The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Loon Lake Homelink Program
Loon Lake Homelink Program is an alternative school within the Loon Lake School District, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school provides a different structure from a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom, and a parent considering this program should understand that its alternative designation often means a non-conventional instructional model, though the specific pedagogy is not detailed in the available data.
The school is small, with enrollment spread across elementary and middle school grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up the next largest racial or ethnic group. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure the field uses as a proxy for family economic circumstances. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not reported.
On state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Stevens County. This is a mixed picture when broken down. In English language arts, the proficiency rate for all tested grades combined is above the midpoint of the county cohort, and science proficiency is also at that level. Math proficiency falls below the county midpoint. Looking grade by grade in English, third graders met the proficiency bar at a rate, fourth and fifth graders did so at a rate slightly above half, and sixth graders did so at a lower rate. In math, third through sixth graders showed proficiency at rates that were lower than those for English, and results for seventh and eighth graders in both subjects were suppressed, meaning the tested group was too small to report publicly. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students in math, particularly as they move through the middle grades.
The community of Loon Lake is an unincorporated census-designated place on the shore of its namesake lake in rural Stevens County. The lake is the center of life here, with recreation like fishing, boating, and swimming defining daily activity. Housing stock is a mix of full-time residences and vacation homes along the shoreline. There is no downtown or traditional commercial district; the post office and the highway corridor serve as the community’s functional hubs. The area is car-dependent and low-density, with no pedestrian infrastructure. Housing values in the ZIP code are well below the state benchmark but above the national average, and home prices have been stable with modest appreciation. Residents likely commute to larger towns or to Spokane for employment, as no major local employers were identified in searches.
The Loon Lake School District showed no evidence of recent changes that would affect parents, such as new levies, boundary adjustments, or curriculum shifts. This means a parent looking for recent upheaval or program launches will find none reported.
The alternative nature of this school, combined with its small size and rural setting, makes it a particular fit for a family seeking a non-traditional educational path for their child in elementary and middle school. The proficiency data offers a realistic picture: English language arts and science are relative strengths, while math achievement is an area where a family would want to understand the school’s approach and track record. The lack of data for the oldest middle school grades is not unusual for a small program, but it limits a full view of academic outcomes. A parent with a child entering those grades should inquire directly about how instruction and assessment work there. The setting is unequivocally lake-oriented and rural, with no built-in walkable amenities, which is central to the daily experience of a family living here.
See more original research from School Decision →