Original Research by School Decision on Special Services
Special Services is a special education school serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 within the Everett School District. Its role is distinct: it is designed for students who require specialized instruction and services that are not available in a general education setting. The enrollment is small, with the majority of its students in the pre-kindergarten program, and smaller numbers spread across all subsequent grades. Because of its specialized nature and small student counts, state assessment results for math, English language arts, and science are suppressed in public reports, so typical academic proficiency comparisons are not available. A parent considering this school would want to discuss academic progress and individual student goals directly with the school’s staff, as the standard state testing measures do not provide a picture of student growth here.
The student body reflects the diversity of the district it serves. Roughly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially, the largest group is White, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and a notable Asian share, with smaller numbers of students who are Black, two or more races, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The school does not report the share of students with an individualized education program or the share who are English learners, though given the school’s designation, the vast majority of students are served under an IEP.
Everett is the county seat of Snohomish County and a city with a mixed character. It is both a major industrial center – home to Boeing’s aircraft assembly plant at Paine Field and Naval Station Everett – and a bedroom community for Seattle. Downtown has high-rise buildings around Everett Station, a hub for commuter trains and buses, while venues such as Angel of the Winds Arena and Funko Field add to localized activity. The city has seen steady population growth and housing values in the area are moderate by regional standards, with rents that consume a significant share of household income.
The Everett School District, of which Special Services is a part, has made recent decisions that matter for families. In 2024, voters approved a replacement levy for school programs and operations after a similar measure had failed earlier that year; the levy funds teachers, special education, athletics, music, and arts programs. In 2022, voters passed a bond for school construction and facility improvements, including safety upgrades and a new elementary school, after an earlier bond attempt failed. The district has also implemented boundary changes at both the high school and elementary levels in recent years to address overcrowding and capacity imbalances.
As a special education school, Special Services is not a typical attendance-bound school for the general student population. It serves students who are placed through the district’s special education process, meaning that eligibility and referral determine enrollment. The school’s small size and specialized mission make it a resource for families whose children need a setting with intensive supports and a high degree of individualized attention. A parent exploring this school would likely be working with the district’s special education team to determine whether the program meets their child’s needs. Given the limited public data on academic outcomes and the school’s focus on students with disabilities, the best source of information is the school itself and the district’s special education department.
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