The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Math. The lowest is 73% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Community School
Community School serves first through fifth grade as an alternative school within the Lake Washington School District in Kirkland. The school is small, with an enrollment that matches its grade band. Its racial and ethnic composition is primarily white and Asian, with a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from this school; a parent may want to ask the school directly about its special education and language support services.
Because the school serves only early elementary grades, it does not have a graduation rate, and the state testing data is limited. In the most recent testing year, state assessment results were reported for a subset of grade levels. Fifth graders showed strong proficiency in both English language arts and math. Third and fourth graders had a lower proficiency rate in English language arts. Math results for third and fourth graders were suppressed in the state data, so a clear picture of math performance in those grades is not available. Fifth grade science results were also suppressed. When combining the available test results across all reported grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency level placed it in the top quarter among schools in King County. This is a high-performing position, though the reader should keep in mind that the data does not cover every grade or subject.
The school is classified as an alternative school. In Washington, alternative schools can vary widely in their educational approach, from project-based learning to thematic curricula to schools designed for students who thrive in a smaller, more personalized setting. The available data does not describe the specific instructional model or philosophy of Community School, so a family interested in the school should confirm how the alternative designation shapes the daily classroom experience.
Kirkland is a compact, dense suburb east of Seattle, with a downtown waterfront lined with restaurants, parks, a performing arts center, and public art. The city is known for its walkability initiatives, including an active transportation plan and the Cross Kirkland Corridor rail-trail. Major employers include EvergreenHealth, Google, and the Lake Washington School District itself. The city has seen substantial growth through annexation and new downtown residential construction. Housing values in the area are high, and rents are elevated relative to national benchmarks, which reflects the broader King County market.
We looked for recent district-level changes in Lake Washington School District that might affect families, such as boundary adjustments, curriculum shifts, or facility bonds, and found little of lasting impact to report. The district brief did not identify specific recent developments beyond general profile information.
Community School fits a family looking for a very small elementary setting within a high-performing district. The alternative designation means it is not a typical neighborhood school, so the academic approach should be investigated directly. The testing picture shows strong results in the grades where data is available, but the gaps mean a parent cannot fully evaluate all grade levels from this data alone. The Kirkland housing market is expensive, and the broader district serves a large, well-resourced suburban population. This school is likely a strong fit for families who value a small, alternative elementary environment and who are able to navigate the admission or placement process that alternative schools in the district may require.
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