The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Why Not You Academy
Why Not You Academy is a single-school charter district serving grades nine through twelve in King County, Washington. It opened in fall 2021. The district consists of one school, Cascade Public Schools, and the entire operation sits inside a single organization. This is not a traditional neighborhood district with multiple buildings, attendance zones, and a long institutional history; it is a young charter entity with a focused grade band and a small enrollment.
The student body is modest in size for a high-school grade band. Racially and ethnically, the composition is predominantly Black, with a substantial share of Hispanic students, followed by smaller shares of Asian, white, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price lunch counts, nor does it report special education or English learner data in the available records, so a family may want to ask the school directly about its support structures and the share of students receiving those services.
On state assessments, the academy’s proficiency rates place it in the bottom quartile among King County’s districts for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, for the tested grade level, about one in seven students scored proficient. In science, about three in ten scored proficient. The participation rate on those tests was roughly three-quarters of enrolled students. For English language arts, a single year of data shows proficiency around one in five students. These numbers are well below the county median, and a parent considering this school may want to understand how the curriculum and instructional supports align with state standards.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The rate places the district in the bottom quartile among King County’s districts, meaning a very high share of students are missing substantial amounts of school. A parent should ask what attendance interventions and engagement strategies the school uses.
The district does not report a four-year graduation rate, which is a gap in the data. Because the school opened only a few years ago, it may not yet have a cohort that has completed a full four-year cycle. That absence is consistent with a young high school, but a family should confirm directly when the first graduating class is expected and what the current on-track rates look like for students in each grade.
The most pressing piece of information for any family is the school’s financial condition. A publicly reported audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office for fiscal year 2024 flagged substantial doubt about the school’s ability to continue as a going concern. The audit cites recurring operating losses, enrollment well below projections, depleted cash reserves, and significant lease and debt obligations coming due. The school has stated that without additional enrollment or grants, it may close before the 2025-26 school year. This is not a distant hypothetical; it is a current, stated risk. Any family considering Why Not You Academy should weigh this instability heavily and inquire directly about the leadership’s financial turnaround plan and timeline.
Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among King County’s districts, which reflects the higher per-student costs that come with operating a small, standalone school. That spending level does not, by itself, signal financial health.
The academy does not offer the typical breadth of programs found in a large comprehensive high school. No data was available on Advanced Placement, dual-credit, career and technical education, or extracurricular offerings. A parent should ask the school directly what coursework and pathways are available beyond the core academic classes.
This is a high-risk, high-uncertainty option for a family. The academic results are weak, absenteeism is very high, and the school’s financial existence is in question. For a family that values a small, newly established charter environment and is willing to investigate the academic program and financial situation in depth, this school may merit a direct conversation with leadership. For most families seeking a stable, high-performing secondary pathway, the conditions here present serious caution.
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