11, 2001

Shoreline Community College 2010

On January 6, 1964, Shoreline Community College opens its doors to 563 students. Classes are held at Shoreline High School until its own campus is ready. As of the 2004-2005 school year, the college will serve more than 13,500 students on two campuses.

In 1961, the state legislature allowed the formation of two-year colleges in counties where a four-year institution already existed. Shoreline Community College was proposed that same year by the trustees of the Shoreline School District as part of its adult education program. The trustees purchased land that had been used as a hunting preserve from the family of William Boeing (1881-1956). The new campus was at N 160th Street and Greenwood Avenue N, north of Seattle in unincorporated King County.

In a tacit agreement with the Seattle School District, Shoreline concentrated on offering an academic program, whereas Seattle Community College would focus on trade and industrial vocational programs.

In 1967, the state legislature shifted control of the community colleges from school districts to the state, making the community college system its own force in education in the state.

Sources:

Brinton Sprague, "The Development Of General Education in Washington Community Colleges, 1915-1980," (Ph.D. diss., University of Washington, 1987), 180-184; "Shoreline Community College Report," Pamphlet, December 1965, Seattle Colleges Pamphlet File, Archives, University Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington; "Control Handed to State," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 25, 1967, p. 1, 2; "Progress Report," Newsletter, Shoreline Community College, January 21, 1964, Seattle Colleges Pamphlet File, Archives, University Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington; "About Us," Shoreline Community College website.