Original Research by School Decision on Sequoia High School
Sequoia High School serves students in grades nine through twelve in the Everett School District and is classified as an alternative school. This designation shapes the entire experience. It is a small setting, meaning students and staff know one another by name. The enrollment is small for a high school, with a student body that is predominantly white, followed by a Hispanic population of roughly a quarter and smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Black, Asian, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face economic pressures.
Because Sequoia is an alternative school, a reader should expect that it serves a population for whom a traditional comprehensive high school was not the right fit. This could include students who need a smaller environment, credit recovery opportunities, flexible scheduling, or additional academic or behavioral support. The data does not specify which alternative model Sequoia uses, and a family considering the school would want to ask the school directly about the admissions process, the instructional approach, and whether it is designed for students who are behind on credits, who have disengaged from a larger school, or who need a different structure.
State testing data for the school is limited. For the most recent year available, proficiency in English language arts was reported at a modest level, and proficiency in science was lower. No math proficiency data was reported, and no graduation rate is included in the data available here. A parent looking at this school will want to ask Sequoia directly for its graduation rate, post-graduation outcomes, and how the school measures academic growth for students who enroll below grade level. The lack of a full test picture is common for alternative schools, where state assessments may not be the primary focus, but it does leave gaps that a family will need to fill through conversation with the school.
Everett, where the school is located, is the county seat and a major employment and industrial center anchored by Boeing, the U.S. Navy at Naval Station Everett, and the Port of Everett. It also functions as a bedroom community for Seattle. The downtown has a cluster of high-rise buildings, transit connections through Everett Station serving Sounder commuter trains and Amtrak, and entertainment venues such as Angel of the Winds Arena. The city has seen steady growth and has annexed new residential neighborhoods over time. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and rents have been rising, which reflects the broader regional pressure in the Seattle metro area.
The Everett School District has had recent parent-relevant changes. In 2024, voters approved a replacement levy for school programs and operations after an earlier attempt failed earlier that year. The levy funds teachers, special education, athletics, music, and arts. The district also passed a bond in 2022 for school construction and facility improvements, including safety upgrades, HVAC and roof replacement, classroom additions for overcrowding, and a new elementary school. Boundary changes have been active, with high school boundaries adjusted between 2020 and 2023 to relieve overcrowding at the district’s three comprehensive high schools, and elementary boundaries adjusted as recently as 2023 and again approved for the 2025-26 school year to balance capacity.
For a family, Sequoia High School is a deliberately small alternative setting within a large district that is managing enrollment growth, aging facilities, and the financial cycles of voter-approved levies. The school fits a student who needs a non-traditional path through high school, but the limited public data on academic outcomes means that a direct conversation with the school is essential to understand whether the program matches a student’s specific needs.
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