Saratoga School, Stanwood WA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Saratoga School

Saratoga School is an alternative school serving kindergarten through grade 12, located in Stanwood, Washington, part of the Stanwood-Camano School District. Its enrollment is small, and the student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. As an alternative school, it is designed for a specific educational pathway, though the data does not specify the program model or admission criteria.

Academically, Saratoga School's performance on state assessments shows a mixed picture. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among districts in Snohomish County, which is a positive signal. However, results vary notably by grade level and subject. In elementary grades, math and English language arts proficiency rates are lower, particularly in fourth grade, where only a modest share of students met standards. At the middle school level, performance improves significantly, with eighth grade showing strong proficiency in both English language arts and science. This pattern suggests that the school may be particularly effective for older students, or that the student population shifts in later grades. A parent considering the school may want to ask about how instruction and support differ across grade bands.

Because the school serves grades K-12 but has no student enrollment in grades 11 and 12, and no graduation rate data is reported, it is unclear how many students complete their high school education here. That gap may reflect the nature of an alternative setting, where students sometimes transfer back to a comprehensive high school or follow a non-traditional timeline. Parents should inquire directly about high school completion pathways and outcomes.

The school sits in Stanwood, a small city that has grown rapidly from its historic Scandinavian and agricultural roots into a bedroom community for Seattle and Everett. The original downtown along the Stillaguamish River is walkable but sits in a flood zone, and newer suburban subdivisions have spread uphill since the 1990s. Housing in the area is expensive, reflecting the broader Puget Sound market, and the city continues to annex land and manage flood risks. The school district is the largest employer in town. No recent major district changes, such as new programs, boundary shifts, or tax measures, were found in public records.

Missing information may matter to a family weighing this option. No data is available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, or special education and English learner populations. The school's alternative designation could mean smaller class sizes or more individualized instruction, but the data does not confirm that. Parents should seek a conversation with the school about how it supports students academically and socially, especially given the uneven proficiency results across grades.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 348%

School 48% · District 52% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

Grade 428%

School 28% · District 46% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 40% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

Grade 632%

School 32% · District 42% · ▼ 11 pts below district

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

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 36% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 867%

School 67% · District 37% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 352%

School 52% · District 50% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 51% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 56% · ▼ 12 pts below district

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

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 53% · ▼ 5 pts below district

even with state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 765%

School 65% · District 52% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 48% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Science

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 53% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 49% · ▲ 34 pts above district

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

This schoolStanwood-Camano 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 7Lower-income50%Higher-income77%27 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income40%Higher-income46%6 pp gap