Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight, Tumwater WA

Original Research by School Decision on Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight

Washington Connections Academy - Mary M. Knight serves kindergarten through eighth grade as an online public school, operating as a regular school through the Mary M. Knight School District. The school is based in Tumwater, a city that mixes state government offices, residential neighborhoods, and commercial corridors along Interstate 5, but students typically learn from home rather than at a physical campus.

This is a fully virtual program, which means a parent or guardian takes on a significant role as a learning coach, supervising daily work and keeping the student on pace. The curriculum and instruction are provided online, with state-certified teachers leading lessons and offering support remotely. For families considering this model, the question is less about a specific building and more about whether the structure of at-home, screen-based learning fits a child's self-discipline and a family's schedule.

The student body of this K-8 school is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by students who identify as two or more races. Hispanic students and Black students each form a meaningful part of the enrollment. Smaller shares of students are Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a significant portion of the families face economic challenges.

State assessment results paint a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency standards varied across grade levels, with the highest rate appearing in eighth grade and the lowest in fourth grade. Scores in math were lower across all grade levels, with none reaching a high proficiency rate. Science results, available for grades five and eight, showed a modest share of students meeting the standard in fifth grade and a higher share in eighth grade. When placed alongside other districts in Thurston County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell in the bottom quartile. A parent would want to examine the school's specific academic supports and how the virtual model addresses these outcomes.

No graduation rate is available because the school serves only through eighth grade. Chronic absenteeism data was also not available. The district brief turned up little in the way of recent strategic changes or leadership news, which suggests a period of stability rather than upheaval.

Tumwater itself has a population that has been growing in recent years. The city's economy is anchored by state government offices, with major agencies such as the Washington State Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Industries headquartered there. Private employers include Cardinal Glass and Pepsi Northwest Beverages. The area is located a short drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a large military installation that drives regional employment. The former Olympia Brewery site has been redeveloped into the Tumwater Craft District, a mixed-use area with restaurants, retail, and housing, partnered with South Puget Sound Community College's brewing and distilling program. Housing values in the area are moderately above the national benchmark, and rents follow a similar pattern, making the region a relatively expensive part of Washington state to live in.

For a family, the core consideration is whether an online K-8 setting is right for their child. The virtual model offers flexibility and removes the daily commute, but it demands consistent parental involvement and a student who can manage independent work. The academic results suggest room for growth, particularly in math, and a family weighing this option would benefit from asking the school directly about intervention strategies and how they tailor instruction to students who are not meeting benchmarks.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · district not reported

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 28% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 520%

School 20% · district not reported

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 23% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 24% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 826%

School 26% · district not reported

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 340%

School 40% · district not reported

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 35% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 547%

School 47% · District 20% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 23% · ▲ 25 pts above district

even with state median · even with county median

Grade 740%

School 40% · District 43% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 851%

School 51% · district not reported

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Science

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 30% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 852%

School 52% · district not reported

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

This schoolMary M Knight School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income25%Higher-income52%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income30%Higher-income45%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income54%24 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income29%Higher-income57%29 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income28%Higher-income58%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 8Lower-income22%Higher-income27%5 pp gap