The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in English language arts. The lowest is 79% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stella Schola
Stella Schola is a small, alternative middle school in Redmond, serving grades six through eight. The school is part of the Lake Washington School District, a large suburban district on the east side of the Seattle metropolitan area. As an alternative school, it offers a different structure from the district’s comprehensive middle schools, though the specific pedagogical approach is not detailed in the available information. The enrollment is very small, with roughly equal numbers of students in each grade, creating an intimate learning environment.
Academically, the school performs at a very high level on state assessments. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were well above district and state averages. The sixth-grade math proficiency rate was strong, and the seventh-grade math rate was even higher. In English language arts, sixth and eighth graders both posted very high proficiency rates. The eighth-grade science proficiency rate was also strong. Some individual grade-level results were suppressed due to the small number of students tested, which is typical for a school of this size. Overall, the school’s proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in King County, reflecting consistently high academic outcomes.
The student body is predominantly Asian and White, with a small number of Hispanic students and students who identify as two or more races. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, well below the national average. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about supports for these populations. There is no chronic absenteeism data available, and because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
The surrounding community of Redmond is a major technology hub, home to the global headquarters of Microsoft and Nintendo of America, as well as a growing presence from Meta. The city has experienced rapid growth over the past several decades, with significant commercial development and expanding transit infrastructure, including a new light rail connection to Seattle that opened in 2024 and 2025. Housing values in Redmond are very high, reflecting the area’s strong job market and desirability. Rents are also high, and the overall cost of living is elevated. The school’s location on 75th Street in the Education Hill neighborhood places it in a residential area with several other schools nearby.
The Lake Washington School District operates with a stable administrative structure, and a search for recent district-level changes such as boundary adjustments or major curriculum shifts found little publicly reported information. Families considering Stella Schola should be aware that it is a small, alternative program within a high-performing district. The school’s academic results are excellent, and its peer group is drawn from families with very high socioeconomic standing. The combination of small size, alternative designation, and top-tier test scores suggests a select, academically focused environment. For a family seeking a small middle school with a strong record of student achievement in a high-cost, technology-driven community, Stella Schola may be a strong fit. A parent who wants to understand the school’s specific alternative model or how it serves students with different learning needs may wish to contact the school directly for more detail.
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