The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 38%.
Original Research by School Decision on Digital Learning Center
The Digital Learning Center is a regular public school within the Moses Lake School District, serving grades six through twelve. It is a school of choice within the district, operating as a fully online program. This means the entire academic experience is delivered remotely, with students learning from home rather than attending a physical campus. The school is part of a district that has invested in facility expansion and now offers families alternative high school pathways, including a project-based learning academy alongside the comprehensive high school, though those are separate programs from the Digital Learning Center.
The student body is composed of a roughly even mix of Hispanic and white students, with a very small number of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a significant portion of the student population comes from lower-income households. The enrollment skews heavily toward the upper grades, with the majority of students in grades ten through twelve. This is common in online programs, which often attract students later in their academic careers who are seeking flexibility or credit recovery.
State assessment data for the Digital Learning Center is limited. For the most recent year available, proficiency rates in English language arts were reported for grades six and eight, while math and science results for all grades were suppressed, likely due to very small numbers of tested students. Where data is available, performance in English language arts is below the midpoint among districts in Grant County. Math proficiency is quite low. A parent looking at these results should understand that the numbers reflect the performance of students who took the test, but participation rates for state testing in an online setting may be very low, and the suppressed data makes it difficult to form a complete picture. The national academic context provided positions this school below the midpoint of Grant County districts on overall proficiency.
The Digital Learning Center's model is its defining feature. It is not a comprehensive school offering extracurriculars, sports, or in-person social opportunities. It is designed for students who need or prefer a fully remote learning environment. A family considering this school should be comfortable with the parent or guardian taking an active role in the student's daily schedule and academic oversight. The peer environment is defined entirely online, and the student experience lacks the traditional school building, hallways, and in-person interactions of a conventional middle or high school.
Moses Lake itself is a growing industrial and manufacturing city in central Washington, the largest in Grant County. Its economy has diversified from agriculture into aerospace, polysilicon manufacturing, carbon fiber production, and electric vehicle battery plants, driving steady population growth. Housing in the area is more affordable than the state average, which is a consideration for families moving to the area. The city is car-dependent, with schools and institutions spread across a wide area. For a student attending the Digital Learning Center, the location of the district office matters for occasional in-person needs, but the school day does not involve commuting to a building. This school fits a family looking for an accredited, fully online public school option within a district that provides it, particularly students who have struggled in a traditional classroom setting, need scheduling flexibility, or prefer to work independently. It is not a fit for families seeking a conventional school environment with a robust set of in-person activities and social structures.
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