Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center, Arlington WA

Original Research by School Decision on Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center

Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center is an alternative school within the Arlington School District, serving kindergarten through eleventh grade in Arlington, Washington. Its designation as an alternative school is the defining characteristic to understand first. The school’s enrollment is quite small, and the student body is predominantly white, with a much smaller share of Hispanic students and a modest portion of students identifying as two or more races. About a third of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that is present but not dominant.

Because this is an alternative school, the academic performance picture is one a parent will want to examine closely. On state assessments, the share of students meeting proficiency varied widely by grade and subject. In the earlier elementary grades, the school saw a stronger performance in English language arts, with some grades reaching into the upper range of proficiency. Math scores for those same grades were lower. By the middle school grades, proficiency rates dropped considerably, particularly in eighth grade math and English language arts. Science results similarly showed a steep decline from fifth grade to eighth grade. Overall, across all tested grades and subjects, the school’s combined proficiency index placed it below the midpoint among districts in Snohomish County. A parent considering this school should discuss these results with the school to understand the specific population served and how the school’s instruction and support are tailored to its students’ needs.

The school is part of the Arlington School District, which has several recent developments worth noting. In early 2024, voters narrowly approved a four-year technology replacement levy that funds student devices, classroom technology, and STEM education resources through 2028, with the close vote suggesting a divide in the community over school spending. The district has also adopted a new five-year strategic plan focused on student achievement gaps, whole-child wellness and mental health supports, and staff excellence. Additionally, the district is in the process of adopting new elementary English language arts and K-12 science curricula, which will shape instruction for years to come.

Arlington itself is a community that has shifted from a timber and agriculture base to a service economy, with aviation-related jobs near the municipal airport. It has grown rapidly since the 1980s, with suburban development and annexations, including the Smokey Point area. The city’s downtown sits on a bluff above the Stillaguamish River, but much of the residential and commercial landscape is newer and suburban. Major employers include a large Amazon distribution center near the airport and the planned Cascade Industrial Center. The housing market in the area around the school carries a high cost relative to national benchmarks, which is a practical consideration for families.

For a family or a resident, Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center presents itself as a small, alternative setting within a larger district that is actively updating its technology and academic programs. The school’s academic results are uneven, with stronger early elementary ELA scores that do not carry through to the upper grades. A parent’s decision here will depend heavily on understanding the specific alternative approach the school uses and how it matches their child’s needs. The school does not serve twelfth grade, so students would need to transition elsewhere for their final year of high school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 350%

School 50% · District 57% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 53% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 38% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 735%

School 35% · District 33% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 89%

School 9% · District 23% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 346%

School 46% · District 47% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 46% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 580%

School 80% · District 60% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 750%

School 50% · District 53% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 47% · ▼ 28 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Science

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 56% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 816%

School 16% · District 37% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

This schoolArlington School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 7Lower-income44%Higher-income53%8 pp gap