The Highlands
Neighborhood

The Highlands is one of Shoreline’s most storied and enchanting neighborhoods, tucked away on the city’s western edge and surrounded by towering trees and sweeping views. This private, gated community feels worlds apart, with winding roads, lush greenery, and historic homes that give it a timeless, almost fairytale-like presence. While it’s wonderfully secluded, residents are still just minutes from the water, nature, and everyday conveniences.

The Highlands Fun Facts

🌲 Designed to blend with nature: Developed in the early 1900s, the neighborhood was intentionally planned to preserve forested land and natural beauty.

🏛️ Architectural legacy: Many homes were designed by notable architects and reflect classic, one-of-a-kind craftsmanship.

🌊 Hidden views: Select vantage points offer stunning Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain glimpses, one of Shoreline’s best-kept secrets.

The Highlands is a place where history, privacy, and natural beauty come together in a truly unforgettable way.

The Highlands Neighborhood Association

The Highlands community is a hidden gem within the greater Puget Sound region, and embodies community, history and nature. The Highlands is a welcoming and inclusive community that values diversity and is committed to non-discrimination of any kind.

Connect with The Highlands Neighborhood:
Website

The Highlands Neighborhood FAQ

Find Details about Life in The Highlands: Website

What is The Highlands?

The Highlands is a private residential community and membership club of about 400 acres designed by the Olmsted Brothers with homes, parks, trails, and community facilities. It includes a preschool, walking trails, tennis courts, playfields, swimming pool, wading pool, and picnic grounds.

What is life like in The Highlands?

Life in The Highlands centers around community living with access to extensive walking trails, parks, play fields, tennis courts, and both a pool and wading pool for recreation. The neighborhood also features common areas for social gatherings and scenic natural spaces framed by forest and Puget Sound views.

Are there dues and ongoing fees to live in The Highlands?

Yes, residents pay an initiation fee plus annual assessments and dues that cover services and access to amenities throughout the community. Each property’s Financial Fact Sheet details the specific homeowner obligations.

Schools

Shoreline School District Boundaries

Highland Terrace Elementary is a close-knit neighborhood school that values collaboration, inclusion, and student growth. Caring staff focus on building strong foundations in learning and character, creating a supportive environment where students feel encouraged, capable, and connected.
Evergreen is an independent school serving highly capable learners through a challenging, inquiry-driven curriculum. The school fosters curiosity, global citizenship, and creativity in a warm, supportive environment.
Einstein serves the west side of Shoreline with a focus on academic rigor, student voice, and inclusive school culture. Its recently modernized campus supports innovative programs and strong extracurricular offerings.
Shorewood offers robust academic pathways, award-winning athletics, and a supportive school community. Its modern campus and strong arts programs make it a standout choice for west-side families.
Cascade is a district-wide choice school combining project-based learning with a close-knit community culture. Its K–8 model supports long-term relationships, enrichment, and hands-on learning across grade levels.
Pratt ELC provides high-quality early childhood education through inclusive preschool, Head Start, and family-support programs. Its warm, play-based environment helps young learners build social, emotional, and early academic foundations.
The Home Education Exchange supports families who choose homeschooling with curriculum resources, enrichment classes, and community learning opportunities. It offers a flexible, student-centered approach designed to complement at-home instruction.

The Highlands
Transportation

The Highlands

Car-Dependent

Learn more about Shoreline

Parks

The neighborhood also has 100+ acres of designated reservations space with forest trails winding through towering northwest trees. Beach Drive turns into a half mile long meandering forest road with trees over 6 feet in diameter and over 300 years old. It ends in a private-access tunnel under the railroad tracks to Spring Beach. This opens to a large tidal beach that welcomes you for short walks and picnics, or long walks up to neighboring Richmond Beach Saltwater Park or Edmonds and beyond. In the northeast corner of the community, a gorgeous newly constructed park (2014) has been built through the generous support of one of our Members and is quickly maturing into a priceless retreat. With 17 acres of native vegetation reserved area, trails, a large fish stocked pond, picnic tables and fire pit, this gem in the middle of a busy city allows for peaceful reflection while enjoying eagles, osprey and all manner of other bird life that are now calling this spot home.