Information on the redesign of the Wallingford Playfield

Alexander Hamilton International Middle School

Hamilton International Middle School (HIMS) is located in Seattle’s Wallingford Neighborhood and serves more than 1,000 students from the surrounding area. In conjunction with our school mission as an international school, we take pride in ensuring high levels of academic achievement for all students, providing students with a global perspective, and offering all students a world language experience. During the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, Hamilton was named a Washington State School of Distinction.

We provide a rigorous academic experience for all students in the areas of math, language arts, social studies, and science, in addition to providing services for advanced learners (Spectrum and Highly Capable Cohort) and supporting our ELL students and students with IEPs. We are proud to offer a robust world language program in Spanish and Japanese, which includes an immersion continuation program and a three-year world language experience for most students. Our award-winning international arts program and our outstanding music program are well-loved, with over 600 HIMS students participating in daily music classes. Last, but certainly not least, our dedicated counselors and YMCA Community Learning Center staff provide many services that support our students, including after school activities, peer support groups, and school break camps.

Philosophy Statement

We recognize that, due to existing racist, ableist, heteronormative, and patriarchal structures in the system of public education, in Seattle Public Schools, and at Hamilton International Middle School, the students and families furthest away from educational justice stand to be most affected by current circumstances. We at Hamilton, commit to a healing-centered approach to: 

• the unapologetic centering of Black, Indigenous, and POC students and families and the decentering of whiteness
• critical reflection on and dismantling of systems and practices that perpetuate racism and other forms of oppression
• the prioritization, pursuit, and embodiment of anti-racist practices and systems to best serve and uplift our most impacted students and to foster equity, inclusion, and safety for our entire learning community
• fostering, protecting, and celebrating the hope and joy of our students furthest from educational justice, to build a community of young learners who “thrive, not just survive”

To immediately put our commitment to safety, equity, access, and community for our most impacted students and families, and our entire learning community, into loving action, we will:

• Communicate with all families in a way that is consistent, clear, accessible, & transparent
• Prioritize relationships and proximity with students and families first
• Value growth, process, and social-emotional health over academic benchmarks and perfectionism
• Slow down and “move at the speed of trust”: solidarity over urgency 
• Foster community voice and student agency to challenge paternalism and individualism

We are Part of a K-12 Dual Language Immersion Pathway

Hamilton International MS is part of the K-12 Northwest Dual Language Immersion Pathway. For more information about pathways, please visit the  SPS International Education Website. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are school hours?

Student hours are 8:55 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A full listing of all Hamilton bell times for the current school year, including early release and late start. Breakfast is served in the lunchroom beginning at 8:15 a.m. All students are to leave the building after the dismissal bell at 3:45 p.m., unless they are participating in an after-school program that day or are in the library. Students riding the buses must board immediately after school. Although we allow extra time on the first few days of school, buses generally leave promptly at 3:55 p.m. 

What should I do if my student is late or absent?

If a student misses school or is late due to an excused absence, a parent/guardian needs to call the Hamilton Attendance Office at 206-252-5814 on the morning of each missed day or late arrival. Upon returning to school, your student needs to bring a note signed by a parent/guardian with the student’s full name, the date(s) and the reason(s) for absence or tardiness. The student must take the note to the Attendance Office before going to class. If you know ahead of time that your child will have an excused absence lasting three days or more , you need to send a letter to the Attendance Office before your child is absent. For more information, please see Hamilton’s Attendance Policy/Forms .

When can I talk to my student’s teachers?

Family members are welcome at HIMS. If you want to talk with a teacher, please contact the teacher for an appointment – email is best. Family members need to call ahead if they want to visit a class. Please remember to check in at the Main Office when you get to the school.

How do I make changes to my student’s bus route or bus stop?

The Hamilton Attendance Office can issue Green Bus Cards that allow students to take an temporary, alternate school bus routes for a period of 1-10 days. Green Bus Cards must be processed in advance, with a parent’s written permission. All other transportation issues are handled by the District Transportation Office, which determines school day bus routes, bus times, which students can ride the bus, and which bus they take. Please see the District Transportation page  for information or contact their office by email transdept@seattleschools.org or phone 206-252-0900 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Where are lost and misplaced items kept at Hamilton?

Lost clothing, lunch boxes, and school materials such as notebooks, are put in a bin in the southwest corner of the Commons. More valuable and fragile items, such as jewelry, glasses and electronics, are kept in the Main Office. Any items not claimed are donated to charity.