Original Research by School Decision on Choice Academy
Choice Academy is a small alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve in Kingston, Washington, within the North Kitsap School District. With a very small enrollment, the school offers a setting that differs from the district’s comprehensive high schools. The student body is majority white, with the next largest groups being Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races; a notable share of American Indian or Alaska Native students is also present. Well over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a common indicator of economic need.
Because Choice Academy is designated as an alternative school, the academic data available is limited and should be read with that context in mind. State testing results exist for only one recent year, and they cover just English language arts and science. The proficiency rates on those assessments are at a level that a parent may wish to learn more about, especially given the single-year snapshot and the absence of multi-year trends. Mathematics data from an earlier school year was suppressed, likely due to the small number of students tested. No graduation rate is reported, which is common for alternative programs where small cohort sizes or different completion pathways may affect standard reporting. A parent interested in the school’s academic outcomes and graduation expectations would do well to ask the school directly for its own measures of student progress and completion.
The school sits inside Kingston, a waterfront community on the Kitsap Peninsula that has grown substantially over the past two decades. Originally a lumber town, Kingston now functions as a commuter and ferry gateway, with a Washington State Ferries terminal connecting to Edmonds and a fast-ferry service to Seattle. Housing values have risen considerably, and the population continues to increase, drawing more families who work in the broader Seattle metro area or at naval installations in Kitsap County. The community is unincorporated, so development is shaped by county planning rather than a municipal government. The built environment is compact around the ferry terminal and marina, with schools integrated into the neighborhood rather than isolated on large campuses.
The North Kitsap School District, which operates Choice Academy, has been navigating some notable changes. In early 2024, voters approved a substantial capital bond that will fund safety and security upgrades, replacement of an elementary school and the Spectrum Community School, renovations at North Kitsap High School, and renovation and expansion of Kingston High School. These projects will reshape facilities across the district over several years. However, the district also faces a structural deficit in its operating budget amid ongoing enrollment declines, which could lead to program or staffing reductions. Earlier, the district closed Breidablik Elementary School in 2022, a decision upheld in court in 2023. An Educational Programs and Operations levy passed in 2022 provides supplemental funding through 2026.
For a family considering Choice Academy, the picture is one of a small, alternative high school within a district that is investing in facilities but managing financial pressures. The school’s size and alternative designation likely mean a different kind of academic and social environment than a traditional high school, with potentially more individualized attention and flexibility. The community context offers a growing, ferry-connected area with relatively high housing costs, which may appeal to families who commute or work in the region. Because publicly reported academic metrics are thin, the best next step for a parent would be to visit the school, talk to staff about the program’s approach and outcomes, and understand how it supports students toward graduation and beyond.
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