Original Research by School Decision on Clip
CLIP is an alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve within the Riverview School District, located in the small Snoqualmie Valley city of Carnation. Its enrollment is very small, with most students concentrated in the upper grades. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are Hispanic, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or of two or more races. Around one in seven students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a modest share that suggests a lower rate of economic disadvantage compared to many schools in the region.
The school’s alternative designation is its defining characteristic. For families considering this option, it is important to understand that CLIP is not the district’s comprehensive high school—Cedarcrest High School, located in neighboring Duvall, serves that role. Alternative schools in Washington typically serve students who benefit from a smaller, more flexible learning environment, sometimes with a focus on credit recovery, individualized pacing, or a nontraditional structure. The provided data does not specify CLIP’s particular program focus, so a parent interested in the school’s academic model should seek details directly from the school or district.
Academic performance information is limited. State assessment results for math and English language arts are not available in this data for recent years; the most recent reported results were suppressed for the 2020-21 school year, and no subsequent subject-level data is provided. Science assessment results from the 2024-25 school year are reported, showing that more than half of tested students scored at or above the proficient level. That single data point offers a partial snapshot but does not allow for a broader evaluation of academic trends. No graduation rate is available in this data, which is a notable gap. Because CLIP serves twelfth grade, a graduation rate would be expected; a parent may want to ask the school for its most recent rate and how it compares to the district’s overall high school completion.
The absence of data on teacher staffing, discipline, attendance, and course offerings means those areas are not covered here. The school operates as part of the Riverview School District, which recently saw voter approval of a capital bond in 2024 to fund a new elementary school and facility upgrades across the district, as well as renewal of an educational programs levy. These district-level investments affect the broader system but their direct impact on an alternative high school is unclear from the available information.
Carnation itself is a small city that transitioned from a dairy town to a bedroom community for the Seattle Eastside starting in the 1990s. The built environment mixes a compact downtown with surrounding farmland and rural residential areas. Major local employers are limited; many residents commute to job centers outside the city. Housing values in the area are elevated relative to national benchmarks, consistent with much of King County. The school’s location means that families living in Carnation or nearby areas within the Riverview district boundary may find the commute manageable, but those outside the district would need to explore enrollment eligibility for an alternative school.
For a family evaluating CLIP, the core question is whether an alternative high school setting aligns with their student’s needs. The school’s small size and structure likely offer a different experience than a traditional comprehensive high school, but the evidence to compare academic outcomes is thin. Visiting the school, asking about graduation rates, postsecondary pathways, and the specific mission of the program would be practical next steps.
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