Original Research by School Decision on Cap Sante High School
Cap Sante High School is an alternative high school in Anacortes, Washington, serving grades nine through twelve. It operates within the Anacortes School District and sits on Fidalgo Island, a coastal community that blends small-town character with heavy industrial infrastructure. The town’s economy includes two oil refineries, shipbuilding, tourism, and a Washington State Ferries terminal connecting to the San Juan Islands. Housing costs are high relative to national averages, and the local market reflects the area’s desirability.
The school’s enrollment is small. A substantial share of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a pattern often seen in alternative schools that serve students who need a non-traditional academic setting. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and small numbers of students who identify as two or more races, Black, or American Indian or Alaska Native.
State testing data is limited. For the most recent year available, proficiency in English language arts was reported at about half of all students tested. Science proficiency was lower. Math results were suppressed, which is common in small alternative schools where small group sizes may trigger privacy protections. No graduation rate is reported in the available data, and chronic absenteeism measures were also absent—again, this often reflects the nature of alternative schools, where standard accountability metrics may not be calculated or reported in the same way as for comprehensive high schools. A parent considering Cap Sante may want to ask the school directly about graduation outcomes and how student progress is tracked.
The school is not a typical comprehensive high school. Its alternative designation means it likely offers a different structure, smaller classes, and more individualized support for students who have struggled in a traditional setting or who need flexibility. Course access and program offerings were not available in the data, so a family would need to contact the school to understand what academic pathways, career training, or dual-credit options exist.
Anacortes itself has a walkable downtown with shops and a marina, though much of the island is car-dependent. The city owns a community-wide fiber optic internet service, which is unusual. Outdoor assets such as Deception Pass State Park, Washington Park, and extensive community forest lands are nearby. The population is modest and aging, with mild growth in recent years.
For a family, Cap Sante High School is a specific fit: a small, alternative environment for high school students who may benefit from a less conventional approach. The limited testing data and missing metrics are not unusual for a school of this type, but they also mean that a parent needs to seek direct information from the school about academic expectations, support services, and post-graduation outcomes. The housing market in Anacortes is expensive, and the school’s small size means it cannot offer the breadth of courses or extracurriculars a larger high school might. It is a choice grounded in the kind of personalized setting it provides, not in the typical measures of school performance.
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