The Washington Unified School District board will hear a proposal tonight to scrap its middle school and, this fall, implement six K-8 schools and an "early college high school" for grades 6 to 12.

District staff presented the plan, along with several alternative options, at community forums the past two weeks.

Superintendent Steven Lawrence said change is needed to raise test scores, reduce the dropout rate and avoid building a new middle school.

Some school districts nationwide are rethinking having middle schools, while others have done away with them.

The Washington Unified school board will be asked tonight to provide direction on the plans and make a final decision March 8.