Original Research by School Decision on Cascadia High School
Cascadia High School is an alternative high school serving grades eight through twelve in the Tumwater School District. It is a small campus, with an enrollment that reflects its focused purpose. Alternative schools generally serve students who have not found a fit in a traditional comprehensive high school, and Cascadia’s profile matches that mission: the student body is predominantly upperclassmen, with a relatively small number of ninth and tenth graders and a large senior class. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is a marker of the socioeconomic makeup of the families the school serves.
The school is not a comprehensive, open-enrollment high school. It is an alternative school by designation, which means the academic pathway it offers is designed for a specific population. That distinction matters for understanding its academic performance. State testing data is available for a single recent school year, and the proficiency rates are low, with a modest share of students meeting the bar in English language arts, a smaller share in math, and a somewhat larger share in science. These figures are not comparable to those of a standard high school in the district; alternative schools typically enroll students who are credit-deficient or who have struggled academically elsewhere, so the scores reflect the population served rather than the program’s quality. A parent considering Cascadia should look at how the school measures student growth and credit recovery, not just the state proficiency results, and should ask the school directly about its graduation rate and postsecondary outcomes. A graduation rate was not available in the data, which is common for alternative schools that may have non-standard completion timelines.
The school’s grade band includes eighth grade, but the enrollment data shows no eighth graders reported, so the program effectively serves high school students. The school is part of the Tumwater School District, which in 2022 saw voters approve replacement levies for educational programs and operations as well as capital projects and technology, ensuring continued local funding for staff, safety, and classroom resources through 2026. That stability matters district-wide, including for Cascadia.
Tumwater itself is a city shaped by state government employment, Interstate 5, and a brewing heritage. The city’s economy is anchored by state agencies like the Department of Health and Labor and Industries, and major private employers include Cardinal Glass and Pepsi Northwest Beverages. The old downtown was largely demolished when Interstate 5 was built, and civic life is now spread across commercial corridors, state office campuses, and the Tumwater Craft District, a mixed-use development with restaurants, retail, and housing that also partners with South Puget Sound Community College’s Brewing and Distilling Program. Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a 15-acre community anchor with trails and seasonal salmon runs. The city has seen population growth and budget expansion in recent years, and the broader Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater metro area has been recognized for economic strength. Housing values in the area are above the national benchmark, and rents are substantial, reflecting demand in the broader Puget Sound region. The Intercity Transit system connects the community to Olympia, Lacey, and local colleges.
For a parent or resident trying to understand Cascadia High School, the core takeaway is this: it is not a standard comprehensive high school. It is an alternative setting for students who need a different structure, smaller environment, or credit-recovery pathway. The state test results are low, but that is expected for the population. The school does not have available data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or course access, so a family would need to visit, talk to the staff, and understand the specific supports and expectations before deciding if it matches a student’s needs. The school sits within a district that has stable local levy funding and serves a city whose economy is rooted in government employment and a growing craft industry, but the school itself operates on a separate track from Tumwater’s two comprehensive high schools.
See more original research from School Decision →